Coping with the Stress of a Political Divide

by

Coping with the Stress of a Political Divide

Managing political stress is not easy for anyone. Today’s political landscape is divided, and many people are unwilling to change their thinking or even listen to the reasoning of the “other side.” Maybe you have strong political beliefs that your friends or family do not share. Maybe you live in an area primarily filled with viewpoints directly conflicting with your life experiences and values.

So, whether you are experiencing stress about an upcoming election, legislation change, or even discussing socio-political issues with family members or friends, know that you are not alone. 

A lot of times, there are factors outside of our control that can worsen our already stressful political environment. In these cases, it can be easy to simply not want to talk to anyone about anything. But this is not a sustainable way to go about the rest of your life. And while there is no treatment or cure for political stress — for many of us, it will be a part of our lives forever — there are ways that you can cope with and better manage this stress. These methods of political stress management are exactly what we will explore today.

How to Manage Political Stress and Political Divides

While there is no simple fix that can unite the sharp polarization of politics today, there are ways that you can better navigate being around people with differing or opposing views to your own. 

So, if you have been dreading the next family (or friend group) get-together-turned-screaming-match, we hope these tips help you take a step back and manage your stress levels in and around these tense situations.

Set Boundaries

Political conversations can get very heated very quickly. Most of the time, this is because someone will say something (intentionally or not) that is hurtful, offensive, or otherwise crossing a line that the other person does not want to be crossed. When these lines are not clearly stated, what once was a civil conversation can quickly become a screaming match. This is where setting clear boundaries comes into the picture. These boundaries exist to identify these areas where you draw the line so that you can stop or exit a conversation before it gets out of hand.

Keep in mind that not everyone will respect these boundaries, and some may try to actively push them. But staying true to these boundaries is the best way to ensure you avoid ending up in a conversation that has gone too far for your comfort. If your boundaries are violated, be prepared to leave the conversation respectfully. Leaving a conversation that does not respect the boundaries you have clearly established does not mean you are “giving up” or “losing.” It simply means that the conversation is not productive, and you recognize that. 

The boundaries we create are not to never talk about anything that we are passionate about. They are to help ensure that our conversations about those topics are productive, not simply to argue or rile up our emotions. So, if someone is not respecting your boundaries and not listening to what you have to say, there is no reason for you to stay in that conversation.

Try to Focus on Conversing, Not Arguing

We all have viewpoints and beliefs that we value. Things we think are an important part of our lives and make us who we are. When these views are challenged, many of us feel attacked and retaliate by challenging someone else’s view. But, when we do this, all we get is an argument. We lose the ability to have a productive conversation where one (or all) of the parties involved in the conversation can learn something new.

When you can instead keep the focus on clarification and shedding light on a topic that may have been misrepresented or misunderstood, people can learn. This is how we grow as a society.

Though, keep in mind that if whoever you are talking to refuses to listen or understand your perspective after a few attempts of you trying to engage in conversation and trying to understand their perspective, it is best to acknowledge the boundaries you’ve made for yourself and excuse yourself from the discussion. If they do not want to give what you are saying a fair listen while still expecting you to listen to them, then that is an unhealthy conversation, and you will not gain anything by being a part of it. Remember, conversations go two ways. Both (or all) parties must be willing to receive new information for it to be a productive conversation.

Become Active in Causes You Believe In

Activism can be incredibly empowering. When you can see changes in the world around you because of what you and others who share your values are doing, it can be incredibly validating. 

Additionally, joining an activist group for causes you care about can be a great way to express your beliefs and discuss politics with others who share similar beliefs. This can help ease feelings of isolation and loneliness when you are the “only one” with a specific political view.

Take Care of Yourself

Participating in constant political discussions can be extremely taxing on our minds and bodies. As a result, we can become physically and mentally fatigued, and you may want to simply avoid these (and other) interactions altogether. This is why it is crucial to prioritize self-care and make space in your schedule for yourself.

This could be:

  • Going for a short walk each day
  • Taking just 10 minutes to write your experiences or feelings from the day in your journal
  • Talking with loved ones about a conversation you had during the day
  • Practicing spirituality or meditation
  • Reading a book
  • Taking a warm bath with your favorite bath salts
  • Making your favorite meal for dinner

No matter what you choose, ensure that you intentionally make the space for yourself. Without this, the exhaustion will simply continue building and building.

Seek Help from a Professional

Therapists and counselors can be great resources for you to manage this stress and learn ways to evolve and grow as a person. For you, this may mean learning to set clear boundaries (and actually follow through with them) about what you can and cannot talk about with certain people. Maybe it means finding ways to enrich your life and give your mind and body the care it needs through self-care habits.

If political stress or stress caused by a political divide is affecting your ability to live your daily life, please do not hesitate to reach out to us today at Love Heal Grow to get in touch with one of our therapists

Love Heal Grow Therapists
Filter & Find Your Match

Megan Negendank, LMFT, CST Founder (she/her)

Megan Negendank, LMFT, CST Founder (she/her)

CEO & Founder | 450 per session | Relationship & Sex Therapy, Relationship Trauma, Emotional & Physical Intimacy, Executives & Creatives
Madison Hamzy, LMFT (Online Only, she/her)

Madison Hamzy, LMFT (Online Only, she/her)

Therapist & Assistant Director | 250 per session | Relationship & Sex Therapy, Intimate Connection & Less Stress, Men with ED or ADHD, People who get stuck in their heads and worry a lot
Natalie Delfin, LCSW (she/they)

Natalie Delfin, LCSW (she/they)

Therapist & Clinical Supervisor | 200 per session | Relationship & Sex Therapy, More Pleasurable Sex, Men learning to express feelings, CNM & Kink, Queer & Trans
Rachel Cloud, LCSW (she/her)

Rachel Cloud, LCSW (she/her)

Therapist & Clinical Supervisor | 200 per session | Relationship & Sex Therapy, Healing from Abuse & Betrayal, Queer & Trans Identity, People who care deeply and are told they are "too much"
Ann Marie McKnight, LMFT (she/her)

Ann Marie McKnight, LMFT (she/her)

Therapist | 250 per session | Relationship & Sex Therapy, Grief & Loss, Childhood Emotional Neglect, Family Therapy for Parents & Adult Children
Jessie Regan, LMFT (she/her)

Jessie Regan, LMFT (she/her)

Therapist & Clinical Supervisor | 270 per session | Relationship & Sex Therapy, Healing from Infidelity, Discernment & Divorce, Workplace Stress & Pressure
Linda Rolufs, LMFT (Online Only, she/her)

Linda Rolufs, LMFT (Online Only, she/her)

Therapist | 240 per session | Relationship & Sex Therapy, Anxiety & OCD, Menopausal and post-menopausal women wanting more pleasure in sex, Women who feel invisible
Ashley Barnes, LMFT (she/her)

Ashley Barnes, LMFT (she/her)

Therapist | 200 per session | Relationship & Sex Therapy, High-Achievers & Type-A Personalities, Intimacy & Connection, Low Self Esteem, Trauma & Anxiety
Lindsay Glass, LMFT (Online Only, she/her)

Lindsay Glass, LMFT (Online Only, she/her)

Therapist | 200 per session | Relationship & Sex Therapy, Parenting Couples, Cycle-breaking Moms, Deep Thinkers & Deep Feelers
Maegan Tanner, AMFT (she/her)

Maegan Tanner, AMFT (she/her)

Therapist | 180 per session | Relationship & Sex Therapy, Stress & Burnout, LGBTQ+, People who judge themselves a lot
Susan DuBay, LMFT (she/they)

Susan DuBay, LMFT (she/they)

IFS Therapist | 200 per session | Relationship & Sex Therapy, Communication & Intimacy, LGBTQ+, Folks wanting to go deep in their trauma work
Emily Alampi, AMFT (Online Only, she/her)

Emily Alampi, AMFT (Online Only, she/her)

Therapist | 170 per session | Relationship & Sex Therapy, Anxiety & Stress, Frustration & Anger, Queer & Trans, Neurodivergence, People who feel like they don't fit in
Charisse Brass, AMFT (she/her)

Charisse Brass, AMFT (she/her)

Therapist | 170 per session | Relationship & Sex Therapy, Emotional & Physical Connection, Stress & Burnout in Highly Productive People, Existential Angst & Life Meaning
Joanna de Leon, AMFT (Online Only, she/her)

Joanna de Leon, AMFT (Online Only, she/her)

Therapist | 170 per session | Relationship & Sex Therapy, Burnout & Pressure to be Successful, Immigrants & First Gen, Current & Former Athletes, People who Avoid Conflict
Flo Oliveira, AMFT (they/them)

Flo Oliveira, AMFT (they/them)

Sex Therapist | 170 per session | Relationship & Sex Therapy, QTBIPOC, More Pleasure in Sex, CNM & Kink Affirming, People worried about their porn-use & sexual behaviors
Maria Dimachkie, ACSW (she/her)

Maria Dimachkie, ACSW (she/her)

Trauma Therapist | 180 per session | Relationship & Sex Therapy, Survivors of Trauma: Sexual Assault & Relationship Abuse; People who have been hurt by loved ones; People who question themselves a lot
Samaria Parada, AMFT (she/ella)

Samaria Parada, AMFT (she/ella)

Bilingual Therapist | 160 per session | Relationship & Sex Therapy, Communication & Connection, Family & Cultural Stress & Trauma, BIPOC & First Gen
Madilyn Schweikert, AMFT (she/her)

Madilyn Schweikert, AMFT (she/her)

Therapist | 160 per session | Relationship & Sex Therapy, Communication & Intimacy, Betrayal & Infidelity, Couples with age gaps, Creatives & Sensitive People
Ella Sword, AMFT (she/her)

Ella Sword, AMFT (she/her)

Therapist | 160 per session | Relationship & Sex Therapy, Communication & Connection, Parenting, Anxiety & Depression
Hannah Slicton-Williams, LMFT (she/her)

Hannah Slicton-Williams, LMFT (she/her)

Trauma Therapist | 200 per session | Relationship & Sex Therapy, Healing from Trauma - Relationship Abuse, Violence, and Sexual Assault, Love after Trauma
Abby Hollandsworth, AMFT (she/they)

Abby Hollandsworth, AMFT (she/they)

Therapist | 160 per session | Relationship & Sex Therapy, Communication & Intimate Connection, Anxiety-Depression-Anger, LGBTQ+, Religious Trauma & Grief
Ashlene Kaur Sandhu (she/her)

Ashlene Kaur Sandhu (she/her)

Therapist | Sliding Scale (100-140 per session) | Relationship & Sex Therapy, Connection & Intimacy, Perfectionism & Low Self-Esteem, Cultural Pressure & Relationship with Parents
Liza Haroldson, LCSW (she/her)

Liza Haroldson, LCSW (she/her)

Therapist | 240 per session | Relationship & Sex Therapy, Disconnected & Bickering Couples, Depleted & Exhausted Working Moms, Low Self Esteem, Trauma & Anxiety
Love Heal Grow Relationship Therapy Center Sacramento

Free Relationship Therapy Starter Pack

*How to Find a Therapist

*What to Expect in Your First Appointment

*How to Get the Most Out of Therapy

*How to talk to your boss about going to therapy during the workday

*How to seek reimbursement for therapy from your PPO plan

*Over twenty pages of relationship and life stressor tips and exercises that it would usually take 10+ therapy sessions to cover.

Check your email!