Election Stress Syndrome...What To Do About It?

Keeping your stress and anxiety in check today and possibly for days to come till we know the outcomes of this election might not be easy.  Nearly 70% of adults say that the election has become a significant source of stress and anxiety. People experiencing increased anxiety, restless nights, and difficulty concentrating. This has been one of the longest and intense election period and if the number of early votes are an indications one that mobilized record number of voters. So how are we spending today? Probably glued to the news, anxious, and hoping for the result we voted for. Here are some tips to get through the day/days ahead: 

1. Try to really examine what are the things I can control today? Ask yourself questions: What am I grateful for today? What can I do to feel healthy today? What do I need to do to make today great?

2. One of the hardest thing today will be perhaps is not watching the news all day long. Take breaks away form the TV, radio, your computers, and phones.

3. Instead, write a list of things that are worrying you. Look at your list and call up someone to discuss the issues with them, to express how you really feel about them. Listen to their worries and eventually maybe even turn your stress into action to make changes together.

4. Conscious breathing exercises, pranayama: Try today: diaphragmatic breathing, or “belly breathing,” which involves fully engaging the stomach, abdominal muscles, and diaphragm when breathing. This means actively pulling the diaphragm down with each inward breath. In this way, diaphragmatic breathing helps the lungs fill more efficiently. Benefits: are that it helps you relax, lowers the harmful effects of the stress hormone cortisol on your body. It lowers your heart rate . It helps lower your blood pressure. And as you make your exhalations longer, it will further reduce anxiety.

5. Combine your conscious breath work with meditation. Why not try today Metta or Loving Kindness meditation. This meditation practiced in many ways with the ultimate goal of developing unconditional positive emotions toward all beings, including ourselves. To cultivate these emotions, you silently recite phrases toward yourself and others. These phrases are meant to express kind intentions.

How to? Sit up tall. Take a few deep breaths, keep your exhales longer than your inhales. You may rest one hand on your belly and one hand on your heart. Close your eyes and say silently (or out loud) the phrases with the intention to express loving kindness towards yourself:

May I be happy.

May I be healthy.

May I be safe.

May I live life with ease. 

Repeat the phrases 3 or more times. Then think if someone in your life you love and would like to wish them loving kindness. Today, think if someone whom you are close enough with that you can share your happiness and hardships equally, someone who listens to you and uplifts you. Continue with the breath, but this time imagine this person(s) in your mind’s eye and say:

May You be happy.

May You be healthy.

May You be safe.

May You live your life with ease.

Repeat the phrases 3 or more times. Then today we will choose only on more group. People in the USA, and American people around the world. Imagine this large mass of people. Right now perhaps more divided than ever…. But try to use the last round of loving kindness towards everyone. Being Democrat, Republican, Independent, old, young, men, women, children, any color, any faith any creed. Then take a few deep breaths and keeping all these people in your mind’s eye say:

May You All be happy.

May You All be healthy.

May You All be safe.

May You All live your life with ease.

Repeat 3 or more times. Then stay a little longer with your eyes clothes and keep taking deep breaths feeling your belly rise and fall and your heart beating just a little deeper. Namaste.

6. Go for a walk/exercise outside: Research shows that exercising outside can help reduce stress, depression and improve your mood even more than indoor activities. We feel more in our bodies and hearts when we are outside. Sensing into our bodies in the present moment activates neural networks that enhance self-regulation, it reduces stress hormones, and boosts immune system function. Our brain has a few rudimentary tools for doing this job of self maintenance even when we don't notice ourselves, like adjusting our breathing and heart rate depending on the level of exertion.

7. Connect with people who uplift you. Organize a Zoom gathering, why not a Zoom dinner for the evening where you can discuss results as they come in or just to be others mainly if you live alone. 

8. Reach into your personal self-care tool box; take a nap, read a few chapters from a book, take a bath, have herbal tea, watch your favorite movie.

9. Allow your senses to help you relax. Put on your favorite music, maybe a dance song or a more relaxing tune. Put your favorite calming essential oil in a diffuser to help you relax. We use doTERRA’s Peace, Serenity, Forgiveness and my mixture of Balance and Wild Orange. 

10. Yoga, yoga, yoga. Some Vinyasa, Power, Yin, Restorative… Contact me for private or semi private sessions.

Stay calm, stay engaged, stay kind and please find me if I can help you with decreasing your stress levels not just today, and to help you towards a more mindful being.

Namaste.