Health
Presidential election is making most Americans anxious, surveys say: Here are 6 tips to calm down
The imminent presidential election is having an impact on Americans’ mental health.
A recent national survey by AMFM, a residential mental health treatment system based in California, analyzed the anxiety levels of 2,000 Americans during an election year.
Nearly 22% of the respondents reported that election coverage was having a negative effect on their mental health.
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Navigating misinformation (57%) and “doom and gloom” messaging (56%) were identified as key stressors, as well as concern about the election’s aftermath (54%) and worry that their candidate of choice would not win (42%).
Overall, 30% of respondents reported increased anxiety related to the election, 22% said they felt overwhelmed and 18% experienced anger.
A young man watches the incoming election results on the giant screens of Times Square in November 2016. (David Cliff/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Almost 53% said they avoid election-related conversations to prevent anxiety.
More than 73% of respondents have not sought support for election-related anxiety – and don’t plan to, they said.
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AMFM concluded that it is crucial for individuals to “seek balance, limit their exposure to anxiety-inducing content, and consider seeking support when needed.”
Another survey by LifeStance Health – a mental health care network headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona – found that the presidential election is a “significant source of stress and anxiety” for Americans.
In one survey, respondents indicated that navigating misinformation (57%) and “doom and gloom” messaging (56%) were key stressors, as well as concern about the election’s aftermath (54%) and worry that the preferred candidate would not win (42%). (AP Images)
The survey, which polled over 1,000 Americans online in August 2024, found that 79% of people experience election anxiety.
Younger Americans are more likely to be affected, the results showed, including 64% of Gen Z and 54% of millennials.
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More than half (57%) of respondents said they think about the election daily, while 31% said they think about it multiple times a day.
Meanwhile, 44% of Gen Zers have postponed major milestones in their lives such as moving, going to college, getting married or having kids because of anxiety about the political climate.
Nearly two-thirds of respondents speak with therapists about politics and the election, the LifeStance survey found. (iStock)
This anxiety is also driven by friends and family, as 44% of respondents said political or election-related discussions have led to conflicts.
More than two-thirds (72%) of respondents said social media and other news coverage contribute to their election anxiety, while 34% admitted to unfollowing or blocking a friend or family member on social media due to their political views.
Alleviating election anxiety
Some mental health experts refer to political-related anxiety as “election stress disorder,” according to MK Clarkin, a licensed clinical social worker and executive clinical director at LifeStance Health in St. Louis, Missouri.
“People often report increased anxiety, depression, trouble focusing and more,” she told Fox News Digital. “Feeling a deep sense of losing control over personal lives understandably creates a sense of distress for many people.”
Voters make their selections at voting booths on Oct. 17, 2024, in Hendersonville, North Carolina. (Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)
Experts shared a few coping methods to help keep your mental health in check through the election.
6 tips to calm down
1. Practice grounding techniques
Christina Kayanan, a licensed therapist in California and executive director of AMFM, suggested practicing grounding techniques, such as the 5-4-3-2-1 method, to help bring your focus away from worrying about the future and back to the present.
An expert encouraged building a self-care routine and practicing grounding techniques to reduce anxiety. (iStock)
“In this exercise, you acknowledge five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell and one thing you can taste,” she shared with Fox News Digital. “Grounding can disrupt anxious thought patterns and restore a sense of control.”
2. Build a self-care routine
Building a self-care routine, including mindfulness, meditation, exercise and deep breathing, can help calm the nervous system, according to Kayanan.
“A routine helps structure your day, giving you something predictable to rely on,” she said. “Even small, consistent habits, like journaling or taking short walks, can make a significant difference in managing anxiety.”
3. Challenge unhelpful thoughts
Unhelpful thoughts can include “all-or-nothing” thinking and catastrophizing a situation, which Kayanan noted can intensify anxiety.
People should edentify these thought patterns and challenge them with “evidence-based thinking,” the expert suggested.
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“Ask yourself, ‘What evidence do I have for this thought? Is there another way to look at this situation?’” she advised.
“By reframing anxious thoughts, you can reduce their emotional impact and regain a sense of balance.”
4. Limit caffeine and alcohol
Both substances can make anxiety symptoms worse by overstimulating the nervous system and impairing our “natural ability” to manage stress, according to Kayanan.
Alcohol and caffeine can make anxiety symptoms worse by overstimulating the nervous system, experts warn. (iStock)
Reducing these substances could help decrease physical anxiety symptoms and help maintain a “more balanced emotional state,” the expert said.
5. Set healthy boundaries
Kayanan promoted setting clear boundaries in relationships, work or social settings to reduce anxiety.
This might include saying no in certain situations, delegating tasks and setting limits on social media to prevent overstimulation and burnout.
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These boundaries can also apply to election-related content, which Clarkin advised people to “be selective” about.
“Don’t be afraid to set boundaries around your digital consumption — set a ‘screen time’ limit, mute or unfollow accounts that share harmful content, and fact-check sources,” she advised.
“Most people do not post political content with the intention of having their minds changed via dialogue,” one expert said about engaging in social media discussions. (iStock)
Clarkin also discouraged engaging in political discussions on social media.
“Most people do not post political content with the intention of having their minds changed via dialogue,” she said.
“So your energy is better spent on something else.”
6. Try progressive muscle relaxation
Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is a method that involves tensing and slowly relaxing different muscle groups “from your toes to your head,” Kayanan said.
The technique can help relieve physical tensions associated with anxiety, while increasing awareness of where you might be holding stress in your body.
“Practicing PMR can lead to greater relaxation and reduce overall anxiety levels by promoting a connection between body and mind,” she said.
Those who experience worsening anxiety or ongoing anxiety should reach out to a medical professional for help.
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A popular class of weight-loss drugs may prevent life-threatening cardiac complications by opening microscopic blood vessels that often remain blocked after a heart attack, according to a study published this week in Nature Communications.
The research, led by the University of Bristol and University College London, identified a biological brain-gut-heart signaling pathway.
This discovery appears to explain how GLP-1 drugs — which mimic glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and appetite — protect heart tissue from a condition known as “no-reflow.”
“In nearly half of all heart attack patients, tiny blood vessels within the heart muscle remain narrowed, even after the main artery is cleared during emergency medical treatment,” Dr. Svetlana Mastitskaya, the study’s lead author and a senior lecturer at Bristol Medical School, said in a press release.
“This results in a complication known as ‘no-reflow,’ where blood is unable to reach certain parts of the heart tissue.”
In nearly half of all heart attack patients, tiny capillaries (blood vessels) remain narrowed even after the main blocked artery is cleared. (iStock)
This lack of blood flow increases the risk of heart failure and death within a year. GLP-1 medications could prevent this, according to the researchers.
How it works
When the GLP-1 hormone is released in the gut or administered as a drug, it sends a signal to the brain, which then sends a signal to the heart that switches on special potassium channels in tiny cells called pericytes.
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When these channels open, the pericytes relax, which allows the small blood vessels (capillaries) to widen and improve blood flow to the heart muscle, the researchers noted.
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The new study used animal models and cellular imaging to track how GLP-1 interacts with heart tissue. When the researchers removed the potassium channels, the drugs no longer protected the heart — confirming they play a key role.
The findings suggest that existing GLP-1 medications, already used for type 2 diabetes and obesity, could be repurposed as emergency treatments. (iStock)
The findings suggest that existing GLP-1 medications, already used for type 2 diabetes and obesity, could be repurposed as emergency treatments during or immediately after a heart attack to reduce tissue damage.
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The researchers noted several limitations, including that the study relied on animal models.
Clinical trials are necessary to determine whether the brain-gut-heart pathway operates with the same timing and efficacy in humans.
While the study highlights the drug’s immediate benefits during a heart attack, it des not establish whether long-term use of these drugs provides a pre-existing level of protection. (iStock)
Additionally, while the study highlights the drug’s immediate benefits during a heart attack, it does not establish whether long-term use of the medication provides a pre-existing level of protection.
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The research was primarily funded by the British Heart Foundation.
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Collagen supplements have exploded in popularity, touted as everything from an anti-aging miracle to a muscle recovery booster.
But a sweeping new review conducted by U.K. researchers suggests that while collagen may help improve skin elasticity and ease arthritis pain, it does little for athletic performance or wrinkle reduction.
Researchers from Anglia Ruskin University analyzed 16 systematic reviews and 113 randomized controlled trials involving nearly 8,000 participants worldwide, which they say is the most extensive evaluation of collagen’s health effects to date.
The review found consistent evidence that collagen supplementation improves skin elasticity and hydration over time and provides significant relief from osteoarthritis-related joint pain and stiffness, according to findings published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum.
A large U.K. review found that collagen supplements may improve skin elasticity and hydration over time. (iStock)
The researchers, however, did not find meaningful improvements in post-exercise muscle recovery, soreness or tendon mechanical properties (strength, springiness and stretch resistance).
“Collagen is not a cure-all, but it does have credible benefits when used consistently over time, particularly for skin and osteoarthritis,” co-author Lee Smith, professor of public health at Anglia Ruskin University, said in a statement.
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“Our findings show clear benefits in key areas of healthy aging, while also dispelling some of the myths surrounding its use,” Smith added.
Collagen, the most abundant protein in the body, supports skin, bones, tendons, cartilage and connective tissue, according to experts. Natural collagen production begins to drop in early adulthood and declines more sharply with age.
The study found that collagen supplements may help reduce joint pain and stiffness in people with osteoarthritis. (iStock)
The review found that long-term collagen supplementation was linked to improved skin firmness and hydration, but did not help skin roughness — a proxy for visible wrinkles.
Benefits appear to accumulate gradually, suggesting that collagen should not be viewed as an “anti-wrinkle ‘quick fix,’ but as a foundational dermal support for individuals seeking holistic skin maintenance,” the researchers said.
“If we define anti-aging as a product or technique designed to prevent the appearance of getting older, then I believe our findings do support this claim for some parameters,” Smith told the BBC. “For example, an improvement in skin tone and moisture is associated with a more youthful-looking appearance.”
Collagen supplementation was linked to reduced pain and stiffness in people with osteoarthritis, with stronger benefits seen over longer periods of use, and showed modest improvements in muscle mass and tendon structure that may support healthy aging.
Collagen did not significantly improve skin roughness, a marker of visible wrinkles. (iStock)
However, it did not show meaningful results when used as a fast-acting sports performance supplement, and evidence for benefits related to cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and oral health was mixed or inconclusive.
Dr. Daniel Ghiyam, a California-based physician and longevity specialist, said the findings align with what he sees in clinical practice.
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“Collagen is a targeted support tool, not a foundation of health or performance,” Ghiyam, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “When marketed that way, it makes sense. When marketed as a cure-all, it doesn’t hold up to the data.”
The authors noted that while many previous collagen studies have received financial support from the supplement industry, the current review did not receive industry funding.
Experts say collagen supplements may offer modest benefits for skin hydration and joint comfort, but they are not a cure-all. (iStock)
The team called for more high-quality clinical trials examining long-term outcomes, optimal dosages and differences between collagen sources, such as marine, bovine and plant-based alternatives.
Among its limitations, the review could not determine whether certain forms of collagen work better than others or what the optimal regimen should be.
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While the review included randomized controlled trials, the quality of the studies varied, with newer research generally showing stronger results.
Experts say more data and studies are needed to build on the findings. They also noted that diet plays a crucial role in skin health.
Collagen supplements, often sold as powders or pills, may improve skin elasticity and ease joint pain, experts say. (iStock)
Dr. Erum Ilyas, a Pennsylvania-based dermatologist and chair of dermatology at Drexel University College of Medicine, noted that the review analyzed previously published meta-analyses rather than generating new primary data.
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“At this time, I have not seen sufficiently strong independent evidence to routinely recommend collagen supplements to my patients,” Ilyas, who was not involved in the review, told Fox News Digital.
“Although some studies show modest improvements in markers such as hydration and elasticity, there remains limited independent, biopsy-confirmed evidence demonstrating sustained increases in dermal collagen content,” she added.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the researchers for comment.
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