PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The 2024 election has been overwhelming for many people, even triggering anxiety for some.

With the race for the White House wrapping up in a few days, KDKA-TV reporter Jessica Guay spoke with a psychologist who said elections can take a toll on your health but there are ways to cope with the stress.

“I know some people are somewhat embarrassed to say, ‘The election is stressing me out and I’m overwhelmed.’ But a lot of people are experiencing it, and you’re not alone,” said Melissa Brown, a UPMC licensed psychologist and clinical manager.

People are being bombarded with campaign ads, text messages, signs, mailers, and social media posts from both political parties.

“It’s just a barrage of information over and over. And it’s just overwhelming for so many individuals,” Brown said.

She said election anxiety is a real thing. Some people worry about the potential outcome of the races and get overwhelmed with all the information on TV and online, especially about candidates’ positions on issues like the economy, immigration, and abortion.

“Many people recognize that whatever side of the aisle you fall on, there can be profound impacts. So, people really become invested, and it becomes an emotional investment in the decisions that get made,” Brown said.

Friends or family members might have differing viewpoints. Brown said that can lead to fear of confrontation.

“We have struggled as a society to really find some common language and ground to be able to have discussions. And that has really contributed to the anxiety too,” she said.

Brown said don’t go into political conversations to tell someone why they’re wrong.

“Your goal should not be to change someone’s mind, but to educate someone. We can go into a conversation just trying to be curious and open-minded and even think about how that person might have come to that viewpoint,” Brown said.

“Just try to remember where your stopping point is as well and what your limits are, what you will or will not discuss with someone,” she added.

If you’re getting too stressed out about the election and all the information that’s being put in front of you every day, there are ways to alleviate those anxieties and worries.

“It’s not really worth listening to. Throw away the flyers, scroll past what you can, mute the TV, radio. Really just go to those sources that you find reputable to get your information,” Brown said.

Brown also said to do one thing every day that’s destressing like going outside, reaching out to friends or family who can support you, and having a game plan for when the election’s over.

“How can you support yourself if the results are not what you were expecting or you had hoped for? And what can you do then? We feel out of control in this situation because we are one person and our one vote. But yet it’s reminding everybody you have a lot more ways to advocate for what your needs are and this might mean that this is the catalyst for you to engage in something that can help you feel more in control,” she said.

She said to check on your loved ones and watch for signs like change in personality, tardiness or missing deadlines.

There is a crisis text line for anyone experiencing stress or anxiety due to the election. You can text “ELECTION” to 741741. A crisis counselor will help you cool down.

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry began the 2024-25 season with something to prove. After allowing 12 goals in three starts, it was evident that Jarry was becoming a liability. As a result, the Penguins reassigned him to the AHL for a two-week conditioning stint.

Since then, Jarry has started two games for the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, winning both and posting a .922 save percentage. While some of the goals he’s allowed have been on the weaker side, Jarry has generally performed well.

Team President Kyle Dubas laid out the plan for Jarry last week. “The expectations for him while down there are to play each game for Wilkes-Barre over the next 14 days and set himself to come back to Pittsburgh confident and in good form.”

Wilkes-Barre has three games remaining during those 14 days, after which the Penguins will have another tough decision.

With Jarry returning, the Penguins will have two options. Go back to a three-goalie rotation or assign rookie standout Joel Blomqvist to the AHL. Blomqvist has been stellar in his first taste of NHL action, amassing a 2-4-0 record, a.909 save percentage, and 2.2 goals saved above expected.

Despite Blomqvist’s impressive start, his assignment may be the most likely outcome, with forwards Blake Lizotte and Matt Nieto nearing returns from their respective injuries.

With little over a week remaining on Jarry’s conditioning loan, the Penguins’ goaltending situation is primed to take another turn.

Make sure you bookmark Breakaway OnSI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more! 

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 6-2 and on top of the AFC North. The Baltimore Ravens look like a dominant team, but for now, the Steelers are better than them. The AFC has several other strong teams, too. If the Steelers ultimately do make the playoffs, they could face a tough team. The Houston Texans are young but also on top of their division. Analyst Rich Eisen believes they would beat the Steelers if the two teams played right now.

“Number eight, one spot up, I’m putting the Russell Wilson Steelers right here,” Eisen said recently on his show when revealing his power rankings. “They beat the Jets; they beat the Giants. [Wilson] is smelting. The running game’s going, T.J. Watt’s going, the special teams are going.

“All three phases are going. 6-2, they lead the AFC North. I still think if the Houston Texans play them, the Texans beat them, which is why I’m putting the Texans right here at seven.”

That’s not an unfair thing to say. The Texans have been a great team this year. They are 6-2, but their two losses weren’t awful. They got crushed by the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3, but the Vikings were rolling at that point. They also lost to the Green Bay Packers in Week 7, but the game came down to the wire.

The Texans also beat the tar out of the Steelers last year. In Week 4 of 2023, rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud dominated the Steelers, beating them 30-6. The Texans have only improved their team since then, so it isn’t a stretch to say they could do it again.

However, the Steelers have also upgraded their team this year. Their offense looks much better, especially with Wilson at quarterback. They aren’t the same team the Texans beat last year. The Steelers have been playing great recently, too, so it’s possible that they could avenge their loss from last year.

The Texans are also dealing with some huge injuries. They just lost star receiver Stefon Diggs for the year, and Nico Collins, their standout receiver last year, is on injured reserve at the moment. The Texans are deep at receiver, but replacing both those players is almost impossible.

Therefore, if the two teams played today, it wouldn’t be crazy to say the Steelers have the advantage. The Texans have a young, hotshot quarterback and a stout defense, but they might not have the playmakers to beat the Steelers.

This is all hypothetical, though. The only way the Steelers will play the Texans this year will be if they meet in the playoffs. That’s still a few months away, so if that does happen, it’s likely both teams will look slightly different. The Texans could have Collins back, or they could be suffering from more injuries. The same could be said for the Steelers. It would make for an interesting postseason matchup, though.