It was a typical fall Saturday in Los Angeles. It was sunny and 75 degrees. But about 30 Angelenos were glued to their screens.
Actor Bradley Whitford was Zooming in from New York to address members of Swing Left Los Feliz, a local chapter of the national progressive advocacy organization. The topic of the former “West Wing” star and vocal Democrat’s remarks: election anxiety.
Concerns about the outcome of the upcoming November 5 vote are inevitable. The question is how to minimize stress.
For some, that might look like a long yoga session, activating airplane mode, and lots of hot tea. For others, talking is the best approach. Los Angeles is home to a number of distinctively creative options to stave off existential despair, including self-tapping workshops, cold-pressed juice guzzling, and taco specials.
Many of those who tuned in to watch Whitford’s speech turned to frantic phone banking to vote against or against Harris Walz, hoping it would help turn the tide of the election. is knocking on the door of Democratic candidates.
The other option, a red wave that would bring former President Trump back to the White House, is the outcome that many Americans on the left fear. Meanwhile, conservatives feel similarly uneasy about the prospect of Kamala Harris becoming president. And we have the data to prove it.
An American Psychological Association poll released earlier this month showed that election anxiety is the No. 1 stressor for American adults. According to the group’s report, which includes a survey conducted by Harris Poll, 77% of respondents identified “the future of our country” as a significant source of stress.
“It’s like when you get an MRI or a blood test and have to wait for the results,” says Lynn Bufka, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and associate director of professional affairs at APA. “During that period, we seem to have a huge potential to imagine all kinds of worst-case scenarios.”
said Sarah Laufer, a nervous progressive who watched the Oct. 26 livestream with Whitford.[I’m] Focus on what you can control: your emotions. And it won’t be easy. ”
And, as Whitford reminded Los Angeles’ most dedicated partisans, there’s still time to change people’s minds.
“I know the polls are really scary, but if you get people to vote, Harris will win,” Whitford said. “Action is not only an antidote to anxiety and despair, it truly makes a difference.”
*****
As Decision Day approaches, many Americans become obsessed with their active social media feeds.
The ubiquity of the internet and social media in recent election cycles has allowed people to manage loud echo chambers in which the most extreme electoral claims are amplified and fear is increasingly heightened.
James Long, a political science professor at the University of Washington, said the level of election anxiety this year is “unprecedented,” even compared to 2016 and 2020.
This is partly due to the combined effects of misinformation and social media, and partly due to the combined effects of misinformation and social media, as well as the widespread public response to the January 6, 2021 insurrection by a mob of Trump supporters at the U.S. Capitol. It is also because they are more concerned about the threat of post-election violence. .
“Now it’s like waiting for a train to hit and see who survives,” Long said.
The APA report found that 56% of adults said they believed the presidential election “could spell the end of democracy in the United States.”
According to Judson Brewer, a professor at Brown University’s School of Public Health, this type of anxiety can have serious effects on physical and mental health.
“People lose sleep, people waste time, anxiety can increase people’s blood pressure, it affects people’s relationships. There are all sorts of things,” he said. .
When it comes to democracy, it’s already begun, one vote at a time.
On a recent afternoon, there was light traffic and no lines at the mobile voting center outside the Lawndale Library. The center, which features two large tents covering ballot drop boxes, five voting machines and tablets for registering to vote, is one of several that will be circulating the county throughout Election Day.
“I’m worried about what will happen after the election,” said Angela Monge, 54, of Norwalk.
For Monge, a longtime TSA agent at Los Angeles International Airport, the sight of Trump supporters storming the Capitol is still fresh in his mind.
“I remember that day,” she said.
While some Americans are concerned about President Trump’s policies on abortion, taxes and immigration, APA psychologist Bufka says polls show existential concerns among supporters of both presidential candidates. He said that it has been shown that.
Many on both sides of the political divide have deeply negative feelings toward the opposition, which Bufka summarized as follows: Who are the presidential candidates? ”
Clarence Chappell, a Trump supporter who lives in Gardena, said in Lawndale this week that he is most concerned about what will happen if Harris loses.
“If the election is close, a lot of conspiracies may come to light at that time,” the retiree said. “I think if you’re on the left, there could be a lot of violence…because of all the bullshit that says, ‘If Trump gets elected, democracy will no longer exist and fascism will rise.’
*****
In a city known for ennui and egos, and a city known for its plethora of American influencers, Angelenos shake off election anxiety as they strike artistic poses for Instagram with juices and tacos in hand. There are many ways to try.
Pressed Juicery, which has 19 stores in the Los Angeles area, doesn’t sell any of its products as balms to soothe election anxiety and stress. Nevertheless, two products, Calm Shot and Unwind Tonic, recorded sales increases of at least 28% in October compared to the same month last year. (Reporter’s stress level after intake: No change)
“The general zeitgeist is doing the marketing for us,” said Andrei Najjar, Pressed’s senior vice president of brand and marketing. “Obviously something is going on,” he believes, and that is the election.
Creation Organic Juicery, which has 23 stores in the Los Angeles area, also saw a significant increase in sales of two juices it claims relieve stress. However, the company, like Pressed, does not explicitly promote them to allay election anxiety.
Nikki Rahimian, Creation’s in-house nutritionist, said sales of Death Stress and Hemp Aid juices have increased about 30% in the past two months compared to a year ago.
“Even without us doing anything, we’ve seen an increase in sales for these two products,” Rahimian said, adding that this was “probably” due to the stress of the national election. . “It’s too much of a coincidence.”
Hemp Aid contains hemp oil, which Rahimian said is “proven to calm the nervous system and calm your mood.” As for the Death Stress Juice, it has a bubblegum hue and a slight bubblegum taste. (Reporter’s stress level after intake: No change)
If you think juice isn’t hearty enough, Homestate, a Texas-style taco chain with eight locations in Southern California, is rolling out a $70 “Election Night Survival Taco Kit.”
Home State founder Briana Valdez said the kit, which will be available all day Nov. 5, was born out of a desire to provide customers with “an element of fun on a potentially stressful evening.” The offerings come at a “really big moment,” she said, but “no matter what happens the next day, there’s still leftovers in the fridge.”
*****
While some Angelenos fill their bellies to calm their nerves, proponents of “emotional freedom techniques” relieve tension by performing a series of esoteric stress-relief exercises.
On Saturday, Alex Brown, founder of health and wellness brand Good Active, will host “Release & Regulate: An EFT and Shadow Work Workshop” in Santa Monica. The event is being touted as an opportunity to “tune your nervous system and release limiting beliefs” ahead of voting day.
Brown said participants try to achieve this by pushing or hitting specific areas on their bodies to “dive deep into the shadows of themselves.”
“Myself, and many people around me, are feeling anxious leading up to this election. …That’s why we launched this event, to provide a space of comfort and peace for our community. It was about creating a moment,” she said.
Forums aimed at sharing and managing election anxiety have been held across the country in recent weeks. Book clubs hold meetings dedicated to the topic, churches open their doors to community coping meetings, and employers host group listening sessions.
David Dunning, a psychology professor at the University of Michigan, recommends that people who are suffering from negative election-related mental health effects, such as anxiety, irritability, or excessive rumination, take a break from election-related media and activities. are. Instead of doomscrolling or checking the latest polls, people should consider exercising, enjoying nature or hobbies, and socializing with friends.
“We can take time to remember what’s important in life…and step away from social media, TV and newspapers,” he said. “Time to get out of the rabbit hole and take a break.”
