3 Tips To Help You Cope With Your Post-Election Anxiety and Stress

Does anyone else feel like crap post 2024 presidential election? The election results have caused feelings of shame, hurt, fear, confusion and hopelessness for many. Results, affirming their distrust for a country in which they inhabit. The election results for the 2024 presidential election are in and final and with talks of Project 2025, how can we prepare for four years under the reign and political advisement of "wig"?  

When accessing the National exit polls, here are a few questions to consider:

What do you notice? What are you thoughts? What does this mean for you? Tik Toker 'Ireadhuney' details in her how based on the information above Black women must begin to look out for and prioritize themselves. The full video is linked here, but her caption affirms "we all we got." She shares that "as Black women we must organizing every aspect of our existence because no one is coming to help us." The video now as 6,000 plus black women, expressing their concerns and acknowledgment of Ireadhuney's plea to Black women. 

When people asked "how are you today", I initially stated "good", but when I thought about it, really thought about my feelings I began to answer honestly. "I AM DEPRESSED!" "I am scared of what's to come of the next four years." "I'm annoyed at the people who are going about life as "business as usual" without acknowledging what we experienced last night." Upon conversing with a classmate, she expressed that she was fearful of the approaching verdict. Confused, I expressed that I did not understand the fear surrounding the election. She then explained that her fear is not for herself, but for the people that she knows. The undocumented students and individuals within her life and others who benefits from the programs and procedures that with wig in office will be irradiated. I immediately felt a rush of empathy and as I cry in the public library, I'm not crying for myself, but for the people who I and many others overlooked. Thank you Z, for that insight! In rationalizing and taking in information from a fact-centered approach, we begin to lose sight of the people around us. In my self-centeredness, my focus was more on my false sense of safety rather than the collective good. I voted for Kamala, but prior to that conversation I held an arrogance that allowed me believe that "I'll be good regardless." Well, I'm not good! With the words of wisdom from Ireadhuney and many others here are three tips to help you cope with post-election stress and anxiety. 

1. Ask yourself "what can I control in this moment?"

• You can control the amount of social media and media that you consume and engage with during the period.
• You can control when and who you want to engage in political discourse with. 
• You can control the amount of breaks you take to recalibrate and center yourself.
• You can control how you spend your time (to the best of your ability). 
• It's important to stay present as best as you can and stop, observe, breathe, explore, and reflect during this time period.
• Be honest about your feelings and needs! 

2. Remember to maintain healthy habits and prioritize your health and well-being 

• Did you eat today? 
• Did you talk to someone... anyone today? 
• What ways are you taking care of yourself? 
• The country is falling off the rails, but it's important that you don't follow suit. 
• To reiterate what 'Ireadhuney' so eloquently said, as a Black woman, who is going to take care of you, better than you? 
• Make intentional strides to take care of yourself in small, but meaningful ways.

3.Understand that you don't have to navigate the 2024-2025 Political decision alone 

• As the holidays are approaching, battling family members, society, and sometimes ourselves can be a difficult task to take on. 
• Find a trusted individual (or group) that can hold space and have open and honest conversations surrounding your needs and feelings. 
• Also, utilize this time to stay connected with us here at Sincerely Sanguine! Our monthly blog posts and growing community can serve as your virtual home. 
• When people attempt to minimize or placate your feelings surrounding your feelings surrounding the election decision, just know that you have a community of Black women within Sincerely Sanguine, rooting for and supporting you! 

I can only guess that you're tired of living through and experiencing history that does not positively impact you. However, this is not the end, this is only the beginning. Kamala blazed the trail and as a result on the local level many Black and Brown women and men have been selected into their local office. Let's celebrate the small victories. When you close your eyes at night and when you wake up in the morning remind yourself that "I am the standard" and move accordingly. We got this, we got us!