Crypto News: Election day anxiety

Hi, it's Rthvika in New York, where I've recently bought a few plants to help manage my anxiety. I'll save the rest of my stress relief tips for later, but first …

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It's Election Day! This marks the long-awaited conclusion to the anxiety-inducing battle between Trump and Harris. Just last week, a colleague joked that his mom might need to be tied into a straitjacket to survive the final days.

The tension levels have been palpable for months. A survey conducted by the American Psychological Association in August found that 77% of US adults cited the country's future as a significant source of stress.

In preparation for this day, TikToker Lee Tepper (@enby_therapist) urged followers to "make a plan" for election night, emphasizing both physical and emotional safety. "You do not have to participate in every moment of suffering available to you," Tepper says in a video. They recommend finding coping tools to distract from the negative thoughts.

Tepper's advice resonates with me, especially since my TikTok feed has become a treasure trove of wellness hacks. In just a month, I've embraced my inner plant mom, picked up meditation and started journaling. While these are all positive habits, tackling anxiety requires a more sustained effort.

Deepak Chopra, the New York Times bestselling author and self-help guru, told me in an interview that "you have to get into the habit — that's the thing." He suggests taking a moment to stop to ask yourself, "Am I present?"

Our bodies react to stress by secreting adrenaline and cortisol, but Chopra explains that when we bring presence to even the most stressful experiences, our bodies produce oxytocin, dopamine and serotonin. Those hormones promote well-being and can help counteract the impact of stress.

There's also uncertainty about Nov. 5 aftereffects, with almost three-quarters of Americans worried that the voting results could lead to violence, according to the APA survey.

"With this election, everybody is projecting that it's not going to be over on Tuesday night — so how long can you distract yourself?" says Judson Brewer, psychiatrist and director of research at Brown University's Mindfulness Center. "What I recommend is that people find ways to learn to cope with that anxiety in the long run."

Brewer outlines a three-step process from his book, Unwinding Anxiety:

Step 1: Ask yourself, am I worrying?

Step 2: Ask yourself, is this helping?

Step 3: Leverage something we all have: curiosity.

As we navigate the uncertainties of the election and its aftermath, remember that the tensions that have gripped many for months may not dissipate overnight. Exploring the implications of the election and finding long-term strategies for coping will be essential as we collectively process what lies ahead. — Rthvika Suvarna

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