Realistically, their politics don’t affect us, right? Well, as one of our democratic allies and seeing as they exert significant global economic influence, we should be paying attention. Keep reading as we’ll unpack more about the US election, why you might feel anxious, why election time can conjure negative emotions, and ways to remain calm during this turbulent time.
Why do we concern ourselves with the US election in Australia
It’s not an anomaly; during the 2016 presidential election, Australian media was permeated with US content. And it’s not too dissimilar this time around. The presidential debate between Harris and Trump garnered over 1 million Australian viewers – according to OzTAM data.
Similarly, Social media saw a surge in viewers watching discussions on who won, who lost, policies, and more. For perspective, on TikTok, #election2024 has over 724,000 posts, #kamalaharris has over 695,000, and #trump has a whopping 8.3 million posts. With the election pervading the media on a global scale, it can be difficult to understand why we can’t switch it off and why we may feel apprehensive. Let’s unpack this.
Understanding election anxiety
Do you feel a pit in your stomach when you see election news? If so, you’re not alone. According to Boston University, the scale of the election and the importance placed on the outcome can make us feel overwhelmed on a global front. To understand why, Headspace outlines that our stress levels can rise due to debates and politics overrunning every facet of our lives: at work, at home, and on social media. Equally, we may be stricken by anxiety over the result and whether the winner aligns with our political values. Did you know that Headspace has referred to this type of anxiety as ‘election stress disorder’.
Australia’s Relationships & Impact from the US election
You may also be concerned about what will happen to our relations with other nations post the US election, such as our ties with China. According to the Australian Embassy, our bilateral economic relationship with China is one of our most important. In fact, China became Australia’s largest export market in 2009, injecting over $100 billion into our economy.
As two key players in the Indo-Pacific region, Australia is highly concentrated on maintaining a positive, collaborative relationship. Yet, there is a sense of fear that tensions between the US and China may flare due to trade and economic policies that could cause a divide – a 2017 Australian Foreign Policy white paper explains. A Pew Research Centre survey also reports that “a substantial share” of their American participants see China as an enemy and that the US should limit China’s power.
As such, Australia’s significant partnership with both nations, the instability between the US and China, fears of what may happen after the US election, and what that may spell for Australia can negatively impact our mental health. So, how do we manage our wellbeing during election time?
Finding our calm during election time
In light of everything we have discussed, let’s explore ways to lower our stress levels and find our calm based on Mindspace’s research. Ultimately, these techniques could help during any stressful situation – including during an election:
- Take time to decompress and reduce your media consumption. Rather than switching on the news when you get home from work, take a minute to centre yourself and do something enjoyable.
- Similarly, reduce the amount of news you consume on your phone. Social media is a hotbed for political views, and news outlets leverage the global coverage that social media possesses.
- Alter your thinking around voting. Participating in an election should empower you to have a voice and make a positive difference. While this one is tricky for Australians watching the US election from afar, consider this tip when it’s our turn to vote next May.
- Finally, consider setting boundaries with others and tell them if you’d prefer not to talk about it. Equally, if you’re going to have these conversations, consider the goal of your discussion and be mindful that not everyone will share the same opinion as you.
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