By: Jessica Taylor, LPC
It’s now secret that we live in an extremely politically charged climate. Which means it’s not uncommon to experience anxiety related to political issues. From the constant barrage of news to heated debates on social media, it can feel overwhelming and scary. If you’ve been struggling with these feelings, you might wonder, “Is therapy a good place to share my anxiety about politics?” The answer is a resounding yes. Therapy provides a safe, supportive environment to explore and address political anxiety, offering tools to navigate these challenges in a healthier, more grounded way.
Let’s dive deeper into why therapy is an ideal space to discuss your political anxiety and how it can help you cope if it feels like this concern is taking over your life.
- Therapy Provides a Judgment-Free Zone
One of the most significant benefits of therapy is the judgment-free zone it creates. When discussing politically charged issues with family or friends, you may feel judged, dismissed, or even attacked for your views. Politics can often divide people, leading to feelings of isolation or frustration.
In therapy, however, your therapist is there to listen without judgment. We are trained to provide a neutral, supportive space where you can explore your feelings about politics, without fear of being criticized or invalidated. This neutral stance allows you to express yourself freely and openly, helping you better understand your emotions and reactions to political events.
Yes, therapists usually have their own opinions, thoughts, and feelings about politics, but we are also trained to meet our clients “where they’re at,” and not bring our own “stuff” into the room (unless it makes sense clinically to do so.) There have been many times when a client shared their political beliefs, which were opposed to my own, and we were able to have a deep and meaningful conversation without judgement, anger, or anxiety coming into the room.
If you ever feel judged by your therapist, let them know! It’s important to give them the opportunity to explore why they might be coming across as judgmental so they can fix it. If they become defensive or don’t change an approach that they know is hurting you? It might be time to find another therapist.
- Therapy Helps You Untangle the Emotional Impact of Politics
Politics can stir up powerful emotions—anger, fear, frustration, or even hopelessness. These emotions can often spill over into other areas of life, affecting your mental health, relationships, and overall sense of well-being. When political events dominate your thoughts, it’s easy to feel consumed by negativity.
A therapist can help you untangle the emotional impact of politics by guiding you through your thoughts and feelings. They can help you identify the underlying causes of your anxiety, whether they stem from specific political events, personal beliefs, or general societal trends. Understanding the root of your anxiety can empower you to manage your emotions and reduce their intensity.
For example, current political issues might be triggering some unresolved trauma, which is important for both you and your therapist to know.
- Therapy Provides Coping Strategies for Political Anxiety
Political anxiety is real, and it can manifest in many forms—sleeplessness, stress, irritability, or even physical symptoms like headaches or stomachaches. If you find yourself constantly ruminating over political issues or feeling overwhelmed by the state of the world, therapy can provide helpful coping strategies.
A skilled therapist can teach you a variety of techniques to manage anxiety. These may include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is a widely used method for managing anxiety. It helps you identify and reframe negative thought patterns, so you can challenge distorted thinking and focus on more balanced, realistic views of the political landscape.
- Mindfulness Practices: Mindfulness can help you stay grounded in the present moment, reducing the tendency to spiral into anxious thoughts about future political events.
- Relaxation Techniques: Deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and guided imagery are simple yet effective ways to reduce physical symptoms of anxiety.
By learning and applying these strategies, you can reduce the intensity of your anxiety and gain better control over your emotions in the face of political stress.
I personally have been working with my clients to find “inner peace” among the chaos that is the political landscape in our country. We can’t control many of the things happening around us, but we can control whether or not calm our nervous system when it is dysregulated and find “small joys” each day.
- Therapy Helps You Develop a Balanced Perspective on Politics
While politics can be polarizing, it’s essential to maintain a balanced perspective to avoid becoming overly consumed by any one viewpoint. A therapist can help you explore your political beliefs in a way that encourages open-mindedness and healthy skepticism, rather than fear or rigidity.
Often, anxiety about politics stems from the feeling that things are out of control. In therapy, you can explore how your own values align with your political beliefs, and how to engage with the political world in a way that feels empowering, rather than overwhelming. This can involve setting boundaries around how much political content you consume (i.e.: how to cut out the late-night doom scrolling), practicing critical thinking when consuming news, and learning to recognize when your anxiety is being triggered by external events.
- Therapy Can Help You Reclaim Your Sense of Agency
Political anxiety can sometimes make us feel powerless, as though we have no control over the direction of our country, or the decisions being made at the national level. However, therapy can help you regain a sense of agency by empowering you to focus on what you can control.
A therapist can guide you in identifying actions you can take to feel more involved and proactive, whether it’s through advocacy, activism, or simply engaging in meaningful conversations about political issues. Reclaiming your sense of agency can significantly reduce feelings of helplessness and anxiety, providing you with a renewed sense of purpose and confidence in your ability to contribute positively to society.
- Therapy Helps You Strengthen Your Relationships Amid Political Differences
Political differences often create tension in personal relationships. Whether it’s with family members, friends, or coworkers, political disagreements can strain relationships and lead to feelings of resentment. This, in turn, can exacerbate anxiety and stress.
Therapy can offer valuable communication tools to help you navigate these conversations with empathy and understanding. Your therapist can teach you how to engage in productive, respectful discussions, even when you disagree. This can help reduce conflict and strengthen your relationships, making it easier to maintain a sense of connection (if this is what you want), despite differing political views. If you need space from certain relationships, that’s okay too. Your therapist can help you set and maintain boundaries from a place of reason, rather than all emotion.
- Therapy Helps You Avoid the Echo Chamber Effect
In the digital age, it’s easy to fall into an echo chamber—surrounding yourself only with people and information that align with your political beliefs. While this may feel comforting in the short term, it can exacerbate anxiety and make you feel more isolated.
Therapy can help you break free from the echo chamber by encouraging you to critically engage with diverse viewpoints. A therapist can guide you in exploring various perspectives, helping you develop a more nuanced understanding of complex political issues. This broader perspective can reduce anxiety and help you approach political conversations with an open mind, rather than fear or defensiveness.
Conclusion
Therapy is undoubtedly a safe and effective space to talk about your anxiety surrounding politics. By providing a judgment-free zone, helping you understand the emotional impact of political events, and offering coping strategies, therapy can support you in managing political anxiety in a healthy way. Whether you’re struggling with fear, frustration, or overwhelm, working with a therapist can help you reclaim your sense of agency, maintain balanced perspectives, and navigate political stress with greater resilience.
If you’ve been feeling anxious about politics, remember that therapy offers the tools and support you need to cope effectively. Need help coping with your political anxiety? Reach out and get connected to a therapist at Thrive today!