From Political Pain to Peaceful Power
The 2016 presidential election was so tumultuous that it’s given birth to an unofficial name for a new mental health disorder –Post-Election Stress Disorder. Around the country, psychiatrists, therapists, and other mental health professionals have seen a spike in people saying their stress levels have increased as a result of the hostile political climate. Democrats, Republicans, and Independents have all been affected.
Opening the Lines of Communication
Mary Miller, a private yoga instructor and retired psychiatrist from Quincy, IL, sympathizes with the feeling of anxiety and depression people have been experiencing since the election season. However, she says these emotions can’t be used as an excuse to argue needlessly with others. “To continue a relationship that’s not toxic, you need to set boundaries,” she says. “Getting into a fight won’t change anything. The literature shows you’re unlike to change someone’s deeply-held views. We’re all programmed to prioritize information that confirms what we already believe to be true, even when the facts turn out to be false.”
Instead of spending your time arguing with friends and family, Miller urges you to get involved with the issues you feel most passionate about. She feels activism efforts such as the recent Women’s March in Washington, DC are a positive way for people to deal with their conflicting feelings. “Feelings of helplessness and isolation fuel depression,” she says. “Take charge of the situation by looking for opportunities to make a difference. Call your representatives. Become active in movements that matter to you. Look for ways to change our culture.”
Sarah Neary is a licensed master social worker and yoga instructor with Body Moves in Coralville. She encourages you to remember that discussions won’t be productive unless you resist the urge to lecture and argue. “Be willing to actually discuss — which implies a give and take of openness, sharing, and listening without a righteous agenda,” she says. “This can be difficult, but if approached with genuine curiosity and openness for the other’s view, it’s quite healing and transformative.”
Remembering the Importance of Self-Care
When you’re feeling stressed, it’s easy to forget the importance of self-care. However, your yoga practice can be used to cultivate a peaceful, non-reactive ground from which you can relate to others. Think of yoga as a break from our hyper-stimulated culture.
Neary recommends focusing on your breathing when you’re feeling anxious about the world around you. “Pranayama, or the practice of breath control, is a yogic practice with a lot of different strategies and exercises for changing the quality of the energy in a person,” she says. “For anxiety, simply bringing the attention to the breath, then lengthening the inhale and exhale in equal measure for several minutes brings a sense of calm and balance to the mind and body. These techniques can be done anywhere, anytime, and just like any other ‘prescription,’ should be taken regularly. I encourage people to use these yoga practices out in the world: in traffic, waiting in line, and certainly during these tumultuous political times and the heated encounters that can result.”
According to Miller, taking care of your body and mind will help you feel clear and centered. She recommends adapting each day’s practice to how you’re feeling at that particular moment in time. “Yoga is a wonderful self-care tool because it’s so flexible,” she says. “One day you may need a rigorous practice to work out your angst, but you can be more gentle when you’re feeling depleted. Sitting meditation lets you process fear and anxiety. Strive to use your practice to help process internal angst and figure out external actions. Remember, we’re all in this together.”
Dana Hinders first became interested in practicing yoga as a way to naturally cope with her anxiety and depression. She’s currently a full-time freelance writer living in Clarksville, experienced with a variety of topics and platforms. Learn more at danahinders.com. This article was originally published in YogaIowa’s Spring 2017 issue.
