How to Deal with Post-Election Blues

On 8 November 2016, Americans voted for who they wanted as the President of their United States of America. The months of campaign trails were over. The media coverage was at a peak. Each placard had been nailed in the front garden lawns, driven over, and re-erected again. A tonne of merchandising was bought, both domestic made and that whole ‘Made in China’ Trump controversy. Citizens donning their discreet and subliminal red or blue clothing voted in their local polling stations, voting from their heart above all else.

Hours after polls closed, results began to trickle in, every hour to account for the vast time zone distances that cover the greatest country in the world. For Clinton supporters first came hope. The hope that swing-States would ‘stand with her’. They didn’t. Then came fear. The fear that the larger States would ‘stand with her’. They didn’t, either. Then came sadness. The sadness that came after Trump passed the 270 Electoral College votes needed to assign the next President-elect of the United States. The sadness that the impossible had happened, that the American equivalent of ‘Brexit’ had happened and that every poll had been annihilated.

America had been blindly won.

After the announcement was released, and Trump made his debut speech with his yawning son behind him, help-lines around the country were strained. Suicide, LGBTQ+, religious and immigration lines were all tested to their limits as over half of the voting public received a President they did not want through popular vote figures. Whilst many could ‘cope’, recognizing it as another process of democracy, many could not shake that sadness, feeling of lost and hopelessness. Hopefully, this article can help you with whatever you are struggling with. Whilst the future of America is at least uncertain, you have the power to improve yourself.

Breathe

It is such a cliché thing on a self-help article, but taking time out to breathe makes the world much clearer. By taking yourself out of the busy day-to-day schedules of life, sitting in a room completely empty of distractions (that does include your phone and the news), your mind will be opened up to an entire world of self-appreciation and value. So how do you actually do that? Sure, we all breathe, but how do we turn that necessary routine into something beneficial on a psychological level?

It’s all about how you breathe in. Simple shallow breaths won’t do – instead, sit up tall. Have a straight back and raise your chin to a 90 degree angle. It’ll feel unnatural, yes, but it actually works wonders. In fact, if you adopt this sitting position throughout your normal life, massive health benefits can be reaped; from larger lung capacities to spinal care. Breathe deep through your nose for 10 seconds, taking it down into your stomach and gut, and then hold it for a few seconds. Count quietly in your head, clearing all thoughts except for those numbers, then exhale slowly with an open mouth. As you do so, think of a moving ocean kissing the beach; every breath in is the tide recessing, the hold is the gentle sway of the waves, and the breath out is the tide coming back into the beach and smoothing over the sand.

Lie Down and Relax

Lying down, stretching out your muscles and simply relaxing your body is an incredible way of de-stressing yourself. Whilst you do it every night, setting apart a specific time to just lie down and ‘chill’ has many mental and physical benefits to your health. Perhaps couple it with relaxing music in the background; your favourite song, the sounds of a thunderstorm or even the elegant crackling of a campfire – anything to completely relax your mind, and in turn, relax your body.

Relieve the tension in your body. When stressed, anxious or angry, our bodies tense up. That’s why we ache after a hard day of work, after long car journeys and after decisions such as the gone elections. Let it all go – lie back, clear your mind, and body part by body part start letting things relax. Starting with your neck, remove its rigid and uptight structure. You should feel this into your shoulders, like a weight being lifted. Then down your spine and along your arms, through your fingers and your feet. Before long, you’ll either be fully de-stressed, or asleep. Both work!

Talk to Someone

Talking is often the magical cure behind many things in life – for some people, talking can ease the symptoms of depression, anxiety and other such mental health issues, and for others, talking can help them make sense of a seemingly senseless scenario. Reason with politically different individuals and identify those with similar ideals. Don’t lock yourself into a linear mind-set otherwise negative thoughts will flourish, instead branch out and gain that cultural experiences that will benefit you in the long run. Try your best friend, your parents, a stranger or even at a specific debate club. The world of diverse yet understanding opinions can be incredibly humbling when found in the right place.