We’re less than two weeks out from Election Day and, so far, the lead up to November 5 has been an anxiety-producing experience. Between two assassination attempts on former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden’s decision to step away from the race, and Vice President Kamala Harris’ acceptance of the Democratic presidential nomination, there’s barely been a moment to breathe — or remain unstressed — as bombarding news continues to surface.

According to Assistant Professor of Psychology Melanie Maimon, Ph.D., stress occurs when we encounter situations that are appraised as challenging or threatening to our well-being; while stress is expressed differently person-to-person, it can result in individuals feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or overly exhausted.

“Managing election stress can be tough because big issues aren't going away and there's a lot of legislation tied directly to deeply personal issues that affect people's daily lives,” says Maimon, an expert in social psychology.

Our stress can also impact our atmosphere and environment, and caregivers may find themselves less patient and more likely to snap at their children. According to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey, 65 percent of U.S. adults always or often feel exhausted by politics and 55 percent always or often feel angry. To calm worries and navigate an unknown future, Maimon shares that there are two ways people tend to deal with stress: problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping.

“With problem-focused coping, your goal is to proactively address that problem head-on,” Maimon says. With emotion-focused coping, you're dealing with your emotional response to the stressor.”

Both methods can be used in the face of the upcoming election. Proactive measures could include volunteering with a campaign, working a polling location on Election Day, encouraging people to vote, or educating yourself and others in your network on candidates and legislation. Maimon notes that these actions could give people a sense of control during the election cycle and can make them feel better in the face of stress.

On the flip side, emotion-focused coping measures involve distancing oneself from the problem — such as avoiding news stories and scrolling past election-based social media content. If individuals still want to stay informed but not get overwhelmed, conduct regular check-ins.

“If you feel yourself dipping really far into that bad stress, it's a signal to take a bit of a break,” says Maimon, noting that staying well rested, exercising, meditating, and spending time in nature can help reduce stress and help individuals feel grounded.

Lastly, one of the best ways to handle stress is through social support.

“Just being there for someone and giving them an opportunity to talk through and vent about what's going on can be good for that interpersonal connection,” Maimon says.

She notes that if family and friends are stressed, take their lead — whether they want to talk more in depth about issues or decide to disengage with the topic.