The imminent presidential election is having an impact on Americans’ mental health.

A recent national survey by AMFM, a residential mental health treatment system based in California, analyzed the anxiety levels of 2,000 Americans during an election year.

Nearly 22% of the respondents reported that election coverage was having a negative effect on their mental health.

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Navigating misinformation (57%) and “doom and gloom” messaging (56%) were identified as key stressors, as well as concern about the election’s aftermath (54%) and worry that their candidate of choice would not win (42%).

Overall, 30% of respondents reported increased anxiety related to the election, 22% said they felt overwhelmed and 18% experienced anger.

Almost 53% said they avoid election-related conversations to prevent anxiety.

More than 73% of respondents have not sought support for election-related anxiety – and don’t plan to, they said.

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AMFM concluded that it is crucial for individuals to “seek balance, limit their exposure to anxiety-inducing content, and consider seeking support when needed.”

Another survey by LifeStance Health – a mental health care network headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona – found that the presidential election is a “significant source of stress and anxiety” for Americans.

In one survey, respondents indicated that navigating misinformation (57%) and “doom and gloom” messaging (56%) were key stressors, as well as concern about the election’s aftermath (54%) and worry that the preferred candidate would not win (42%). (AP Images)

The survey, which polled over 1,000 Americans online in August 2024, found that 79% of people experience election anxiety.

Younger Americans are more likely to be affected, the results showed, including 64% of Gen Z and 54% of millennials.

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More than half (57%) of respondents said they think about the election daily, while 31% said they think about it multiple times a day.

Meanwhile, 44% of Gen Zers have postponed major milestones in their lives such as moving, going to college, getting married or having kids because of anxiety about the political climate.

Nearly two-thirds of respondents speak with therapists about politics and the election, the LifeStance survey found. (iStock)

This anxiety is also driven by friends and family, as 44% of respondents said political or election-related discussions have led to conflicts.

More than two-thirds (72%) of respondents said social media and other news coverage contribute to their election anxiety, while 34% admitted to unfollowing or blocking a friend or family member on social media due to their political views.

Alleviating election anxiety

Some mental health experts refer to political-related anxiety as “election stress disorder,” according to MK Clarkin, a licensed clinical social worker and executive clinical director at LifeStance Health in St. Louis, Missouri.

“People often report increased anxiety, depression, trouble focusing and more,” she told Fox News Digital. “Feeling a deep sense of losing control over personal lives understandably creates a sense of distress for many people.” 

Voters make their selections at voting booths on Oct. 17, 2024, in Hendersonville, North Carolina. (Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)

Experts shared a few coping methods to help keep your mental health in check through the election.

6 tips to calm down

1. Practice grounding techniques

Christina Kayanan, a licensed therapist in California and executive director of AMFM, suggested practicing grounding techniques, such as the 5-4-3-2-1 method, to help bring your focus away from worrying about the future and back to the present.

An expert encouraged building a self-care routine and practicing grounding techniques to reduce anxiety. (iStock)

“In this exercise, you acknowledge five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell and one thing you can taste,” she shared with Fox News Digital. “Grounding can disrupt anxious thought patterns and restore a sense of control.”

2. Build a self-care routine

Building a self-care routine, including mindfulness, meditation, exercise and deep breathing, can help calm the nervous system, according to Kayanan.

“A routine helps structure your day, giving you something predictable to rely on,” she said. “Even small, consistent habits, like journaling or taking short walks, can make a significant difference in managing anxiety.”

3. Challenge unhelpful thoughts

Unhelpful thoughts can include “all-or-nothing” thinking and catastrophizing a situation, which Kayanan noted can intensify anxiety.

People should edentify these thought patterns and challenge them with “evidence-based thinking,” the expert suggested.

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“Ask yourself, ‘What evidence do I have for this thought? Is there another way to look at this situation?’” she advised. 

“By reframing anxious thoughts, you can reduce their emotional impact and regain a sense of balance.”

4. Limit caffeine and alcohol

Both substances can make anxiety symptoms worse by overstimulating the nervous system and impairing our “natural ability” to manage stress, according to Kayanan.

Alcohol and caffeine can make anxiety symptoms worse by overstimulating the nervous system, experts warn. (iStock)

Reducing these substances could help decrease physical anxiety symptoms and help maintain a “more balanced emotional state,” the expert said.

5. Set healthy boundaries

Kayanan promoted setting clear boundaries in relationships, work or social settings to reduce anxiety.

This might include saying no in certain situations, delegating tasks and setting limits on social media to prevent overstimulation and burnout.

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These boundaries can also apply to election-related content, which Clarkin advised people to “be selective” about.

“Don’t be afraid to set boundaries around your digital consumption — set a ‘screen time’ limit, mute or unfollow accounts that share harmful content, and fact-check sources,” she advised.

“Most people do not post political content with the intention of having their minds changed via dialogue,” one expert said about engaging in social media discussions. (iStock)

Clarkin also discouraged engaging in political discussions on social media.

“Most people do not post political content with the intention of having their minds changed via dialogue,” she said. 

“So your energy is better spent on something else.”

6. Try progressive muscle relaxation

Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is a method that involves tensing and slowly relaxing different muscle groups “from your toes to your head,” Kayanan said.

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The technique can help relieve physical tensions associated with anxiety, while increasing awareness of where you might be holding stress in your body.

“Practicing PMR can lead to greater relaxation and reduce overall anxiety levels by promoting a connection between body and mind,” she said.

Those who experience worsening anxiety or ongoing anxiety should reach out to a medical professional for help.

When you’re feeling unwell and symptoms are quickly getting worse, you know you need medical attention — but it’s not always possible to get a same-day appointment with your primary care physician.

When sudden and severe sickness requires immediate care, the two most common options are to visit an urgent care or to head to a hospital emergency room — but how do you know which is best?

Fox News Digital spoke with multiple doctors to determine when an urgent care center will suffice and when a trip to the ER is warranted.

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When to go to an urgent care

Urgent care centers provide immediate health care services for walk-in patients, typically offering extended hours and same-day availability.  

They can be considered a “middle ground” between a primary care doctor and the ER, according to Mayo Clinic.

There are 10,728 active urgent care clinics in the U.S. as of earlier this year, according to Definitive Healthcare in Massachusetts.  

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Urgent care centers typically treat a broad spectrum of illnesses and injuries, and may have a treatment or procedure room for performing minor medical procedures such as stitches, casts and low-risk surgery under local anesthetic only, according to the same source.

Other services may include basic laboratory and imaging tests, as well as referrals for additional treatment. 

These centers can be staffed by doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses and other medical professionals.

Urgent care centers typically treat a broad spectrum of illnesses and injuries, and may have a treatment or procedure room for performing minor medical procedures. (iStock)

“If it is after hours or on the weekend, some conditions can accelerate pretty quickly and cannot wait until the next business day,” Mishi Jackson, M.D., lead clinician at Novant Health Union Cross Family Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, told Fox News Digital. 

“For example, a simple bladder infection can spread to the kidney and bloodstream and cause bad outcomes.” 

“Most patients are pretty good at determining what constitutes something minor versus something major.”

Jackson noted that not all urgent care centers offer the same services. She encourages patients to check in advance to make sure the center they are visiting can help with their needs.

“With minor injuries or illnesses, an urgent care facility may be appropriate,” Matthew Shannon, M.D., director of community emergency medicine at University of Florida Health in Gainesville, Florida, told Fox News Digital. 

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“Most patients are pretty good at determining what constitutes something minor versus something major.”

Below are some of the conditions that can typically be treated at an urgent care, per Mayo Clinic’s website.

The ER is open 24/7 and is equipped to treat “life- or limb-threatening health conditions,” Mayo Clinic noted, such as seizure, stroke, severe bleeding, loss of consciousness, heart attack or other escalated medical crises. (KYW)

When to head to the ER

The ER is open 24/7 and is equipped to treat “life- or limb-threatening health conditions,” Mayo Clinic noted, such as seizure, stroke, severe bleeding, loss of consciousness, heart attack or other escalated medical crises.

The emergency room is equipped with critical care services and personnel that an urgent care clinic doesn’t have, including specialists in cardiology, neurology and orthopedics, according to the same source.

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The ER will also have access to imaging and laboratory equipment that may not be available at an urgent care.

Below are some of the types of conditions that warrant a trip to the ER, as listed on Mayo Clinic’s website.

• Chest pain or pressure
• Compound fracture (bone that protrudes through the skin)
• Head injuries
• Pneumonia
• Seizures
• Severe abdominal pain
• Shortness of breath
• Sudden, severe headache, or paralysis or weakness
• Uncontrolled bleeding

Chest pain or pressure is one of the symptoms that warrant a trip to the ER, experts say. (iStock)

Other emergency conditions include high fever, fainting or sudden onset of symptoms like speech difficulties, confusion or impaired movement on one side of the body, according to Shannon.

A patient who has been involved in a significant motor vehicle crash should also visit the ER.  

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Patients may encounter wait times at emergency departments, Shannon noted. 

“All patients who present to emergency departments around the country are triaged according to a system of seriousness of complaints, their medical history and vital signs,” he told Fox News Digital.

Patients may encounter wait times at emergency departments, a doctor warned. (iStock)

“Patients who are identified as ill are brought back quickly, so the medical team can begin their assessment,” he went on. “Trained emergency nursing staff and other providers are assessing you as a patient and administering first-line care.”

“Your care really begins right when you walk in the door and talk to a nurse.”

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If your condition is fairly mild, Shannon recommends trying to see your primary doctor, even if you have to wait a day. 

“If you believe you can wait, it’s certainly reasonable to try to get your primary care to see you,” he said.

“Unfortunately, we don’t seem to have enough primary care providers, and the demand for primary care continues to outstrip supply.” 

“With minor injuries or illnesses, an urgent care facility may be appropriate,” a doctor said. (iStock)

When to call 911

If any of the following apply, you should call 911 immediately, according to the American College of Emergency Physicians.

• Your condition is life-threatening and you need immediate medical attention
• You can’t move yourself or another person without causing additional harm
• You aren’t able to drive due to physical or emotional reasons and must be transported to a hospital ER

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Mayo Clinic advises calling 911 “if you are having difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, a life or limb injury, or signs of stroke or heart attack.”

Getting injured after a fall may be an early warning sign of dementia in older adults.

That’s according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open last month.

“This study quantifies a diagnostic pattern that geriatricians and primary care providers have recognized for quite some time – falls often precede a dementia diagnosis and older adults who experience a fall should undergo cognitive screening,” co-author Molly P. Jarman, PhD., deputy director of the Center for Surgery and Public Health at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and assistant professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, told Fox News Digital.

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The Boston researchers analyzed U.S. Medicare claims data for more than two million adults age 66 and older who were diagnosed with a traumatic injury that resulted in an emergency department visit or hospital admission from 2014 to 2015. 

Half of the injuries were the result of falls.

The researchers also reviewed follow-up data for at least one year after the injury, tracking how often the participants were diagnosed with dementia.

Falls are the leading cause of injury for adults 65 years and older.

Among the patients who experienced a fall, 10.6% were diagnosed with some type of dementia within a year.

The study also analyzed data from older adults who experienced an injury from an event other than falling, such as a motor vehicle collision.

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“Among the older adults with other types of injury, only 6.1% were subsequently diagnosed with dementia,” Jarman noted. 

After accounting for variables that could potentially influence the results — such as demographics, the severity of injury and underlying medical issues — the patients with fall-related injuries were 20% more likely to be diagnosed with dementia compared to those with other types of injury.

Do falls cause dementia?

Approximately one in 10 U.S. adults over the age of 65 has dementia, past research shows.

One of the main limitations of the research is that it only looked at records back in time – so it’s unclear whether falls are causing dementia or if older adults who are at risk for dementia are more likely to experience a fall, according to the researchers.

Approximately one in 10 U.S. adults over the age of 65 has dementia, past research shows. (iStock)

“We believe the latter is most likely – older adults with mild cognitive impairment or undiagnosed dementia may be more likely to experience a fall due to changes in their gait and balance,” Jarman told Fox News Digital.

“The fall then leads them to have more interaction with the health care system, which results in their dementia diagnosis.” 

“When we hear chest pain, we think heart attack — and when we hear falling, we should be thinking dementia risk.”

Michael S. Okun, M.D., medical advisor to the Parkinson’s Foundation and director of the Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at the University of Florida Health, confirmed that when older adults start falling, this could be a potential warning symptom. 

He was not part of the study.

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“When, for example, we hear chest pain, we think heart attack — and similarly, when we hear falling, we should be thinking about dementia risk,” Okun told Fox News Digital.

“A good rule of thumb would be to initiate an examination of thinking ability as soon as possible for new onset falling.”

Shifting the paradigm

It is not routine practice to perform cognitive screening for older adults who experience a fall, according to Jarman.

“We hope that the results of our study will encourage clinicians to monitor the cognitive health of older adults who fall,” she said.

Patients with fall-related injuries were 20% more likely to be diagnosed with dementia compared to those with other types of injury. (iStock)

Clinicians could start screening during the initial hospitalization after a fall, Jarman suggested, and the patient’s primary care physician or a geriatrician could then perform a follow-up screening.

“The notion that an elderly person needs only physical therapy after a fall is wrong,” Okun added. 

“We should be teaching folks the value of examining brain function in fallers.”

4 steps to preventing falls

Falls are the leading cause of injury for adults 65 years and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

An older adult falls about every second of every day, with one in four reporting falling each year, the same source states. 

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“Falls can lead to serious, even life-threatening, injuries in older adults,” Jarman cautioned. 

To prevent falls, the CDC recommends completing an inspection to make sure your home is safe.  (iStock)

“Patients who fall are at a high risk of losing independence.”

Most falls occur because of a combination of risk factors — and the more risk factors someone has, the greater the likelihood of a fall, the CDC warns.

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The agency recommends four practices to prevent falls.

1. Review your risk

First, have an honest discussion with your health care provider about your personal risk of falls, the CDC recommends.

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That also includes reviewing all medications if there is any chance they could make you feel sleepy or dizzy.

2. Keep moving 

Regular exercise, such as Tai Chi, helps to improve balance and make your legs stronger to reduce your chances of falling. 

Experts recommend asking your doctor which regimen is best for you.

3. Seek medical attention

The CDC recommends getting your eyes and feet checked every year and talking to your health provider about proper footwear. 

Regular exercise helps to improve balance and make your legs stronger to reduce your chances of falling.  (iStock)

Some people may have undiagnosed vision problems, like glaucoma or cataracts, which can increase the risk of falling, the same source noted.

4. Do a home inspection 

Lastly, the agency recommends completing an inspection to make sure your home is safe. 

This includes removing clutter, using double-sided tape to keep rugs from slipping, placing items in cabinets that can be easily reached without a step stool, installing grab bars next to and inside tubs, and placing non-slip mats on shower floors. 

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People should also consider using nightlights to help guide them to the bathroom and ensuring that the entire home has adequate lighting, the CDC advised.