Majority of Americans are stressed by the election, survey finds. Here's how to cope.

If nan upcoming statesmanlike predetermination is stressing you out, you're not alone. More than 69% of American adults consciousness nan same, according to a caller study from nan American Psychological Association.

The survey, conducted online successful August by The Harris Poll connected behalf of nan APA, included much than 3,300 adults aged 18 aliases older who reside successful nan U.S.

Other apical stressors included nan early of nan nation, which is weighing connected 77% of adults surveyed.

California resident Andrew Peyton told CBS News he's emotion nan stress. 

"It doesn't thief to person your telephone buzzing pinch headlines and stuff. There's ever benignant of for illustration a inheritance radiation of accent happening," he said.

Vanessa Apkenas, different California resident, said her accent "trickles down from nan governmental scenery of nan past respective years."

Compared pinch nan erstwhile 2 U.S. statesmanlike elections, accent levels successful this study were akin to the 2020 election, but importantly higher than successful 2016.

"What sets nan 2024 canvass isolated from erstwhile APA predetermination surveys is nan corporate accent astir nan imaginable fallout from nan predetermination results," a news merchandise for nan study noted. 

"Over 70% of group are concerned astir predetermination unit aliases unit coming retired of nan election," APA CEO Arthur C. Evans told CBS News. "And complete half saying that they're concerned that this predetermination could mean nan extremity of democracy. And what's striking astir that is that some Democrats and Republicans are not that different connected those 2 issues."

Despite nan stress, much than 60% of adults surveyed are emotion hopeful astir changes nan predetermination will bring.

If you're not emotion positive, experts opportunity location are ways to cope. 

"For election-related stress, being engaged successful nan governmental process is an important measurement to negociate our stress," Evans said. "Limiting nan magnitude of accusation that you're taking in, peculiarly erstwhile you're tired, is besides different very important coping strategy."

Psychiatrist Dr. Sue Varma precocious told CBS News she suggests mounting a timer connected societal media apps to limit doomscrolling and mounting boundaries connected telephone notifications. 

"It's really important to person and carve retired ineffable spaces passim your time wherever you don't person changeless notifications," she said. "(For) a batch of group — erstwhile you're having conversations, you're astatine nan meal array — that nan telephone is perpetually telling you, infinitesimal by moment, what's happening successful nan news, and that's really difficult to salary attention, to beryllium productive, to beryllium capable to link pinch family members."

Focusing connected what you tin power tin besides help, scientist Dr. Susan Albers of nan Cleveland Clinic previously told CBS Pittsburgh.

"We person a earthy inclination to want to consciousness successful power and nan elections tin undermine that emotion of control," she said. "We request to attraction connected what we tin power versus what we can't, whether that is your regular routine, exercise, and self-care."

In:
• Election
• Mental Health