Is the Trump Era Affecting Your Stress Levels?

If you’ve been feeling unusually high stress levels for the past few months, you aren’t alone! I’ve noticed that many of my clients have been deeply affected by the election, which is affecting their diet, sleep, exercise habits and emotional health. I had a discussion with an internist in my office complex who said she is getting numerous requests for medications for depression, anxiety and insomnia. This prompted me to write this blog post. This is not a political blog post … but more of a concern for the health of my clients … and people in general.

Effects of stress on eating/exercise behaviors

So how would a nutritionist know about the effects of post-election stress on my clients – after all, I’m
not a therapist! As most nutritionists can attest to, many of our nutrition counseling sessions are more like therapy sessions as eating is often closely tied with emotions. Recently, I’ve had many clients come right out and tell me they’re feeling depressed, anxious, agitated, hopeless, helpless or just out of sorts. This has lead to an increase in sleepless nights, more alcohol, and comfort food along with a decreased motivation to exercise and stick to a healthy eating plan. These behaviors can ultimately affect long term health.

Other clients haven’t come out and shared their feelings, yet I pick up clues from their food logs … more sweets, more carbs, less exercise and/or more alcohol … or they stop keeping food logs totally! A few questions on my end bring out the feelings that contribute towards these behaviors.

Advice from a psychotherapist

Life in general is stressful as you deal with work, financial issues, family and relationships. But it’s even worse now! No matter whom you voted for in the election, it feels like we are in a cloud of uncertainty (or negativity for others) which is constantly on our radar due to the television, newspapers,  twitter and facebook as well as conversations with friends and colleagues. We all deal with this in our own ways and some people are more affected than others.

I spoke with licensed psychotherapist, confidence expert and coach, Karol Ward to get her tips on how to handle emotional overwhelm. She says “It’s more than okay to say, I am afraid, or what I am witnessing makes me sad, or feel powerless. The acknowledgement of feelings does not trap you in your feelings. To admit to the very human reaction we all have when we experience something beyond our control, keeps us in reality. Being in reality allows for both deep feelings and the ability to take necessary action.You don’t have to pretend to feel upbeat if you don’t feel that way. You don’t have to be positive if that’s not your state of mind. And you certainly don’t have to be ashamed that you  are scared for yourself or others. The more you give yourself the permission to feel what you need to, then take the self-care action you need to, the more you will have your inner self to rely on. So share your thoughts and feelings with people you trust and get the emotional support you need when you need it.”

Here are some of Karol’s self-care tips to try:

Media Diet – Limit the amount of time you spend watching and absorbing and information that upset you. Watch for important news but give yourself a break from the constant barrage of “breaking news”.

Move Your Body – Release stress through some form of movement if possible. Walk your dog, go to
the gym, play with your kids out doors, stretch, or jog.  Choose the movement that matches your mood.

Quiet Time-Take some personal time to write, meditate, pray, or even watch a movie that soothes your
 soul.

Connection-Stay connected to the friends, family and community that offer you the most support.

Join Karol’s community HERE and receive your free 5 stress relief audio download set to original music. (I downloaded them and they are great!)

 Here are some of my nutrition and lifestyle tips to decrease stress levels:

• Try to make sleep a priority. Read a book you enjoy before bed to help you unwind.
• Remind yourself that you need healthy foods to nourish your body.
• Limit time on Facebook or any other media outlets that cause more anxiety.
• Limit caffeine as it can exacerbate feelings of stress and make you edgy.
• Remind yourself that consuming sugary foods can wreak havoc with blood sugar, which can increase feelings of stress.
• Limit alcohol. Not only is it a known depressant, but it cause cause you to experience broken sleep. This can increase hunger the next day and make it less likely you’ll exercise

Feel free to share any tips that have helped you deal with this politically stressful time