5 Anxiety Resources To Know About Post-Election

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by anxiety following last night’s surprising election results, you are not alone. I am right there with you, as are millions of Americans who are worried about what this decision means for them and for the future of the nation. Below, I’ve collected resources for anxiety that you should know about post-election. Although the shock of last night still feels painfully raw, the next four years are going to be a long, hard haul, and practicing self-care is going to be incredibly important.

If you clicked on this post, you’re probably already feeling plenty anxious, so I’m not going to dwell on the potential consequences of a Trump presidency. We have time to pick them apart, worry about them, and try to do what we can to make things better. Now, more than ever, it is essential that we reach out to others, especially those whose lives may become more vulnerable as a result of this election. But we can only care for other people if we care for ourselves first, so it is vital that you watch out for your mental, physical, and emotional health. Give yourself the time and space to work through your feelings, and don’t be afraid to seek outside help if you need it.

Thankfully, there are a lot of resources available for people struggling with anxiety (whether it’s election-induced or not). Keep these organizations handy as you see how the future unfolds in the coming months and years.

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America

The ADAA is a nonprofit that provides resources and support for people dealing with anxiety and depression. The ADAA website offer important information about a variety of mental disorders, as well as a location-based database of mental health providers.

ULifeline

ULifeline is a project from the JED Foundation that offers mental health support to college students dealing with mental disorders, including anxiety and depression. The ULifeline website offers mental health self-evaluations, and can give you info about mental health resources available to you at your university or college.

Mental Health America

Mental Health America offers an online screen for anxiety (as well as a number of other mental conditions), as well as information about how to find help. In addition to general information, the organization has resources for people dealing with mental health on campus and in the workplace.

Text therapy

If you’re not up for meeting with a therapist face-to-face, but you feel like you need some external help with your anxiety, you may want to try out text therapy. In 2015, Bustle’s Gabrielle Moss tried out Talkspace, a service that allows you to talk via text to a licensed therapist. It’s not free, but the rates seem pretty reasonable (especially compared to traditional therapy). Moss found her Talkspace sessions helpful in a number of ways, but also said that mobile therapy might not suit everyone. (You can read more about her experience here.)

If you’re in crisis (if, say, you’re about to have a panic attack), you can also receive help for free via text, 24/7, by texting the Crisis Text Line at 741741. Crisis Text Line is not therapy, and its counselors are not licensed therapists (though they have completed a 34 training course); however, they are trained to help diffuse crisis situations through active listening, and they can provide resources and referrals for further treatment.

Try out some apps

There are a bunch of apps available for people struggling with anxiety, from Pacifica, a free app that offers tools based on cognitive behavioral therapy and relaxation techniques, to Happify, a free app that has users engage in positive thinking activities. You can find a run-down of apps for people with anxiety here.

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