Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More
Continue in Browser
Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts.
Please enter a valid zipcode.
Save
LOS ANGELES — For many Americans, political stress has become an unavoidable part of daily life.
The 24-hour news cycle, policy changes and shifting national priorities have overwhelmed many.
A 2024 survey from the American Psychological Association found that over 70% of adults consider the country’s future a significant source of stress, an increase from previous years.
Experts say this ongoing uncertainty is taking a toll on mental and physical health.
Victoria Pierce, a commercial producer, is one of many grappling with this anxiety.
“There’s definitely a lot of news fatigue happening just because there’s such an overflow of information,” Pierce said. “It’s literally every day, sometimes multiple times a day. And it just feels so overwhelming.”
Pierce says the stress has changed how she consumes news.
“For maybe, like a week at a time or something, I’ll just consume a lot of news, and it’ll be too much, and it’ll, you know, I’ll feel kind of burnt out from it, and then I’ll have to take a break for a few days.”
Michael Genovese, president of the Global Policy Institute at Loyola Marymount University, points to our increased access to news.
“In a hyper-polarized world, 24-hour news cycle and social media all elevate high levels of stress that already exist,” Genovese said.
He says the Trump administration’s strategy and national policy changes can create anxiety for people on both sides of the aisle.
“Donald Trump is a disruptor,” Genovese said. “He has been a disruptor all his career, both in business and now in politics. And he uses it as an asset because he gets everyone else on the wrong footing.”
A University of California, Irvine study found that increased political worry during the 2020 election correlated with a 10% rise in physical health issues, including cancer, stroke and heart attacks, up to three years later.
Dr. Evita Limón-Rocha, a psychiatrist with Kaiser Permanente Riverside, says prioritizing self-care is essential for managing stress.
“Movement is definitely really key in terms of decreasing stress, helping us in terms of our mood, on top of all the million and one health benefits of of exercise and movement,” she said. “But the other piece is filling in that time with connection with others.”
For Pierce, that means stepping away from screens, getting fresh air and reaching out to her support system.
“Checking in with people, whether it’s talking about what’s going on or just laughing and having a good time,” she said. “That’s really important, I think, especially during these times.”
Experts emphasize that while staying informed is important, so is protecting mental well-being. Finding a balance may be the best way to navigate today’s political climate.
If political stress is affecting your daily life, mental health professionals recommend reaching out to a primary care doctor who can connect you with support.
