It’s been a long road to Election Day, but now that the election is over and the results are in, some people are feeling a lot of emotions. No matter how you wake up feeling post-election, one thing is for sure: you’re not alone.
“I’m disappointed and I’m trying to figure out how I can help myself and others,” teacher Elizabeth Martin said.
After the election, Martin said she focused on helping students address the issue.
“Many students are feeling really anxious,” Martin continued.
Nurse Wendy Hall said she has mixed emotions.
“Because deep down, I really didn’t know who was the best,” Hall said.
But she is relieved the election is over and hopeful for change.
“I have a sense of gratitude because I know he’s in power, so maybe people will step up even more than they have in the past few years,” Hall said.
Santa Barbara County Behavioral Health Strategy Director Suzanne Grimsey says it’s important to acknowledge your feelings.
“People have a lot of different emotions. There’s no right or wrong,” Grimsey said.
According to Grimsey, the main ways to deal with post-election stress are:
- practice self-care
- take a break from social media
- focus on what you can control
- exercise
In addition to working with your support system.
“Our feelings may not match those of our friends and family, so finding someone to talk to who feels the same way you do is important for self-care,” Grimsey explained.
If you need mental health support, there are a variety of free resources you can reach out to.
county behavioral wellness 24/7 Toll-Free Crisis Support Hotline – (888) 868-1649. If a crisis puts someone in immediate danger, call 911.
KCSB Post-Election Resources here.
The Santa Barbara County Community Wellness Team can be reached at 805-364-2750.
