Nikki talked to MentalHealthPH Community and Organizational Development Unit Head Nykko Bautista and Learning & Development Officer and Educator Marie Felipe on Heard On Thursdays last May 12, in regards to experiencing Post-Election Stress Disorder and how to cope with our emotions while navigating our way through this. Here are 5 helpful tips and insights that could slowly ease the mixed emotions a lot of us may be experiencing right now.
1. How to deal with political diversity within your community
When interacting with a group of people, try to make sure every conversation is logical. Acknowledge every individual’s opinion and know where that person is coming from. A proper discourse is the most ideal situation despite the difference in ideologies.
2. What to do when a loved one expressed a view that is entirely different from yours
Understand relationships first with that certain loved one, and know when to convey your thoughts and feel it is a safe space to have a conversation regarding these topics. Also try to be more open and understanding towards your loved one, despite the contrast of emotions with the election results. It’s okay to tell them that you are not in the right headspace to grasp and talk about current events. It’s okay to ask for time and space before you’re ready to open up. Communication is key. Expressing support is also key when you or your loved one are going through certain feelings.
3. Social media purging or disassociating someone out of your life after election season for the sake of one’s mental health. Is it recommended?
This election season really had a lot of Filipinos at the peak of their emotions, although understandable, it’s better to not make drastic decisions. Before you make these decisions, take some time and be a logical person. We know that there may be some people worth unfriending, but make sure that your decisions are backed by logic and strength to tell yourself that you can live without them in your life. Your mental health is important too. If you know that this person doesn’t bring out the best in you, it’s okay to disconnect. Family members, on the other hand, are a bit difficult to handle in terms of cutting off. We can’t necessarily remove them in our lives. The best way is to compartmentalize. Separate hard-hitting views and topics from the relationship you have with a family member. If the going gets tough, it’s better to seek help about how to manage the situation or have a mature conversation with that certain family member.
4. How to deal with current events and the stress or anxiety that people are experiencing right now
For those who are feeling disheartened or feeling down post-elections, that is totally valid. There’s no shortcut to feeling better, we really have to go through and feel all these emotions while also allowing ourselves to breathe. Another thing is to never compare your own feelings to others. Everyone’s on a different path in terms of coping and we shouldn’t take it against them nor invalidate their feelings. We all have our own pace, there’s no need to rush. Take a breather.
Look at the bigger picture as well. Our responsibility as voters only lasted for a day, but our responsibility as Filipinos and for our country and our advocacy continues. When you’re ready to pick yourself up and start continuing the work again, make sure that you really are okay at that point. Coping with PESD would not be possible if you are still not in the right headspace. Take a break, focus on your emotions and yourself.
Make sure you learn something from the experiences you’ve had during the campaign and election season. Use those learnings to grow as a person.
5. How to move forward without giving up on your convictions
Pick out the good things that you want to take with you on the next chapter of your life, and learn from the bad things that happened, then move forward. Moving forward is to develop and grow as a person. It’s more about letting yourself acknowledge that certain things happened and that there’s still work that needs to be done. There’s always a purpose to why you got involved in the campaign season in the first place. Despite the possible results of the election, continue to push for real progress because we can still have that. Never give up on your convictions.
Post-Election Stress is truly understandable especially since there’s a lot at stake with the elections, but remember that there are a lot of people and organizations who are willing to help those who need it in terms of their mental health. Take your time as you continue to cope at your own pace.
To learn more about post-elections mental health, watch the full interview of MentalHealthPH on Heard On Thursdays with Nikki here:
Listen to the podcast episode here:
