WACO, Texas (KWTX) – After months of campaigning, debates and rallies, we are now just hours away from the 2024 general election, and everyone is feeling the pressure as we get closer to the outcome of what could be a historic election.

It’s often referred to as election stress and fatigue…and between assassination attempts, a last-minute candidate change, and deep divisions between the two parties, it’s been a stressful election season.

“I think people are stressed about things like their health and what rights may or may not be taken away, or… just the social climate or how people treat each other based on the results ” said Kellye, voting for the first time. Graham shared.

But while election stress is normal, according to psychologist Kristy Donaldson, recent data shows that many more people are feeling stressed about our nation’s future.

“Even in 2016, about 52% of people were stressed about the election, and now we’re getting closer to the 70% mark,” she said.

Donaldson explained that this is often the result of campaigns playing on people’s emotions to gain support, leading to greater election fatigue among voters.

“We’re definitely tired of seeing all the campaigns, all the donations,” Graham said. “I think we’re tired of seeing the arguing and the fighting and you know the general chaos and the talking between us.”

But it also creates a lot of fear in people about what will happen if their candidate doesn’t win.

According to Donaldson, “When we are afraid, we want to take control, and when we can’t take control, everything else is even worse. »

This is why election stress can be harmful to your mental health.

“Continuing to live in fear and high levels of anxiety after the election will destroy the body over time,” explained Dr. Donaldson.

So how can you manage your stress and anxiety on election night? Dr. Donaldson says to stay calm and remember what you can and can’t control.

“Saying you know I have a vote like everyone else, I don’t control the end result, I just have to understand that whatever happens at the end of all this, it will happen and in four years we we will have another vote,” she explained.

Other tips to help you deal with election stress include staying off social media, exercising to relieve stress, and avoiding talking politics until you feel calm.

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