Election night can create a roller coaster of emotional stress as results come in. Pundits will debate, and if the last few weeks are any indication, misinformation and conspiracy theories will fly. No matter where you stand politically, it's a high-stakes event, and that tension can feel overwhelming, making you vulnerable to manipulation that makes you feel worse, not better. Here's why emotions become so volatile, with tips to recognize the pitfalls, keep your balance, and protect your mental well-being as results unfold.
Election night stress is normal and can affect even those who typically avoid politics. Around 70 percent of Americans feel elevated stress during election season (American Psychological Association, 2024). The stakes are amplified by messaging, misinformation, and media coverage that make election outcomes feel like a personal attack. Politicians emphasizing the danger of an opponent's win further increases feelings of threat and betrayal.
Elections are increasingly presented as dominance contests that promise social benefits for the winners at the cost of the losers rather than a valuable part of the democratic process. Watch for messaging designed to trigger your emotions and make you feel under attack. The perceived threat of losing can amp up stress and raise the potential for aggressive behaviors and violence (Carré et al., 2009), further increasing anxiety and vulnerability to political manipulation.
Recognizing that stress is a normal reaction to a charged environment can help you put your feelings in perspective. But acknowledging stress doesn't mean letting it control you. Even when we're unhappy with the results, we can choose how we react.
We're wired to pay attention to updates, making us vulnerable to FOMO when emotionally invested in the outcome. However, news coverage on election night is repetitive and filled with speculation and........