The Impact of Political Despair on Mental Well-being
Psychologist Maggie Mulqueen highlights the growing trend of politically engaged individuals deliberately avoiding news to protect their mental health.
Maggie Mulqueen, PhD, is a psychologist in Brookline, Mass., and the author of “On Our Own Terms: Redefining Competence and Femininity.” You can find more of her work at drmaggiemulqueen.com. The views expressed in this commentary are her own. Read more opinion at CNN.
Democracy is built on the idea of having an informed citizenry. However, what if staying informed becomes a challenge to mental health? In my psychotherapy practice, I am deeply concerned about what I am hearing. The constant stream of news in today's 24-hour news cycle does not necessarily equate to more knowledge. As we approach the beginning of the 2024 presidential campaign, it is crucial to find a way to help individuals balance their ability to function with their desire to stay informed.
Maggie Mulqueen
Maggie Mulqueen
The well-documented mental health crisis in our country can be attributed in part to the feelings of inevitability that we are facing the same two candidates as in the 2020 election and dysfunction in Congress will continue to reign.
So now, rather than staying up to date with current events, my patients are withdrawing as much as possible from the news. Rather than compulsively listening to news, they are compulsively avoiding the news.
Even my most politically engaged patients are increasingly turning away from political news on purpose. They are actively withdrawing from political information or solicitations as a silent protest against a system they view as broken and unfair. This stands in contrast to disengagement or apathy, which are passive stances.
Maintaining a sense of agency is beneficial for mental health compared to simply giving in. However, it can be challenging to strike a balance between staying informed and feeling overwhelmed. While my patients do care about the election's outcome, they are consciously limiting the amount of attention they give to the candidates in order to manage their emotional well-being.
Withdrawal can also be a natural response to feeling tired. One patient expressed frustration about early political ads and questioned if the constant bombardment would actually make a difference. With the election appearing to focus more on personalities than policies, many feel like there is not much new to learn. Most people believe that the candidates have already been thoroughly evaluated. In such a scenario, additional information may only deepen existing divisions and reinforce one's existing beliefs rather than change their opinions.
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A patient recently shared her need to limit news intake for the sake of her mental health. She mentioned feeling overwhelmed and anxious after being consumed by cable news during the last two elections, leading her to decide to avoid being deceived again. Many of my patients express a similar skepticism towards news sources and feel tired of being misled. This sentiment is not limited to a specific political affiliation but is rather a common feeling among them. They view more information as bothersome rather than enlightening, with one patient even stating, "Democracy is already broken. We are living in a plutocracy now. I will vote out of habit, not because I think it matters."
On the other hand, my college-aged patients have not yet established the habit of voting and show little interest in engaging politically, even expressing a lack of motivation to vote. A recent poll conducted in December revealed that only 49% of individuals between the ages of 18 to 29 are "definitely" planning to vote in the upcoming presidential election. They perceive politics as something happening around them rather than involving them directly. Unlike the excitement seen among students during Barack Obama's first election, the young adults I work with are more focused on trying to make up for lost time during the pandemic. They feel powerless in getting politicians to address their concerns, leading them to disengage from national discussions. One college student in my practice expressed their disillusionment by stating, "They are both older than my grandparents! I just can’t get excited about voting. If they understood us, they would figure out how we could vote by text." This sentiment reflects a feeling of being overlooked rather than entitlement.
When my patients express a desire to withdraw, it often stems from an underlying feeling of depression. A mix of powerlessness, skepticism, and fatigue can create a strong sense of despair. This sentiment is not unique to them - a Pew Research Center survey in September, before the presidential primary, showed that 65% of respondents often felt "exhausted" when thinking about politics. Withdrawal, in this context, can be seen as a way to protect oneself actively, allowing individuals to continue functioning in daily life rather than succumbing to hopelessness. By reducing their exposure to news, they hope to alleviate some of their feelings of depression.
Understanding this response from a psychological perspective is crucial if we want to encourage active citizenship. For instance, think of how adolescents retreat to their rooms when faced with demands from their parents. As the parents raise their voices, the teens retreat further into themselves, drowning out the noise with music and frustrating their parents even more. Simply resorting to scare tactics is not effective in changing someone's behavior. Meaningful communication is essential to avoid reaching a point where opposing viewpoints become irreconcilable.
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The common practice of receiving numerous text messages from politicians seeking office is a clear example of ineffective scare tactics. Many of my patients receive donation requests from candidates all over the country, finding them intrusive and choosing to ignore them. During therapy sessions, patients often express frustration at the invasion of their personal space: “I keep my phone on in case my husband or kids need me, not for a stranger to ask for money,” one patient remarked. Taking proactive action by texting STOP to these messages is a way for individuals to assert their power in what may seem like a powerless situation.
Developing a sense of purpose is a powerful way to combat despair compared to withdrawing from the situation. I advise patients to find ways to actively engage in the election process instead of feeling helpless. Some have chosen to participate in local politics, establishing a closer connection with the candidates. Others have found fulfillment in writing postcards or making calls to voters in different states, feeling like they are making a personal impact rather than being indifferent.
The key question is whether opting out of involvement in campaigns will result in decreased voter turnout. It is important to support individuals in maintaining their mental well-being leading up to the election, while also taking the necessary steps to ensure they can cast their vote. This way, they can take pride in knowing they contributed, regardless of the election outcome. Our nation and society flourish when we have a clear sense of purpose.
Editor's P/S:
The article raises concerns about the mental health impact of the 24-hour news cycle and the upcoming presidential campaign. It highlights the trend of individuals withdrawing from political news to manage their emotional well-being. This withdrawal is a response to feelings of inevitability, dysfunction, and fatigue. It is also a form of protest against a system perceived as broken and unfair.
The article emphasizes the importance of finding a balance between staying informed and feeling overwhelmed. It suggests that withdrawal can be a natural response to feeling tired and overwhelmed, but it is important to avoid disengagement or apathy. The article encourages individuals to find ways to actively engage in the election process, such as participating in local politics or writing postcards to voters. It is crucial to support individuals in maintaining their mental well-being while also ensuring that they can participate in the democratic process. citizenry.
