Is This A Crisis? How to Tell Urgency from Noise, a 1½-minute video — with Dr. Daniel BE

With constant news updates and rising tensions, it’s easy to feel like we’re in a perpetual state of crisis. This heightened state of anxiety and stress is taking its toll. According to a report by The Washington Times on October 15, 2024, more than 60% of adults have expressed that the contentious presidential race has taken a toll on their mental well-being, as revealed by a Forbes survey which also highlighted that the strain has strained some relationships.

In a recent email sent out to our mailing list, we inquired about your experiences with election anxiety. The majority of respondents shared that they feel as if we are currently in a crisis. Given this feedback, we believe it would be beneficial to provide some insights on navigating our world when it feels like we’re in a crisis.

Dr. Daniel BE, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, discusses the emotional skills needed to know when anxiety is fueling the fire and how you can stay grounded, steady, and true to yourself.

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How We Respond to Perceived Crises

When people perceive a crisis, whether it’s election anxiety or other forms of social unrest, they experience both physical and psychological responses rooted in our survival instincts. These reactions, often referred to as the “fight, flight, or freeze” response, are essential for human survival in the face of danger. Even though modern stressors like political events don’t pose immediate physical threats, our bodies still react as if they do.

What Happens In Your Body

Physiologically, the body responds to perceived threats by activating the sympathetic nervous system, which releases stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. This response increases heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate to prepare the body to either confront or escape the situation. While this response is protective in short bursts, chronic activation due to prolonged stress, such as continuous exposure to polarizing political events, can lead to symptoms of anxiety, depression, and even cardiovascular issues. Studies by the American Psychological Association (APA) show that ongoing political stress has tangible effects on mental health, with more than 60% of Americans in 2020 reporting stress from the political climate (APA, 2020).

What Happens In Your Brain

Psychologically, our perception of crisis can distort how we see and relate to our world. The brain’s amygdala, responsible for processing emotions, becomes highly active during stress, often overriding the prefrontal cortex, which handles rational decision-making. This can lead to heightened feelings of fear, anger, and a tendency to see situations in more extreme or polarized ways. This phenomenon, termed an “amygdala hijack” by Daniel Goleman in “Emotional Intelligence” (1995), explains why people may react impulsively or experience heightened fear and anger during stressful times. This response can be advantageous for dealing with immediate physical threats but is less adaptive for managing prolonged, abstract stressors like political crises.

Skills for Dealing with Crisis

Humans respond this way to perceived crisis situations because our brains are wired to protect us from harm. However, understanding the sources of our emotions and finding healthy ways to deal with stress, such as the emotional skills taught in counseling at BEing There, can help mitigate these impacts and enable grounded, calm choices in chaotic times.

References:

  • Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. Bantam Books.
  • American Psychological Association. (2020). Stress in America 2020: A National Mental Health Crisis. Link
  • The Washington Times. (2024, October 15). Forbes poll finds contentious presidential race damaging mental health, relationships. Link
  • Forbes Health. Election Anxiety: What It Is And How To Cope. Link

Learn more about Dr. BE

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

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