JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The countdown to who will be the next president is two weeks away but just hearing about an election is making some people feel stressed and anxious.
Voters across Florida will get their first opportunities to cast an early, in-person ballot for the 2024 general election on Monday as early voting begins in dozens of counties across the state. In Northeast Florida, early voting begins Monday in Duval, St. Johns, Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Flagler and Putnam counties.
John Orr, a businessman in Jacksonville, told News4JAX he looks forward to the election being over.
“I think, right now, we are in this mode of uncertainty, and right now, no one knows what to do, and people just lock up,” Orr said. “So, I think when its known and it’s certain, now you can relax and you know what you got to deal with you know half is going to be unhappy and the other half is going to be happy and we just got to figure it out
It’s easier said than done for some people. In fact, 73 percent of Americans are reporting extreme anxiety, according to The American Psychiatric Association.
Related: Feeling stressed about the election? Here’s what some are doing and what they say you can do too | News4JAX Voter’s Guide: Learn more about the candidates & issues on your ballot before you head out to vote
Christine Cauffield, PSY.D., CEO of LSF Health Systems, provided some of the signs and symptoms of extreme anxiety.
“People are reporting and even here at LSF health systems people are calling our access to car link and complaining about somatic symptoms such as stomach aches, headaches, bodily aches and pains, also shortness of breath, agitation, feeling like they’re on edge and feelings of being overwhelmed with all of the media presentation of the back and forth with the different candidates.
Doctor Cauffield said one way to reduce stress is to turn the TV off or set boundaries on how much information you take in.
Once the election is over, some people said they are still worried. Will voters be happy with the results? Will there be more conflict like the January 6 insurrection?
“I know people are also anxious about the aftermath of the election, so what’s that going to look like?” Cauffield said. “And one of the suggestions is to plan a trip if you are a camper go camping or take a vacation to get a way to a different scenario.”
And if you’re still feeling overwhelmed; it’s time to seek professional help.