When political tension affects bipolar disorder, clear boundaries and media limits can help you stay grounded.
The constant roar of election cycles, nonstop news, and social media can feel like a direct assault on your stability. For those of us living with bipolar disorder, these political stressors often act as significant triggers for anxiety or mood shifts.
Navigating Heightened Political Climates
It goes without saying that living with bipolar is a lot like politics. It’s simply there in your life, whether or not you like it. And nothing you do will change that. So, what do you do when political tension starts affecting your bipolar stability?
When someone decides to engage you in a political discussion, what is your response? For someone like me, I choose to avoid almost all political discussions.
I grew up as a person who is hypersensitive. I have always hated confrontation, and I still do. Regardless of my bipolar 2 disorder, if I do something to hurt someone, it haunts me for days. So, getting into arguments about politics is the absolute last thing on my to-do list. My anxiety simply can’t handle some of the more heated responses that crop up these days. I’ve also experienced high levels of irritability when discussing certain topics, which tends to trigger an episode of bipolar depression. My friends and family know my core beliefs, but otherwise, I keep them to myself.
Now, this doesn’t mean that I don’t educate myself on the issues and the people involved. My personal policy is to keep an open mind, look at an issue from multiple angles and sources, and form my own opinion based on thorough research. From there, I take my opinions to the polls. That’s it.
If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed with the stress and anxiety of the current climate and want some good coping skills, here are some helpful tips I use whenever things feel tense:
1. Manage News and Social Media Consumption
“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.”
―Sun Tzu, The Art of War
There are plenty of independent online resources that give good information about what’s going on in the world, who the leaders are, and what their stances are. You don’t need to rely only on the big news outlets whose job it is to force an emotional response out of you for better ratings.
Additionally, it’s vital to limit your social media exposure. Platforms can quickly become echo chambers where people reinforce one another’s views, which can spike your stress levels. Try to focus on the facts and less on whose opinion is more important. That way, you get a better idea of what actually happened and are more prepared to form your opinion.
2. Set Boundaries and Pivot the Conversation
Sometimes it’s best to just “let sleeping dogs lie,” as they say, and not engage in conversation. Certainly, there are people out there who can handle political discussions without getting emotional, but political disagreements can still stir strong reactions even in otherwise levelheaded people. Engaging in triggering conversations may cause a bipolar episode. Be aware, though, that there are people who will word vomit all their ideas and opinions to you without your even asking. When that happens, I tend to just smile and nod. Sometimes the best thing to do in this situation is to let them vent.
You don’t have to agree with someone just because they have a strong opinion on an issue. You’re allowed to have (and keep) your own opinion.
3. Focus on Reducing Mental Health Stigma
If all else fails, talk about mental health. One thing we can all agree on — regardless of the current political cycle — is that we need to focus on fighting mental health stigma! Too many people still believe that bipolar is not a real disorder or that it’s not as important because it’s invisible. Bipolar disorder is real, and its risks for suicidality need to be talked about.
There’s never been a better time to focus on improving mental health services and treating people with bipolar with respect. Vote however you want when it’s time to go to the polls, but I urge you to keep mental health at the forefront of your mind.
Prioritize Your Mental Well-Being
Ultimately, managing your health means knowing when to step away. I encourage you to personalize your boundaries around political discussions based on your specific bipolar symptoms. If you find that political talk triggers mania or deepens a depressive lull, it’s okay to make those topics off-limits for your own peace of mind.
UPDATED: Originally published October 20, 2016