How many times a day do you read political tweets? How many times do you scroll through Instagram posts encouraging you to vote one way or the other? How many times have your conversations with friends and family revolved around the election?

For me, it’s infinite. 

We’re all suffering from different types of anxiety. In March, we grew anxious over the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on our health and education. Ever since George Floyd’s murder in May, we’ve been anxious about racial tensions. As a senior, I’m anxious about college applications and the pandemic’s impact on my future. And all along, we’ve been anxious about the election: the big, scary “e-word” that we just can’t seem to stop thinking about. 

I’m not surprised that the majority of us are overwhelmed by the 2020 elections and are suffering from “election stress disorder,” according to the New York Times. The stress, anger and anxiety may seem new, but quite frankly, these emotions have only grown since the 2016 election, when our country started to grow more polarized and divided than ever before.

Elections remind us not only of our rights, but also of the civic responsibilities we hold within our democracy. According to a poll by MyVoice, equal access to health care, climate change and the economy are most important to people ages 14-24. Our generation, “Generation Z,” has been actively participating in the 2020 election – whether it’s through taking part in civic engagement (eligible to vote or not), protesting, campaigning, writing petitions or engaging in social media discourse. 

Despite the activism, the over-politicization, conspiracy theories and identity crises continue. Across the nation, students’ mental health and wellbeing are at stake as we endure sociopolitical stress from political events and social movements.

Whatever the outcome, there will be a negative reaction; our country is too polarized to escape this fire unscathed. Yet, we must remember that tearing each other down is not the way to cope with the results. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions – even if you don’t agree with them – and we can’t control what others think. Instead, we should respect everyone’s opinions and allow them to express their beliefs.

According to the Washington Post, some private schools will not conduct classes on Nov 3. to support students who work as poll workers. Additionally, some schools will not be conducting classes the day after election day, on Nov. 4, to give students time to deal with post-election tensions, such as the uncertainty of not having a final outcome or the anger of not having the outcome they hoped for.

Even if your school isn’t giving you the day off, if you’d like to, take a step back from the chaos of the election. Limit your intake of news and social media pre-and-post election. Encourage positive conversations rather than heated debates over partisan topics. Practice relaxation techniques, be it yoga, meditation or anything else.

Our country’s motto is “united we stand, divided we fall.” Right now, we could not be more divided. Rather than tear each other apart, let’s stand together – regardless of political views – and unite with love and compassion. That’s the only way to move forward.