Voters across the Bay Area voice concerns ahead of the 2024 election

It was a week before Election Day and voters across the country were filling out their ballots. Along with that warm feeling of community pride, there may be another feeling: anxiety.

Health experts warn that, along with strong desire, this choice has also caused great fear.

Along with all the heat and chaos of the 2024 Presidential election there is also a lot of fear being generated.

When he cast his ballot at the Contra Costa County Elections Office on Tuesday, resident John Netherton felt the future of the state hung on his vote.

“I think this is the most important election I’ve ever participated in. Our country is in trouble and we’re going in the wrong direction,” he told CBS News Bay Area. “Anxiety is different for different people. And I suffer from anxiety to begin with, so…”

Netherton has many companies. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) found that 73% of Americans are very worried about the upcoming election.

Dr. Petros Levounis, past president of APA, said his agency asked him to cancel his schedule on November 5, Election Day, for patients who may need help.

“And this is something we see every four years,” he said. “It’s happening, but it’s more so this year. And it’s not just because the election is so close, as many people say, but also because social media has been polarizing people.”

At Kaiser Permanente, director of behavioral health Dr. Nicole Ibarra says mental health practitioners are seeing an uptick in patients seeking help for anxiety disorders boosted by the presidential election.

“And we often worry about things we can’t control,” Ibarra told CBS News Bay Area. “So, at this point in time, people are being encouraged to vote, to get out of the community, but there are a lot of things right now that we feel are out of our control, and naturally that can cause anxiety and worry. many and worry. worry.”

“The election has become very toxic,” said Vallejo resident Jay Christian. “Words have become fists instead of intellectual competition, I would say.”

Christian is like many people, he is worried about what will happen after the election.

An AP/NORC poll from the University of Chicago shows that most people are very concerned about violent attempts to overturn the election results. And that includes more than a quarter of Republican voters.

“Is it going to be a public thing?” said Christian. “Is it going to be a divisive thing? Is it going to be a war, an internal war? People are saying those things. They’re not saying it…but they’re still saying it.”

All this adds up to political competition that has created a rift in the country.

As he puts his ballot in the drop box, Mike Borman says it also damages relationships.

“It makes me feel like we don’t have a sense of country anymore,” he said. “I’m a Vietnam Vet and sometimes I feel like people have lost the unity that should be in America. That’s exactly what I mean by depression. I have to worry about my friends, my family, how they choose, so I know how to say, and say something without offending anyone.”

No wonder the community is feeling anxious. People would complain that their choice did not matter. Now it feels like it’s all that stands between them and the abyss.

So, what can one do to alleviate anxiety? Doctors say that modern communication brings us messages 24/7 and it is important to take a break from the news and social media.

They recommend that people who are stressed can reduce stress by spending some time with a pet or going outside for some exercise.

If you need more support this election season, the Mental Health Association of San Francisco wants to remind people of the Hotline, which serves the entire state.

To speak with a counselor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, you can call or text 855-845-7415.