Emergency crisis hotlines for LGBTQ+ services and suicide and prevention were flooded with calls both on election night and following the announcement that Donald Trump was the 47th president elect, USA Today and KFF Health News respectively report.
Regardless of whether people are facing an emergency crisis, it’s not uncommon for stress levels to be high. People may have stayed up all night waiting for results or be worrying about the next four years.
At the McLean County Center for Human Services, Outpatient Services Coordinator Robert Wolter said clients have been bringing up elections more in sessions.
WGLT’s Melissa Ellin spoke to Wolter about how people can practice self-care and try to destress during this time.
Here’s what he had to say.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
WGLT: There are many reasons people might be feeling a bit overwhelmed. What are some things that are important to keep in mind right now?
Wolter: There are a lot of moving pieces. No matter how upset you might be, four years will come and go, and you might live in a blue state [Democratic] or a red state [Republican], and that might really kind of impact what you see on a day-to-day basis. I would always recommend, though, that people get off social media and turn off the channel if you're watching 24-hour news, because that is going to bombard you with lots of things to stress you out, and it will not help with any kind of destressing that you're trying to do.
Outline one to three tools or tactics that people can use to perform self-care — to take time for themselves and destress.
I'd kind of separate those into two categories. One would be just standard healthy living: getting eight hours of sleep, don't turn to excess of caffeine and smoking and drugs and alcohol, exercise, taking walks, just kind of the healthy living. The better you treat your body, it will treat your mind well, and then vice versa. In terms of destressing techniques, whether that be meditation, going for walks, playing with your pets, confiding in a friend, venting to a friend, prioritizing things that might not seem important, like leisure activities that make you feel safe or make you feel calm. Whether that be you know, games, art, music, things of that nature, and obviously, if these things aren't getting the job done, seeking assistance. Whether that be through crisis lines — if you feel like you're it's escalated to a point where you're in a crisis — or seeking out services like counseling.
What are some local resources, including, I’m sure, the Center for Human Services, that people might be able to seek out at this time?
When in doubt, call PATH, the 211 number. They have a database, so if you maybe have a more specific request, they'll be able to point you in the right direction. There are counseling services available through not only the Center for Human Services, but there's a variety of private options as well, people that are on their own. Don't be discouraged when you hear private. Sometimes, if there's a clinician that's practicing privately, they might still take a variety of different insurances, like Medicare or Medicaid. That's a Google search away. There's Integrity Counseling. There's Agape Counseling. There are other agencies in addition to things like Carle Health and OSF HealthCare that offer therapy services as well.
Some people might be feeling fine right now but know someone who is struggling a little bit more. What would your recommendation be for that person who is trying to be more of a shoulder to lean on or a helping hand.
Don’t be afraid to check in with them and then let them speak their truth. If you agree or disagree, that's not really the purpose: It's to just be there and say, ‘That sounds very difficult for you. It sounds like you're struggling.’ What can I do to help? is always a good starting spot, active listening and just checking in with them on what they need. Letting them know that that you care about them and that you want to help them is the primary recommendation I would have.
Is there anything at all that you would like to add?
One thing to kind of ground yourself is to not challenge yourself to face the next four years. Today, you face today. Today, you face the next five minutes if you need to. Don't overburden yourself. Just remember to stay connected to the present moment through those activities, through connections with others, and for seeking out help. And I would always emphasize that if you're feeling alone, that there are people that are here. They care. They want to help. If you reach out, they'll be there to take that hand.
