Elizabeth Badejo
Elections have been known to cause divisions between couples, family members, friends, and even communities. Participating in the electoral process is laudable, with adults of voting age looking forward to putting their thumbs on paper. However, the season can be seen as a period when many people experience high-stress levels and feelings of uncertainty.
In the build-up to the election, it is possible that some people’s anxiety will hit the roof, leaving them worried, confused, and anxious about who to cast their votes for, among other uncertainty and apprehension. Men are more likely to experience all the negative signs associated with the season than women, therefore it is important to look out for signs if you are worried that your husband may be suffering from a stress-related disorder caused by politics.
POLITICAL CHANGES CAN AFFECT PEOPLE’S LIVES
Election season is when friends and family members fall out without even realising what they are doing to themselves considering the fact that elections come and go and their lives will have to go back to normal again. A study showed that about 33% of people living in the United Kingdom expressed that the event of Brexit had a negative effect on their health and well-being due to its impact on the British economy. This is an indication that policy and political social change, such as an election, have the capacity to affect people’s lives in different ways. It is not different in Nigeria where an election is an opportunity many people look forward to in order to restore the hope they may have lost; this can cause post-election stress if people feel disappointed after an election and this is not limited to any particular age or gender within the society.
LIMIT SOCIAL MEDIA PARTICIPATION
Many political party enthusiasts spend a lot of time on social media expressing their opinion and condemnation of those in opposition and this can sometimes lead to abuse and derogatory conversations when not checked. Your spouse may show signs of neglect of duty, insomnia and exhaustion in the morning before work due to sleepless nights spent discussing election matters which can be consuming and exhausting, especially when you have to go to work the next morning. If your spouse belongs to this category of people who spend a considerable amount of time on social media responding to opposing political views, this can trigger his emotions, impacting his marital relationship and making him emotionally absent at home even when he is physically present. This is a good time to have a conversation with your spouse about your concerns and the negative impact on his health in the long run and your well-being too.
TAKE A BREAK FROM POLITICAL DISCUSSION
One of the challenges your political enthusiast spouse may have to contend with during the election season is the insensitivity of the discussions, which can create disagreement and hostility and impact people’s behaviour negatively. If you have noticed a change in your spouse’s behavior, such as unusual aggression, short temper or irrational behaviour, these are signs that your spouse is experiencing stress disorder and you are in the best position to support him. You have the power to break your spouse away from political discussions at home by discouraging him from discussing politics if it does not end well. You can also find a way to divert the conversation if he is easily triggered by your opinion and the opinion of others, which contradicts his political arguments. However, be mindful of your spouse’s feelings and allow him to have his voice even when you do not share similar political views. Whatever you do, do not allow politics to contest the peace in your home.
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