Experts Offer Tips for Post-Election Stress

Two Pittsburgh-area psychologists say elections trigger fear, anxiety, disappointment and relief, and suggest ways to cope.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of a smooth river stone and a shallow bowl of still water on a pale wooden surface, calm and quiet, evoking a pause from post-election stress. — Two Pittsburgh-area psychologists say post-election stress is driven by fear, anxiety and disappointment, and advise stepping away from screens to recover. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Two Pittsburgh-area psychologists offered ways to manage post-election stress. They noted that elections touch deep feelings of fear, anxiety, disappointment and relief, and that social media has intensified the strain.

Why it matters

Studies have shown that up to five days after an election, emergency room visits and heart attacks increase, making the emotional toll a health concern for residents. Psychologists advised gauging reactions against the value of the relationship before responding to disagreements.

Studies have found that emergency room visits and heart attacks increase for up to five days after an election. The specific studies, sample sizes and magnitude of the increase were not identified in the source material.

The players

Dr. Susan Albers

Dr. Susan Albers is a psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic who is cited in the Pittsburgh-area discussion of post-election stress.

The details

Psychologists advised taking a break from screens and relaxing, noting that sleep and time away from devices help build resilience. Social media was identified as a factor that has intensified election stress.

Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Election held and post-election emotions rise.
Up to five days after the election: Increase in emergency room visits and heart attacks reported in studies.

Big Picture

Research documenting a rise in emergency room visits and heart attacks in the days after elections frames the psychologists' advice as a health issue rather than only a political one. Their guidance on screens, sleep and relationship-based responses addresses that documented pattern directly.

Residents feeling election-related anxiety can take a break from screens and prioritize sleep, which psychologists say supports resilience. Before responding to a disagreement, consider how much the relationship is worth to you.

The takeaway

Stepping away from screens and protecting sleep are practical steps that can ease post-election stress. Weighing a relationship's value before reacting can help keep disagreements from escalating.