NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — The approaching presidential election has led to increased anxiety attacks for some Americans.
Election anxiety is a real thing for many people – and it’s not just the potential results that have many people worrying.
Some are concerned about what might play out in the days after Nov. 3.
Cynthia New, who walks through Midtown during her daily commute says the stores that have been boarded up to protect against vandalism and looting in the aftermath of the election has her unnerved.
“You walk down the street as I do every day and you see this plywood. It's very scary,” she said.
“I’m sure everyone is going to be watching closely. Everyone, I think, is on pins and needles a little bit. You know, we’re all on edge and hope its quickly over,” said another commuter.
Dr. Harris Stratyner, a clinical professor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, agrees, saying we are a nation on edge currently.
“I've never seen in all my yeas practicing, which is about 40, I've never seen anything like this in my life,” he said.
Dr. Stratyner says President Donald Trump’s comments regarding the outcome of the election has also been troubling for many.
“We’ve never had an election that wasn’t accepted by the president, passing it over to the next president. That has really upset my patients to a great, great extent,” he said.
The addiction specialist expects election day and the fallout to be triggering or many.
“They're self-medicating, not just with alcohol. They are self-medicating with drugs. They are self-medicating by taking an extra Valium,” he explains.
Dr. Stratyner has told his patients to avoid social media until after the election and to try to stay positive.
“I think we just have to wait and see, and people have to stay in the moment. Yesterday is over, tomorrow's not here, all we have is now,” he said.
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