Cope with a Lack of Trust in Political Leaders

In an ideal world, political leaders would be honest and trustworthy. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. It can feel frustrating and even scary if you feel like you can’t trust leadership. You can deal with this by checking the facts yourself and making sure you know the truth about an issue. You can also use your voice to make positive political changes. It’s also important to ease your stress by taking care of your physical and mental health.

Checking the Facts

 * 1) Research the issue. If you can’t believe a politician, you’ll need to check the facts yourself. If you hear something that doesn’t ring true, do some research on the issue. To gain a clear picture, look at multiple sources. You might check the story in a few different newspapers, on TV, or on a podcast. Gather as many facts as you can so that you can be fully informed.
 * 2) *Don’t just rely on sources that conform to your point of view. For example, go beyond listening to Pod Save America and check out sites like BBC News.
 * 3) *If multiple sources are reporting the same thing, it’s a good indicator that it could be true.
 * 4) Search for direct quotes. A lot of times, quotes are used out of context. If you see a headline, a speech, or an ad with a quote that seems off, go back and look for the source of the quote. With a quick internet search you can find the original statement or speech. Then you can place the quote in proper context.
 * 5) *For example, a recent political ad in Georgia features the voice of President Obama quoting someone else in a speech. In the ad, these words are taken out of context and presented as Obama’s own words.
 * 6) Trust your gut. In this era of post-truth politics, you don’t always have to follow the old saying, “trust, but verify.” If your instincts tell you something is false, don’t trust it. You can do your research and later change your opinion, if necessary. But don’t blindly belief something that seems off to you.
 * 7) *For example, tax reform might be sold as being beneficial to the middle-class. If you think that sounds too good to be true, go with your gut and look into the facts for yourself.

Using Your Voice to Make Positive Changes

 * 1) Contact your elected officials. If you feel like a politician who represents you is dishonest, let them know. You can contact your elected officials by phone, email, or social media. You can also request an in person appointment. Let them know that you have some questions about information that they have presented.
 * 2) *For example, you could email your senator and say, “I don’t believe you when you say this new healthcare bill would benefit people like me. Can you show me some actual research that says that?”
 * 3) *If you are not satisfied by their response, ask them to change their vote. You can say, "I still don't think this bill is good for our state. I'm asking you to vote "No" on this health care bill."
 * 4) Vote in every election. You can make an impact with your vote. Vote in every election that you can, from the local to the national level. If you feel like someone who represents you is dishonest, vote them out of office, whether it is a member or your city council or the president of your nation.
 * 5) *In the U.S., some states now allow same day registration and online registration. You can check your state’s policies at vote.org.
 * 6) Volunteer on a campaign you believe in. You can change the political climate by helping to elect a politician that you trust. Look for a candidate that you feel would make a great elected official and volunteer for their campaign. You can learn about candidates online or at events like town halls or debates.
 * 7) *A volunteer might be asked to do many things. For example, you could expect to make phone calls or go door to door to drum up support for your candidate.
 * 8) *You might also help by planning fundraisers or passing out literature in your community.
 * 9) Run for office. A great way to make a change is to run for office yourself. If there is a position you think you are right for, start a campaign. For example, maybe you believe your current representative does not represent the average workers. Run on a campaign of fighting for the rights of workers to be paid a living wage.
 * 10) *You can set up your campaign online and start collecting donations.
 * 11) *Make sure to check the qualifications for the particular office you are interested in. You might need to be a certain age or live in a certain place, for example.
 * 12) Make donations to a cause you support. If you don’t feel like you can volunteer your time, you can consider a monetary donation. For example, maybe you don’t trust your government to provide the necessary aid after a natural disaster. You could make a donation to a local organization so that you can help ensure people get the supplies that they need.
 * 13) *Check the organization's website to make sure that your donation will go towards those in need and not only to administrative costs.

Handling Stress Caused by Politics

 * 1) Unplug from media and social media. You might be feeling overwhelmed by negativity surrounding politics and the news. It’s okay to lower your stress levels by taking a break. Try giving yourself boundaries for how much time you spend on social media. For example, you could commit to only looking at social media sites for 10 minutes a day.
 * 2) *You could also take a complete social media timeout for a few days, weeks, or months. Help yourself stick to this by deleting social media apps off of your phone or deactivating your accounts.
 * 3) Take care of your physical health. You will feel better mentally if you take good care of yourself physically. Make sure to eat a healthy diet. Eat small, regular meals made up of veggies, lean proteins, and whole grains. Eat healthy snacks such as almonds or low-fat cheeses.
 * 4) *Aim to get in at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day. You can take a walk on your lunch break, or hit the gym before or after work.
 * 5) *Yoga is a great way to get exercise and reduce stress. Take a class at a nearby studio or try an online video.
 * 6) Look for emotional support. If you’re having a hard time dealing with your emotions caused by politics, you might be feeling isolated and lonely. Make sure to connect with people in your life who make you feel good. Try to spend more time with your family. You could also reach out to friends and set up a standing lunch date.
 * 7) *You could say, “I’m having a tough time dealing with this political climate. Could I talk through some of my feelings with you?”
 * 8) Give yourself some down-time every day. Take time each day to do something that you enjoy. It could be playing with your dog or listening to a funny podcast. By taking time to unwind each day, you’ll find yourself more relaxed and able to cope with negative feelings.

Tips

 * Know your limits on how much news you can handle. Don’t feel like you need to read or watch everything.
 * Keep political conversations civil.
 * Turn your frustration outward. Do something proactive to make a positive change.