The polarization of society produced by the presidential elections risks leading to an increase in mental disorders or worsening existing ones, experts say. The feeling of insecurity, fear and the disputes between the candidates’ supporters are mentally exhausting more and more Romanians.
Polarization of society disturbs people’s minds PHOTO The truth
The election period, but especially the presidential polls, divided society into two big camps. Each supporting their own candidate but also their own sets of values. This polarization accompanied by the virulent reactions between the two camps of supporters of the candidates, to which is added the huge pressure of the importance of the decision, including the idea of deciding the fate of the country by vote, is mentally exhausting more and more Romanians. The fear of consequences, the fear of an unknown future or the change of lifestyle literally makes many people sick, experts say. In addition, for those who already have problems, the symptoms and condition are greatly exacerbated by the political and social situation. Doctors say that Romanians are particularly prone to episodes of anxiety and depression.
“The world is thinking, what will be, how will it be”
Psychiatrist specialist Emil Panțiru, from “Mavromati” Botoşani County Hospital, believes that what is currently happening in society, the stress of election decisions, uncertainty, fear, but especially the polarization of society from an electoral and political point of view, has significantly increased the degree of anxiety among the population, “I think the degree of anxiety has increased from this point of view as well. I think it’s a stress factor and this situation. The world is thinking, what will be, how will it be, it is worried”, says Emil Panțiru. Anxiety and prolonged episodes of anxiety usually go hand in hand with depression, says the doctor from Botošan, and the current situation can even lead people to depression.
” Know that depression and anxiety, they should not be overlooked, although nosologically they are two different entities, they are often twinned in psychiatry. Sometimes they are triggered by each other. Sometimes depression predominates causing anxiety. Sometimes the onset of depressive symptoms begins with some panic attacks, for example, or with underlying anxiety. It is clear that what is happening can precipitate all of this,” says the doctor from Botošan. This stress of elections overlaps with the stress of an increasingly stressful daily life, which can lead to the onset or exacerbation of mental illnesses. “Continuous activity, speed, everything that happens in modern society severely affects, precipitates and are also triggering factors of mental disorders. “, adds doctor Emil Panțiru.
Political anxiety and its devastating effects on the human psyche
More and more Romanians began to suffer from political anxiety. Psychotherapy specialists say that society has become strongly divided and that it is important to keep our temper and express ourselves democratically, including in our relationships with others. “They ended up not talking to their children with their parents, siblings with each other. To break friendships. All against this background of political disputes. The important thing is not to invalidate the decisions of others, not to allow ourselves to be divided in the relationships we have with others on this subject. ”, says psychotherapist Anca Larionesei.
For her part, Laura Jijie, a pediatric psychiatrist, says that we need to pay more attention to how we allow ourselves to be absorbed and manipulated by social networks. “On social networks we have to pass any information through the critical filter, to check it through several different sources. In addition, we need to look at things a little more detached, not to get involved in harmful disputes on political topics,” says Laura Jijie. Moreover, political anxiety is defined in the specialized literature. It is about that kind of anxiety caused by the stress of electoral decisions, by thoughts about the future, caused by political changes. ” It should be pointed out that for many people politics is a form of chronic stress. And chronic stress has serious effects on mental and physical health,” says Dr. Brett Ford, associate professor of psychology at the University of Toronto
