As the United States enters the second year of Donald Trump’s second term, many citizens are  looking back to the events that took place in its first year. From the growth of ICE raids, tariffs across the world and more, this presidency  has caused a toll on the mental health of millions of people around the world. The combination of stress, anxiety, depression, and fatigue can cause many negative effects to a  person’s wellbeing. 

It’s good to be aware of what’s happening in one’s  surroundings, but taking a break from such decisive news could save a person’s  life. Worrying too much can cause high blood pressure, sleep loss and other effects on the body, which  can be worse than the effects of alcohol. According to the National Library of Medicine, “The proportion of Americans reporting these effects stayed stable or slightly increased between the spring of 2017 and the fall of 2020 prior to the presidential election. Deterioration in measures of physical health became detectably worse in the wake of the 2020 election. 

Between Trump’s 2016 victory election, and his re-election in 2025, therapists had reported an increase in patients reporting the negative impact of politics. The symptoms they faced included depression, anxiety, lack of sleep and emotional mood shifts, which was common in groups that opposed Trump’s political ideas. 

Here  are five ways to manage mental health, while challenged by the  political environment of today. 

1. Limit the amount of political content consumed in one day. Research which news outlets are the most reliable, such as AP News or NPR, and don’t watch the news first thing after waking up.
2. A person should bee mindful of their  surroundings when sharing opinions: Even if talking with a small group, people can overhear. So be mindful about other people who are trying to limit their time with politics, too. 
3. Be open to learning different points of views: Learning about different points of views can help a person understand another  side of an issue.
4. Step away from conversations. If a  conversation is getting overwhelming, and a person  needs some time, it’s okay for them to excuse themselves, or let the other people know how they  are feeling. 
5. Self-assess personal interests: If an individual  still wants to be aware of what’s happening in the world, it’s good for them to assess themselves, and limit what they consume from social media, or certain news stations. 

Again, it’s important to be an informed citizen.  But it is also important to balance daily national news and politics with different activities  that can help  a person keep from being overwhelmed, and help to manage their  mental health.