Have you ever noticed a physical reaction while watching the news, a tightening in your chest or a dull ache in your stomach that arrives before you have even fully processed the story? Many people find themselves avoiding certain family members, bracing for uncomfortable conversations, or feeling a sudden surge of tension when politics enters the room. These reactions are increasingly common, and they are not imagined. As a mental health practitioner and clinical aromatherapist with nearly two decades of experience, I had rarely encountered the phrase political anxiety until recent years. Now, it appears regularly in my clinical work, in conversations within my community, and in my own lived experience. While political anxiety is not a formal diagnosis, it reflects a very real nervous system response to prolonged exposure to political events that feel threatening, unjust, or deeply personal. Political anxiety is not limited to bodily sensations alone. It shapes how we see ourselves, how we relate to our loved ones and colleagues, and how safe or grounded we feel in our broader social and cultural context. It often carries a weight that feels different from more familiar forms of anxiety.
