The Stress of Dealing With Family Supporting Opposite Political Sides

The Stress of Dealing With Family Supporting the Opposite Political Sides is real. While it is easy to become enraged when a family member supports the opposing political party, it can have negative physical effects. For people with heart conditions, an argument could even cause a heart attack. To avoid these negative consequences, it is important to remember the limitations of other people and weigh your priorities in terms of maintaining family unity. However, the stress that can accompany political upheaval and economic struggles is not new. Recent studies have shown that American adults are more stressed now than they were during the 1990s.


Avoiding politics on social media
While you may enjoy social media, it's important to remember that it can be a platform for negativity. Before you post or share links that may offend someone, consider what you're saying. Social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram are a great place to express your opinions, but you should be aware of the potential consequences of making political posts or sharing links.

If you're dealing with family members who support opposing political views, you should stay away from social media. In fact, a recent study found that about half of online encounters with political opponents ended up with more hostility than they had anticipated. However, a significant minority felt that discussions on social media were more civil, informative, and focused on important policy issues. The bottom line is that you should respect your family's views on social media, but not engage in political discussions.

Listening to people with opposing political views
While it can be intimidating to engage in discussions about politics with a member of your family, it can be a great opportunity to learn about the other person's views. According to Deborah Duley, founder of Empowered Connections in Maryland, it's easy to get emotionally involved in a political conversation and lose your temper. As a therapist, she understands the nuances of political communication and advises her clients to keep their cool during heated discussions.

Regardless of how politically polarized your family is, remember that even the most civil conversation can quickly turn into an exchange that is hurtful to both sides. Political disagreements are particularly difficult to handle with your family because the beliefs of each person are different. Being aware of your own political strategy will help you stay calm and respectful throughout the conversation. And if the discussion goes beyond a certain point, you can always go back and try to reach a common ground.

Finding areas of agreement
If you've been unable to find common ground in your relationship with your family because they support opposing political positions, you may want to consider therapeutic communication techniques. According to Jesse Kahn, director of The Gender & Sexuality Therapy Center in New York City, you might want to try disengaging from the conversation during a heated exchange. You may also want to try attending family-specific training sessions in 2020.