INDIANAPOLIS – As the US political landscape becomes increasingly polarized, many individuals are experiencing a growing tension affecting their mental and emotional well-being, regardless of their political affiliation. These tensions led to worsening friendship and family ties as certain people find themselves estranged from their loved ones due to different political beliefs.
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Changes in perspective
RJ Gwaltney, who previously supported Hillary Clinton in 2016, went through a major political transformation by voting for Republicans in the 2024 election. This change sparked fear of losing meaningful relationships.
“I sometimes cry to sleep at night thinking about it,” Gwartny shared. “Because the person I vote for should not be related to my relationship with you.”
Similarly, Jay Washington switched to independent voters in 2016, then voted for Democratic candidates in 2020 and 2024.
Both Gwartney and Washington are not personally familiar with one another, but they resonate with the social challenges their political stances have introduced into their lives.
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Deterioration of relationships
Social media has become a battlefield of political debate, leading to ultimatums of conflicting interactions and disconnected bonds.
Gwartny expressed concern over seeing “ugly things” posted online.
Washington reiterated this sentiment, saying, “I just saw the real side of people I called friends.”
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Gwartny has revealed a disastrous ultimatum from a friend who casts a wide range of messages. “If you voted for Trump, you voted for me…and we are no longer family.
These conditional statements have caused great stress for Gwartny about maintaining personal connections.
Impact on mental health
Dr. Lindsay Flegge, psychologist at IU Health, focuses on the troubling tendencies that have cut off friendships to political beliefs.
According to a survey by YouGov, 26% of Americans have ended their friendship since 2016 due to political differences.
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Dr. Flegge said that increasing polarization has led many individuals to rely on “not contacting” more frequently than ever. This tendency can have serious effects on mental and emotional health, contributing to feelings of isolation and despair.
“It’s very isolated. We spend more time on our phones, leave more time, isolate more time,” the psychologist said.
She emphasized the importance of realizing that differences are a natural part of the relationship, even among family and friends, and that they should not lead to irrevocable divisions.
Navigate difficult conversations
Washington emphasized that political conversations would soon be left to a lack of motivation to listen.
“I always want to have a conversation,” he insisted. “The thing that really stops is when others can’t respect or accept the facts.”
Mental health experts suggest that it is important to distinguish between disagreement about politics and cutting due to disrespect or questionable values.
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Dr. Flegge provided practical advice for managing the unrest surrounding political debate.
Limit your social media exposure: Reducing your time spent online can reduce stress. Change news alerts: Disconnection from constant news updates can provide mental relief. Customer conversations with empathy: engage in understanding and consider a variety of perspectives.
In these unpredictable times, fostering compassion for ourselves and others, regardless of political differences, may pave the way for healthier interactions and more supportive communities. Now, more than ever, fostering relationships is essential to combating the emotional sacrifices that politics can take.
