Post-Election Depression: How to Cope

After an election, it’s common for people who backed the losing candidate to experience a period of depression and anxiety, but rebounding after this year's fractious presidential contest is likely to be tougher than most for many people, a top expert says.

“I’ve already had people call me about their reactions today. They are suffering from nausea, heart palpitations, and emotional reactions that include shock, severe sadness, and even fear,” David Kessler tells Newsmax Health.

“It’s almost like they’ve suffered a death or been in an accident,” adds Kessler, a licensed psychotherapist.

While such reactions may seem extreme, Kessler says he’s not surprised, given the nature of the 2016 campaign.

“This is very different than the kind of loss usually felt in a normal election, where you have candidates that are similar with minor differences. These were candidates that were on opposite ends of the pole,” adds Kessler, a certified life coach who practices in Miami.

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