Parliament Dissolved but Dont Lose Heart: Check 3 Signs of Political Stress and How to Heal Before Voting Day

As soon as the official announcement of the parliament dissolution was made, Thailand's political temperature skyrocketed. Social media feeds were filled with debates, rumors, and fierce comment wars.

While heightened awareness is positive in a democracy, becoming overly alarmed can put many at risk of Political Stress Syndrome (PSS) or unrecognized political stress.

Before you cast your vote for the right candidate in the future, let's check how well your body and mind are coping in this information battlefield.

Check for symptoms of political stress syndrome.

First, check immediately whether you are experiencing political stress syndrome.

The Department of Mental Health states this condition is not a psychiatric disorder but a physical and mental reaction to stress. Observe if you have these three signs.

Physical symptoms reveal themselves. These include insomnia or waking suddenly at night due to dreams about the news. Sometimes there may be one-sided headaches, migraines, neck and shoulder tension. Other symptoms are palpitations, shortness of breath, and chest tightness when reading news.

Emotional distress. Often accompanied by abnormal irritability—just seeing a headline can trigger anger—as well as feelings of depression, hopelessness, excessive worry about the country's future, and difficulty concentrating because you keep scrolling through news feeds.

Important if you notice behavioral changes. Such as a combative mood, arguing about politics fiercely with friends and family, or constantly staring at your phone out of fear of missing any news, even for a second.

If you have all these symptoms, you may be unknowingly suffering from Political Stress Syndrome (PSS).

How to heal from political stress.

If you find yourself "checking many boxes," quickly pull yourself back with the "3 cuts 1 add" formula before your mental health deteriorates ahead of election day.

• Cut news consumption time. Limit your feed scrolling to no more than 1-2 hours per day, and avoid it entirely before bedtime.
• Cut toxic cycles. If talking with certain people or groups stresses you, mute or quietly step back. Maintaining relationships is more important than winning arguments.
• Cut bias. Open your mind to diverse information. An echo chamber may cause stress without you realizing it.
• Add happiness. Take yourself for a digital detox—go to a café, watch a movie, or exercise—to release happy chemicals in your brain to combat stress.

Politics concerns everyone, but mental health is a "personal" matter that must be well cared for. The parliament dissolution is just the start of a long game. Preparing your body and mind with resilience is the key weapon to enter the polling booth with mindfulness and strength.