As Brazil heads to a knife-edge presidential run-off race on Sunday, the country’s uncertain future goes beyond the political arena, affecting Brazilians’ mental health.
With the vote torn between right-wing Flavio Bolsonaro and leftist incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazilian citizens describe uncertainty and anxiety over the outcome of the election.
A September poll found 46% of Brazilian voters were more worried about the outcome of this year’s election than they had been in 2022, while another survey released this week found that 44% of voters feared a Bolsonaro victory, while 42% feared Lula’s re-election.
Brazil Reports spoke to two young Brazilian professionals who requested that their real names be withheld and pseudonyms be used, citing concerns about potential repercussions in their workplaces.
Ana, a 37-year-old behavioral researcher from Rio de Janeiro who plans to vote for Lula, said her anxiety intensified after her candidate trailed Bolsonaro in the first round of elections, winning 45.16% compared to his rival’s 47.03%.
“I remember exactly how I felt. I was at a friend’s house, and when the results started coming in, my eyes filled with tears,” she said.
The uncertainty has also affected her work: “A task that would normally take me two hours is now taking me the entire day.”
Bolsonaro supporters have also been afflicted by the electoral uncertainty. Miguel, a 30-year-old investment analyst who plans to vote for the right-wing candidate, said his concerns also intensified after the first round.
“I get anxious because I think there’s a lot at stake in this election,” he said. “Losing the runoff after coming out ahead in the first round would hurt more than a defeat you saw coming. It would mean watching an apparent victory slip away.”
His main concerns about a Lula victory are the future of Brazil’s institutions, particularly the Supreme Court, and the country’s economic stability in relation to public debt and inflation.
Karina Specht, a Brazilian psychologist, said media consumption is a key driver of political anxiety.
“The body is constantly being fed this sense of threat, vulnerability, fear and insecurity,” she told Brazil Reports.
For Miguel, political news and social media content has been a key driver of his deteriorating mental health.
“I wish I could avoid it, but I can’t. I get anxious, so I keep checking every time. And that just makes me more anxious,” he said.
The financial analyst spends much of his time following polls and political commentary on X, formerly Twitter, while Instagram exposes him to political opinions he strongly disagrees with because of his pro-Lula social bubble.
Specht explained that staying informed can help people feel more in control, but excessive news consumption may have exactly the opposite effect.
She offered a few criteria for those suffering from election-related anxiety to consider: “When does excessive consumption become dysfunctional? Are you sleeping? Are you neglecting your responsibilities because you can’t stop following the news?”
The psychologist added that constantly consuming political content can reinforce feelings of threat and insecurity, leaving little room for emotional rest.
Ana said she has become much more active on social media during the campaign: “I used to barely post anything on Instagram. Now I’m posting ten times a day.”
But the behavioral researcher added that she deliberately avoids reading comments on political posts.
“I don’t even open the comments. I don’t want to know. Because if I do, I’ll end up crying,” she said.
Ana also recognizes how social media algorithms can distort her perception of the election.
“My algorithm is completely stuck in a bubble. If I go on Threads, for example, I feel certain Lula will win by 90 to 10, because all I see is Lula, Lula, Lula,” she said. “But Brazil is much bigger than our social media bubble.”
Miguel, on the other hand, describes a different experience. Many people in his social circle hold opposing political views, making Instagram a source of frustration.
“Instagram bothers me because many people in my social circle have very different political views from mine,” he said. “It makes me angry. People don’t see what I’m seeing.”
Specht addressed the informal term “political psychosis,” used to describe an excessive emotional involvement in politics that begins to interfere with everyday life.
“It’s a way people have found to describe how excessively involved they become in politics and how deeply it affects them,” she explained.
Politics and personal relationships
Both voters consulted by Brazil Reports say political arguments during previous polarized elections have affected their relationships.
Ana recalled cutting ties with people over political differences in previous elections, including divorcing her former husband, who turned into a Bolsonaro fan. Today, she says she avoids close relationships with Bolsonaro supporters.
Miguel also recalled heated arguments during previous elections but said he now approaches political disagreements differently.
“I think I’ve matured and I don’t argue anymore,” he said. “At this point, I don’t think you can change anyone’s vote. I’ve moved past that stage.”
Political disagreements can become particularly difficult when they involve deeply held personal values, explained Specht.
“We all have beliefs, ideologies and values that are sometimes non-negotiable. When someone opposes those beliefs, it creates a conflict in the relationship,” she said.
Distancing oneself from people with opposing views can sometimes be a way of protecting one’s emotional well-being, according to Specht.
She nevertheless believes the emotional impact of the elections will not necessarily end once Brazil’s next president is announced. While some voters might feel some kind of relief with an end to the uncertainty – even if their candidate loses – others might see an increase in anxiety if the scenario they fear crystallizes.
Despite the fact that Ana and Miguel fundamentally disagree on the path forward, they share the same worry: what is going to happen to their country after October 25?
Featured image description: A woman holds her head.
Featured image credit: Jose Luis Navarro
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