America is waiting on the results of a close and contentious election. An American Psychological Association poll showed that more than two-thirds of adults are finding the 2020 election to be a significant source of stress. Fanatic Studio / Gary Waters/Getty Images/Collection Mix: Sub hide caption
Amid the pandemic, Americans are experiencing sleeplessness, headaches, stomach upset and more symptoms of chronic stress. Robin Utrecht/LightRocket via Getty Images hide caption
Spending quality time with kids and listening deeply to them is one way to help them tame anxiety. Here Mariano Noesi and Maryam Jernigan-Noesi play with their 4-year-old son Carter. Jernigan-Noesi is a child psychologist. Lynsey Weatherspoon for NPR hide caption
We all struggle with healthy habits — including experts. They just have science-tested tips to get them back on track. Michael Driver for NPR hide caption
Mourners hold candles as they gather for a vigil at a memorial outside Cielo Vista Walmart in El Paso, Texas, U.S., on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. Luke E. Montavon/Bloomberg/Getty Images hide caption
Surveys done since the 2016 election show that engaging with politics is stressing people out and harming their mental health and relationships. Mark Makela/Getty Images hide caption
A border collie jumps to catch a flying disc during a competition. New research suggests that dog stress mirrors owner stress, especially in dogs and humans who compete together. Bela Szandelszky/AP hide caption
Chronic stress at work can lead to burnout, a syndrome defined by the World Health Organization as including depleted energy, exhaustion, negativity, cynicism and reduced productivity. baona/Getty Images hide caption
Sherrie Lawson struggled with PTSD, depression and anxiety after she survived the Washington Navy Yard shooting. Courtesy of Sherrie Lawson hide caption
Why did it literally take centuries for scientists to identify locusts and grasshoppers as the same creatures? Maybe it has something to do with our own sense of self. NPR hide caption
Tetris and other absorbing brain games can get you into a "flow" state that relieves stress. Mary Mathis/NPR hide caption
Physicians face long hours, frustrating paperwork and sometimes difficult patients. But researchers aren't so clear on whether burnout is the right word to describe their problems. ERproductions Ltd/Blend Images/Getty Images hide caption
Vacation days piling up? Even a short trip can boost well-being. Kristen Uroda for NPR hide caption
New research finds that African-Americans who grow up in harsh environments and endure stressful experiences are much more likely to develop Alzheimer's or some other form of dementia. Leland Bobbe/Getty Images hide caption
Hannah Vanderkooy demonstrates the napping pod she uses at Las Cruces High School in Las Cruces, N.M. Joe Suarez for NPR hide caption
Parents can phrase advice to their teens about coping with stress in ways that also help teenagers imagine the perspectives of others. Maria Fabrizio for NPR hide caption
Uncertainty about the future can raise stress levels, psychologists say. Here, students in Charlotte, N.C., hold hands during a Sept. 21 protest after Keith Lamont Scott was shot and killed by a police officer. Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
This election season, therapist Jean Fain found that making muffins as a meditative practice was a reliable source of comfort and hope. Jean Fain for NPR hide caption
