I'm actually excited about this year's election (I think I'm the only woman at the gym who watches the politicos go at each other instead of tuning into Oprah

). BUT, I can certainly relate to television heightening anxiety. For me, it's the really intense action/dramas. (
24 is expecially bad.) I just can't watch them anymore.
Here's a thought, maybe make a deliberate choice to stop watching the main channels that carry campaign coverage. Tune into the History channel, HGTV, A&E... whatever. It seems like there's ALWAYS a marathon of
Law and Order you can catch.
Here's something else I recently read about birthdays. Take the two numbers you're "celebrating" (and, yes, I use this term LOOSELY!!!

), add them together and have a birthday party in rememberence and celebration of this age- probably a far less stressful time. Example: I just turned 35 (AARG!) 3+5= 8... what was I like at 8? What advice could my 35-year-young self give me as an 8-year-old? What were my fav. foods? This is what I'd treat myself to for the day. "Dream" toy? Buy it and 'play'. You get the picture. Kind of kooky, but I sort of like the idea. Maybe someone else will, too.
Or, you could be like my grandmother who had a legal and noterized document drawn up that officially "gave" me all of her birthdays when she turned 55 (she was a sec. for an insurance firm and someone on staff had a son who was an attorney

). I still have this document today (it's even framed)! My grandma was an incredible woman, and I miss her wit and wisdom daily.

Best Wishes,
Emily