5 ways your political point of view may be damaging your mental health

New research shows liberals report worse mental health than conservatives, possibly linked to the psychological cost of cutting off relationships over political differences

Dr. Chloe Carmichael is a clinical psychologist, USA Today bestselling author of "Nervous Energy," and a visiting fellow at Independent Women. Her upcoming book "Can I Say That? Why Free Speech Matters and How to Use It Fearlessly," (Skyhorse, Nov. 2025) explores the mental health benefits of open dialogue and the costs of self-censorship. 

As I was researching for my upcoming book Can I Say That? Why Free Speech Matters and How to Use It Fearlessly, I noticed a striking pattern — what I now call "The Five Ds": defriending, declining to date, disinviting, decreasing contact and outright dropping someone over political views. These behaviors are often framed as moral stands. But when practiced habitually, they can degrade the very relationships we rely on for emotional well-being. Research backs this up — liberals are statistically more likely than conservatives to engage in the Five Ds over political differences.