NATCHEZ — With two days until the election, tensions are running high.

Nationally, mental health professionals and other counselors are reporting a sudden up tick in people experiencing neurotic tendencies because they are all worried about the same thing — Tuesday’s Presidential election.

For 18-year-old Brad Harris, this election has been nerve-wracking.

“I don’t have to see a psychiatrist for it, but I am concerned,” he said. “I can’t stop watching the news.”

But even with all of his news saturation, Harris said he couldn’t put a finger on why he is so concerned about what happens Tuesday.

“I think it is just the general tension because of the times and the levity of the elections,” he said.

Sitting on a bench on Main Street Saturday evening, Richard Moten was Harris’ dramatic foil.

“I’d like for my candidate to win, but I would feel some comfort for either one,” he said. “Either way it is history.”

But it’s not just what he sees as the historic nature of the election that keeps Moten from worrying.

“This is a great country, and it will continue to move on,” he said.

It’s not faith in the country, but faith in a power bigger than American politics that keeps her from worrying, Bobbie Fenton said.

“God said not to worry about these kinds of things, so I don’t,” Fenton said.

But she said she understands why some conservatives are worried — concerns ranging from Sen. Barack Obama’s level of practical experience to conservative mistrust of Sen. John McCain not being “much of a better choice” to even contemporary theology.

“A lot of people think he is the Antichrist, but they’re wrong,” Fenton said. “He’s from the wrong place.”

Another thing that helps Fenton keep her cool is a basic understanding of civics, she said.

“The President can’t do anything by himself — it has to go through Congress.”

Natchezian Shirley Byrne said her pre-election fear is that all of the talk about voter fraud might result in what are legitimate votes being thrown out.

She’s also afraid that the news and popular media’s coverage of the campaign and candidates could adversely affect the election.

“I’m afraid that the manipulation of words in print will distort what is really being said,” she said.

But no matter how the election goes Tuesday, time will march on.

And Harris said he hopes that he can get back into the flow of things.

“I just hope that I don’t have to get up and turn on the news Wednesday morning.”