In today’s blog, I would like to talk about the news and its effects on you. Hi there. How have you been? I admit it has been a good while since the last time I posted. If you missed it, the last blog I published was in November 2022 where I discussed the effect of coffee on the body. If you would like to read about it, I have put the link down below.
So where have you been, you may ask? Well, let’s see. December I was not well and Christmas is always busy. Then came January and February, I had an increase in workload, and between all of this, I tried to keep myself up to date and in touch with the latest pulse, news, and goings-on.
Between working with increasingly more complex clients, I have also been dealing with a few personal things, but that is not unusual, given the at times unpredictable nature of life.
Having had a chance to catch you up, I guess it is only right that I get on with the article.
Watching the news and TV, we are bombarded by a lot of worrying news and updates about which natural resource is being depleted, which country is under attack, and which natural disaster has laid waste to a major city.
Exposure to this type of information can work in two ways.
One, it can keep someone informed, which is good, as it is always good to know what is happening and to be updated. On the other hand, the way the news is told can actually increase feelings of anxiety and the sense that you may be in bigger danger than you are.
So the question I would like to ask is: is the news making you anxious? And what can you do about it?
24-hour rolling news is designed to hijack our attention and keep us distracted. Being informed is important, but not when it negatively impacts your psychological well-being. I would like to discuss something called news anxiety, and how to cope with it.
So what is news anxiety?
We live in a 24-hour news cycle, and our news comes to us via many ways, including TV and social media. This constant stream of news headlines from all around the world, whilst keeping us informed, also exposes us to additional stressors. Things like politics, public health, and climate change, are things that can cause considerable stress and anxiety, especially if the negative and worrying stories are played out 24 hours a day.
Unfortunately, we will live in an age where it is all too easy to have the latest news streamed to you at any time of the day. Whereas before you had some measure of control regards getting your news via TV, radio, or newspaper, now you have it whenever you want (and whenever you don’t want) via the internet and social media. I had a news app that I downloaded (and have subsequently deleted) at the time to stay informed, but I was getting bombarded with prompts about the war in that country, famine in another country, corrupt politicians, new health scares, and the like. Little did I know it, but the constant bombardment of these types of news began to manifest in classic stress symptoms, which included tense shoulders, being irritable, jumpy, and also becoming slightly paranoid. I realized quickly that what I was feeling was not normal and deleted the app. Whilst this was a small step in taking back control of when and how I wanted to access media, I still had a while to go.
You see, even your social media has been injected and infiltrated with the latest news or controversy. Even a very popular video content site (not naming names due to obvious reasons) has readily available videos and content available to anyone, regardless of its accuracy or reliability, that anyone anywhere can access.
So how do you take back control? How do you manage the anxiety?
- Focus on the news and information you can control.
This may be news about a more personal matter that you know you can plan for and control. Can you control what that politician says or does? Can you control the economy? Can you control a health crisis? Perhaps yes, but only as much as your personal involvement in said crisis (for example, washing your hands, wearing gloves, wearing a face mask, etc).
2. Check your phone at healthier times.
Do you want to feel miserable and depressed first thing in the morning? Check the news when you wake up then. If you prefer to not feel rubbish in the morning, swap that routine with a brisk walk or wait until your lunch break to check the news. That way you would build up some resilience and may also be more discerning with what you choose / not choose to read. If you are working from home for example, consider putting your phone in another room. If you are at the office, consider putting it in your bag or desk drawer and checking it later.
3. Choose how you deal with bad news.
If you read a particularly distressing news story, consider reaching out to a friend or family, share how you are feeling, and see if you can get their view on the subject. Having someone else who is not as emotionally invested in the story may actually help you see it from a much-needed and more objective viewpoint.
4. Ask for help when you need it
Sometimes you need more help and support. Sometimes friends or family can’t help, or sometimes people don’t have any close friends or family members to rely on. In this instance, consider talking to your GP, who may be able to advice on medicine or psychology that may help to address the anxiety you are experiencing.
Closing
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, and if you know of anyone who may benefit from / appreciate the blog, please recommend it to them as well. And if you are feeling low and struggling with your mental health, please know that during this difficult time of the pandemic, there is still help out there and help available. Talk to your GP. Freephone Samaritans 116 123.
There is help out there. You are not alone.
Remember: it’s a journey. It will take time. Have patience in the process. You will get there. Until then, stay happy, stay healthy, and have a lovely time wherever you are on the planet.
And remember: love yourself. And others.
Greg
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A bit about the author:
I am a guy who is just over 40 and is sharing a journey of wellness and well-being. I am also a mental health professional with a wealth of years of experience in supporting individuals who have challenging mental illnesses and personality disorders.
Prior to my current professional role, I spent several years supporting members of the community as a fitness professional, assisting individuals with weight loss and health improvement programs.
I completed a PGDip in Mental Health Nursing in 2013, and an MSc in Advanced Practice in 2016 in which I looked at improving nurses’ level of engagement with patients with challenging personality disorders.
In 2018 I successfully undertook the Clinical Reasoning in Physical Assessments course, and in 2020 I commenced further training in Nurse Prescribing to train toward becoming an Advanced Nurse Practitioner and will be looking forward to supporting those in the community with mental health support and medicinal support.
In 2015 I also undertook a Mentorship for Practice (BSc Hons) course and have been supporting future nurses with their training and development. I have also recently supported a Healthcare Assistant Staff toward training in and successfully passing and achieving a Foundation Degree in Mental Health Nursing.
In my current role, I am a person looking to support the physical and mental health and well-being of the individual. Don’t think of me as a motivational coach or speaker. Think of me more as a wellness guide, as I use my mental health training and experience to suggest and advise ways to enhance your wellness and well-being. If you are struggling with your mental health though, please seek advice from a medical professional such as your GP.
I believe that it is a journey. It is a process. It will take time. But we will get there.
Remember: it’s a journey. It will take time. Have patience in the process. You will get there. Until then, stay happy, stay healthy, and have a lovely time wherever you are on the planet.
And remember: love yourself. And others.
Hi Greg,
Good article. Yes indeed, we are continually being bombardment by unsettling news, and its difficult to avoid exposure because it is plastered practically everywhere. I agree that this constant stream of unsolicited, and continually repeated information can certainly make a person anxious, tense and even depressed. There is also irritation brought on by the incessant repetition of adverts, and then there is irritation brought on by paid repetition of commercial music. Perhaps the latter is something to which retired folks are more exposed .
This is a subject definitely worth further discussion.
Thank you for the feedback. It can become very difficult with the news and information that we are bombarded with on a daily basis. I think that certainly it can become more challenging to find ways to be less exposed to media. I hope the suggestions in the article help in some way to alleviate some of the anxiety caused by news.