Anxiety Support Group

Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...

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The news and anxiety: How to cope and stay updated

StuckInThe90s
StuckInThe90s

I'm not sure how many of you are dealing with this issue, but I know I have been really wanting to keep up to date with the recent news despite the fact that it can trigger my anxiety, and sometimes depression. It was a real problem for about over a month when I would spend time 'doom scrolling' and letting the headlines fill me with such dread. (I was also in a really bad state mentally at the time.) Now, I can read or watch news stories, but there are those moments that it does develope anxiety and dread.


Where I am going with this is I want to know what coping mechanisms or routines help you to break that up? I've tried video games but it's a hit or miss. I think I need to find something that really breaks the focus from that trigger.

Sunshinegirl0228
Sunshinegirl0228
I would counter the bad news with good news. Watch funny videos. Google miracles in your country or the world.
hasty_05
hasty_05
I pay attention to the underlining message in the news article or on TV. Are the talking heads just bashing someone, telling us they are the Devil, and saying things that are lies? Who is the article or talking head really bashing? If yes, get off that station or news media. Find media sources that appear to be no drama and just telling the facts. Say it is about Politician X, well find out how to watch one of their real speeches and think for yourself. Is this person reasonable, telling truth or lying to us. Is this person saying nothing at all with a lot of words?

And most important - is this politician saying HATE the other guy, their opponent, they are evil, they are lying. The problem is both sides lie to us and we have to use wisdom and discernment to know when we are being lied to. So I assume they are lying and then see if I can pick apart any truths. Sometimes I can, sometimes I know that is truth but sometimes I get really upset at all the beautiful words that don't mean a darn thing. If they say I will take care of you, the government will do X or Y to take care of you, it is a lie to buy your vote.

I get very anxious myself watching the TV news that are the common stations selling doom and gloom and drama and Hate this politician or Hate that politician. If most of what we are spoon fed is not true, we have to get off the not true news pipeline.
arfie
arfie
i deal with this, mundo big time. i am all to ready to go shopping for assault rifles and/or razor blades when i watch news programs. but i don't like living with my head in the proverbial sand, either. i like to stay informed with what is going on in the world.

i balance these two facts of my life by doing my own research. that way i get the facts without so much of the sensationalism built into the ratings race.
guitarman79
guitarman79
I don't have Anxiety when it comes to the news, for some reason.

When I play guitar I have I'm really anxious......And at the gym sometimes, But, today was especially bad, for some reason
GreenEyes727
GreenEyes727
When I was a teen, we watched the news at dinnertime. I knew back then that it was mostly bad news. I don't watch the news unless I am at the gym and don't have my air pods charged. It's rarely good news. People are drawn to the negative. If they had only good news to share, people would get bored, I think.
Tired
Tired
Google good news. The are a few sites that show only good news. Read the good new in between the bad.
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