From war, natural disasters, racism and discrimination, political uncertainty to violations of human rights; the world news can be disturbing and traumatic. Even if we’re not directly involved, watching these events, particularly those causing harm or human suffering, can affect our mental health. Specifically global events that cause uncertainty, anxiety or a loss of control over your own life and plans. Also, if you have lived through similar events in the past, it may bring back traumatic memories or feelings.
Here is some advice to help you cope and support your loved ones during these uncertain times.
Stay informed, but be aware of your limits
It might be worth taking a quick audit of your news consumption. Ask yourself, ‘How much information and disturbing world news am I currently taking in? And how does it make me feel?’
If it’s having a negative effect on how you feel, try to:
- take a break from current events
- mute or turn off news notifications on your smartphone
- mute or unfollow social media accounts that are reporting on it
- limit your news intake, perhaps just once per day
Once you’ve had a break, ask yourself ‘How do I feel now that I’ve had a break from the news?’.
If you find that the break has helped, then try to continue:
- to stay informed in bitesize portions
- to take a break from the news when you need to
- keep a check on how you feel
- to engage with different social media platforms based on how they make you feel
Try to be mindful of how you are consuming news and try to avoid sessions. Accept that, although we may want to help or change something some of these things may be out of your control. I will come onto ways that you can engage or feel empowered below.
Engage in a meaningful way
If the news is affecting your mental health with feelings of anxiety, fear, helplessness or isolation, remember that there are other people who are feeling the exact same way right now. There are things that we can do to cope with or alleviate these feelings.
You can connect with others who are impacted in your community (either your local area or online). This can help you to feel more empowered and less alone.
Connect with a community of people who share your concerns by:
- getting involved in volunteering opportunities
- joining local campaigns, or community groups working on issues that are important to you
- joining a Facebook group or Meet Ups to connect with people in your local area
Humans are naturally sociable. Helping others and engaging with our community in a meaningful way is good for our mental health.
Empower your voice
You may feel powerless if you have opinions on what is happening but can’t express them. You may feel powerless if you don’t know what to do with your opinions or passion for change.
Here are some ways that you can empower your voice and feel more in control:
- explore ways to be engaged in a political community
- take part in peaceful organised demonstrations
- attend relevant events or debates.
Civic and political activism can make you feel more empowered and give you an avenue to express your thoughts in a constructive way.
We don’t all see the world the same way. When talking to other people, if a topic comes up which you disagree on, try to focus on areas of agreement, active listening, respectful discussion and assertive communication. Being drawn into highly polarised or disrespectful conversations usually has an adverse effect on our mental health and wellbeing.
Don’t bottle it up
When you feel overwhelmed, try to reach out for support. There are people and organisations that want to help:
- talk to a friend, family member or your doctor
- call a helpline: call Samaritans on 116 123 (UK only)
- join Mind’s online community: join Side by Side
You could also try to express how you are feeling through creativity. You could write in a journal or draw or paint. Listening to an emotive song or dancing can also help. Express in a way that feels right for you. Try to stay with those activities for at least a few minutes to unlock their protective effects on your wellbeing.
Look after your mental health
Remember to take time to things, activities and actions that are good for your mental health. What works will be different for each person, so tune into what is right for you. Here are a few things to get your started.
Other important steps are:
- Get enough sleep
- Do some gentle exercise each day
- Feed your body and mind with healthy food
- Spend time with friends, family and loved ones
- Connect with nature
- Practice Mindfulness
- Try meditation
Finally, if you are struggling with mental health issues such as anxiety, stress or depression Hypnotherapy can help. Contact me for more information.
Excellent blog here Also your website loads up very fast What web host are you using Can I get your affiliate link to your host I wish my web site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
“Standing ovation! 🌠 This post perfectly balances depth with accessibility. Your thorough research and expert explanations make this an invaluable resource. Keep up the amazing work!”