Understanding News Anxiety Today
The impact of news anxiety has become one of the most significant mental health challenges in our hyperconnected world. Don Grant, PhD, President of APA’s Division 46 (Society for Media Psychology and Technology), observes that many people experience stress directly related to news consumption – often without initially recognising its impact on their mood. From climate concerns to species extinction, global conflicts to domestic crises, this constant stream of information can profoundly affect our daily wellbeing and mental health.
Signs of News Anxiety and Headline Stress
Mental health professionals have identified several terms to describe this phenomenon: “media saturation overload,” “doomscrolling,” and “headline stress disorder.” While these terms are buzzwords, the psychological impact of consuming distressing news is an issue that urgently needs examination. The steady drumbeat of headlines and related social media commentary has been relentless: pandemic updates, racial injustice, climate change, election controversies, and an ever-extending list of global challenges. These problems are real and require our attention, but it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
Common Signs and Symptoms
Physical and Emotional Responses:
- Intrusive thoughts about news stories throughout the day
- Physical tension or increased pulse rate before checking news
- Decreased interest in non-news activities
- Reduced ability to handle daily challenges
- Lower resilience to everyday stressors
- Changes in alcohol consumption patterns
- Persistent feelings of anger or helplessness
- Difficulty with basic decision-making
- Anxiety about checking news updates
- Sleep disturbances and concentration issues
The Social Media Impact on News Anxiety
According to Pew Research Centre data, over half of adults regularly access news through social media. Dr Matthew Price’s research reveals a crucial finding: social media’s “limitless scrolling” design can make negative news feel all-encompassing, creating a more significant emotional impact than traditional media sources.
Price’s research specifically found a strong connection between daily exposure to pandemic news through social media and increased reports of depression and PTSD symptoms. Importantly, this correlation wasn’t found with traditional media sources like newspapers or television, suggesting something uniquely challenging about social media news consumption.
Creating Healthy News Boundaries
Steven Stosny, PhD, explains that completely avoiding news isn’t the solution: “If you try to go cold turkey, your imagination of what might be happening tends to be worse than what actually is happening.”
Understanding the Smartphone’s Role
Stosny describes smartphones as drug delivery systems, incessantly delivering news and information. Research has shown that phone alerts trigger dopamine release, making them particularly compelling. This understanding can help us implement more effective boundaries with our devices and news consumption.
Smart Device Management
- Create physical distance from devices during rest times
- Use “Do Not Disturb” features strategically
- Establish phone-free zones and times
- Reduce automatic notifications
- Choose specific times for news updates
Transforming News Anxiety into Positive Action
Rather than remaining passive consumers of distressing news, experts recommend active engagement with issues you care about. This approach addresses what Stosny identifies as a fundamental challenge: “Whenever you focus on things you can’t control, you feel powerless.”
Practical Steps for Engagement
- Join community organisations working on specific issues
- Participate in local initiatives that address global concerns
- Create personal action plans for manageable changes
- Focus on achievable improvements in your sphere of influence
- Build supportive networks for discussing and acting on issues
- Share solution-focused stories and positive developments
- Transform anxiety into purposeful activity
Understanding and Processing News Impact
Dr Markus Brauer emphasises that uncertainty creates a “difficult psychological state.” Managing this uncertainty requires specific strategies and understanding.
Comprehensive Processing Strategies
- Realistic Risk Assessment
- Recognise media emphasis on rare events
- Consider broader contexts and trends
- Differentiate immediate and distant threats
- Understand media amplification effects
- Evaluate personal relevance objectively
- Active Processing Techniques
- Write down concerning headlines to slow processing
- Evaluate realistic probabilities of events
- Practice reflective rather than reactive responses
- Engage in thoughtful discussions with others
- Journal about news-related concerns
- Apply critical thinking to news consumption
Creating a Sustainable Approach
The goal isn’t to become uninformed but to develop a healthier relationship with news consumption. Consider:
- Setting specific times for news updates
- Choosing reliable news sources
- Balancing negative news with positive stories
- Creating structured routines for news checking
- Building in regular breaks from news consumption
- Developing support systems for discussing concerning news
- Maintaining perspective on global versus local issues
Conclusion
While staying informed remains important, managing news consumption is essential for mental wellbeing. As Dr Price’s experience shows, reducing news exposure, especially on social media, can quickly reduce feelings of despair and outrage. By implementing thoughtful boundaries and healthy consumption habits, we can stay informed while protecting our mental health.
References:
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/11/strain-media-overload
You must be logged in to post a comment.