The increased access to news through social media, phones, televisions, computers etc. makes it more difficult to escape from it. We are surrounded by it and even though we may want to stay up-to-date on the news stories, negative stories can trigger anxiety and affect your mental health.
Negative news triggers levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, to rise in our bodies which in turn causes anxiety levels to increase. Recurrent exposure to this can affect your mental and physical health and you may feel you have difficulty coping.
Here are 10 helpful tips if the News is making you feel anxious:
#1 - Do some mindfulness and breathing exercises to calm the anxiety-Google is great for these.
#2 - Set aside times in the day to look at the news and put a time limit on it.
#3 - If the news is causing you high levels of anxiety, take a break from it. Stop watching it.
#4 - You can't control the news so think about things in your life that you can control like implementing these tips
#5 - Exercise can reduce symptoms of anxiety so go out for a walk or a run or dance around your room.
#6 - Reach out to a friend or family member to share how you are feeling
#7 - Avoid watching, reading the news before bed as stress can affect you falling asleep.
#8 - Check and change your phone settings and apps for what pops up, what you follow to reduce anxiety provoking posts and feeds.
#9 - Be kind to yourself and do something that will distract and take your mind off the news like watching a film, seeing a friend, cooking a meal.
#10 - Make a list of what helps to reduce your anxiety; in the moment we sometimes forget what helps when we feel like this.
It is important to not suffer alone and get overwhelmed by how you are feeling. You are not alone. If the news is negatively affecting your mental health, talk to someone you can trust and share how you are feeling. Get professional support. Remember that asking for help is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of strength and courage!
For further help and coping strategies, please click here to arrange an initial FREE 15-minute telephone call with me.
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