If hearing news about politics, world crises, natural disasters, and crime heighten your sense of anxiety and stress, you may have what some experts refer to as “headline stress disorder.”
Researchers have found that all that bad news can wear on your sense of well-being, making you more likely to worry and imagine worst-case scenarios in your own life.
So, what can you do to cope with all the negative news? Here are a few suggestions:
• Take a break.
Set aside certain hours each day—or a day each week—when you disconnect from the constant news feed and think about other things.
• Focus on what you can do.
You can’t fix everything, but you can do something. Research has shown that you’ll feel a greater sense of well-being and purpose if you get involved in your community and volunteer for a cause that is meaningful to you.
• Look for good news.
Good things happen every day, you just have to pay attention to them. Look for positive news roundups online, and watch for acts of kindness in your own life and community.
—Medical News Today
