I have never been formally diagnosed, but I'm near certain that I have some form or another of mild anxiety disorder. A lot of seemingly innocuous things will get me thinking of topics that trigger my anxiety and it can make enjoying those things hard. In addition to this, staying informed and up to date on those topics also gets me stuck in an anxious loop that can make it hard to focus on anything else. In the name of preserving my mental health, is it okay to stay willfully ignorant on topics like politics, financial advice, and especially climate change? I feel a bit guilty for avoiding things and I have a sneaking suspicion that I'll run face first into these topics eventually, but I'm honestly not quite sure what to do. Any advice?
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Manisha, thank you for the work that you do. As with many other 'asks,' Christina H.'s 'ask' has a lot to do with all of the new technology that people are using in their daily lives. For a younger person, if that person's family life is a positive one, then it's likely that the mood swings can be lessened by good communication. I hope that's true for you, Manisha. I think you paid me a compliment a couple of month's ago. I don't forget things like that. For a young person, it takes maturity to figure the best way to deal with the huge amount of sight and sound information aimed at the public in general in this society that you and I live in. Every day I have to somehow navigate all of this 'stuff.' I'm hopeful that with vaccinations, the number of new infections will go down...
Hi love,
Thank you for reaching out to Asking Jude. Unfortunately, this is a very common situation at the moment. Believe me, I’m in the same boat. We are living in unprecedented times. There is so much happening all across the world, so your feelings of uncertainty and anxiety are valid. People say ignorance is bliss, which might be true to an extent. Change is scary. Uncertainty is scary. And understandably, it can be difficult to keep track of it all. What you need to do is find a balance. If people are constantly checking the news to keep track of everything and stay on top, it can be an upward battle to find control through everything. This can cause an anxiety loop that can be very detrimental to the person. However, in your case, people can experience anxiety due to the fear of possibly missing out on major news or guilt if they feel they are not playing an active role in society.
Maintaining a balance is incredibly important. Pick a few news sources you trust to get your information. Nowadays, you can find information from thousands of websites ranging from CNN to Twitter or Instagram. It is important to find the right sources so you can get the full picture of the current state of the world, but also to make sure that you are not overwhelmed with all the news coming your way.
Next, allot a certain time period each day or each week to checking news. This is to make sure you are not losing control or making yourself overly anxious. Set boundaries around when you consume news, and make sure you are not harming your mental health. If you feel too triggered on a particular day, maybe you can skip that day and then check the next day. Boundaries are there to keep you accountable but also keep you comfortable, so make sure that you keep yourself informed without obsessing about the news too much.
Make sure you are taking time for your self-care. If you are feeling anxious, please make sure you talk to family, friends, loved ones, or a therapist. If you do not feel like talking, make sure you are letting your feelings out through a journal or by doing something productive. You do not want to bury your feelings; let them out. The more you obsess and think about certain topics without fully processing them, the more anxious you are likely to get.
Here are some resources that might help:
-https://www.stylist.co.uk/life/anxiety-donald-trump-nuclear-war-mental-health-plan-tips-news-stories-psychiatrist-stress/72054
-https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/consumer/watching-news-making-your-anxiety-worse-tips
-https://hbr.org/2020/05/are-you-stuck-in-the-anxiety-distraction-feedback-loop
-https://www.pixelthoughts.co/
Wishing you all the best,
Manisha
Hi, Christina! We'll have one of our team members answer your submission soon.
Hey, Christina H., I am a member, here, at Asking jude, not a peer counselor. I'm a writer. Your 'ask' is interesting to me. A peer counselor will get back to you. Your predicament is one that is shared by a lot of people throughout the USA -- which is my usual frame of reference. Without knowing anything about your background, a psychologist or psychiatrist would want to know anything that you would share concerning your family life, etc. A peer counselor will get back to you...