The world feels like it is on fire. This can be literal or figurative due to an abundance of information about global and local unrest which is courtesy of every news broadcast and social media posts. The reality is our thoughts were not meant to absorb the world’s struggles en masse.

The onslaught of wars in various countries, the loss of untold lives, human suffering and the political tension in the US have created another worried generation. While most anxiety symptoms are from personal experiences, it is also common for those who consistently watch the news and social media commentaries to feel anxious about the state of the world.

Some anxiety symptoms:

• Excessive worry
• Feeling of dread or doom
• Sleep disturbance due to racing thoughts
• Feeling helpless or powerless

Being a bystander to distressing events and being unable to help, fix or make changes, heightens our sense of danger, challenges our morality and rattles our spiritual beliefs. Even though it is important to be informed, it is equally important to guard your mental health from negative overload.

Here are a few ways to manage your mental health:

• Limit the amount of time spent watching/listening to news stories to 2 hrs per day
• Choose lighthearted content like cat videos, positive/feel good stories
• Tune in to a low stress podcast
• Immerse yourself into an easy hobby
• Connect with friends and family but avoid news related conversations
• Volunteer
• Donate
• Lend a helping hand to someone around you

Persistent consumption of negative leads you down a rabbit hole of negative. Unfortunately, life is filled with events that stoke anxiety, dread and helplessness. We can only do what is in our control which includes practicing mental health self-care.

Self-Check-in:

How is your sleep?

How is your appetite? Are you making healthy food choices?

How are you feeling?