Anxiety Over Current Events? Here’s How to Cope

“What now?” you think as your Apple Watch buzzes, directing you to the top stories. This, when you’re in the midst of commenting on a friend’s Facebook post. You’ve never met this person in real life. Still, you can’t believe someone you consider a friend actually supports a politician who, if elected, is guaranteed to run the country into the ground.

You’ve been feverishly concocting your response for 25 minutes now, which means you don’t have time to hit the gym before work like you had planned. Your heart pounds as your fingers furiously tap the phone’s keyboard.  

The worst part is that this pervasive anxiety you feel over the state of the world is ever-present.

Between climate change, the cost of living, war and just… everything, it’s got you spun up. And honestly? It’s taking a huge toll on your quality of life.

Information Overload

Fretting over the state of the world is not new. In fact, people have been doing it for millennia.

Humans evolved with the capacity to know what is happening within a few miles. Now? We’ve got the whole world at our fingertips, and with that, a whole world of more things to worry about.

Stoic Philosopher Marcus Aurelius, a man who lived around 2,000 years ago, said, “You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”

Aurelius had no way of knowing the world we’re in currently. A world where we’re bombarded with tragic and scary news almost hourly. Yet, that quote shows that people’s propensity to fixate on current events is nothing new.

How to Manage Anxiety Over Current Events

Today’s technology makes this relentless onslaught of information virtually impossible to dodge. This is the content that gets clicks. This is the content that keeps people coming back, and unsurprisingly, this is the content that makes people feel anxious and on edge.

And because our brains are wired to seek out and pay attention to potential threats, the compulsion to consume content about doom and gloom is powerful.

Protect Your Peace

There’s this notion that it’s reckless to be uninformed. That, coupled with the deep-seated need to be aware of all the dangers “out there,” makes the urge to consume the anxiety-provoking content hard to ignore. 

Yet taking care of your mental health is a priority. Often, when consuming content, people detach. They don’t consciously pay attention to how that information makes them feel.

When reading the news or visiting social media sites, be mindful of the impact it has on you. Ask yourself, do you feel better since learning this information? Worse?

Guard your peace. This can include setting limits on the time you allow yourself to read the news or engage with sites that lead to anxiety.

Understand the balance between staying informed and maintaining peace of mind. Your aim should be to err on the side of doing what you need to reduce anxiety.

Understand the Big Picture

There is no denying that life can be brutal. People all over the world make horrible decisions that have a negative impact on others. But people are also amazing; there’s still a lot of kindness in this world.

You make a difference in this world by demonstrating kindness to living beings and respecting the earth. Examine your values, then look at the things you do, the daily choices you make, that align with those values.

The demands of daily life are enough to deal with. Piling worries on top of situations that exist, regardless of whether we worry about them or not, ultimately wears away at you. It erodes your quality of life.

Give yourself permission to breathe. Put energy into good things: there are a lot of positive things happening in this world.

If you find your anxiety is getting the better of you, consider therapy. A therapist is an excellent resource whenever you hit bumps in life’s road. They can help you reframe your perspective, focus on what you can control, and reclaim your peace.

At the Relationship Therapy Center, we offer both in-person and virtual sessions. Please reach out anytime with questions; we always love hearing from people and sharing more about what we do.

Begin Anxiety Treatment in Roseville, CA, Fair Oaks, CA, or Online in California:

If you are ready to find relief from your anxiety, we can help. The therapists at the Relationship Therapy Center provide anxiety treatment to help teens and adults find happiness and live without the pain of anxiety. To begin therapy at our Sacramento area locations or online, follow these steps:

• Contact the Relationship Therapy Center and schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation to learn more about anxiety treatment.
• Meet with one of our talented therapists.
• Begin anxiety treatment and regain control in your life.

Other Services Offered at The Relationship Therapy Center in California:

In addition to anxiety therapy, Our Sacramento area counseling clinics located in Roseville and Fair Oaks, CA are pleased to offer a variety of mental health services. Our couples services include: Counseling after infidelity, sex therapy, co-parent counseling, family therapy, divorce counseling, intensive couples retreats, and premarital counseling. Individual therapy services include, therapy for children, teen therapy, depression treatment, and individual relationship counseling. Our therapists offer online counseling in California to treat a variety of mental health concerns. Please reach out to our Sacramento area therapy office to learn more about the many ways we can help you or your loved ones heal and grow.