Ways to cope with upsetting events in the news
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious or sad about what's going on in the news, know that you’re definitely not alone. Here are some actions we can take to help us cope better through times like this.
Know that it’s normal to be upset
Lots of us are feeling upset, anxious, helpless, stressed, sad or angry about the news. You’re not alone with these feelings and it’s important to remember that it’s perfectly understandable and ok to feel this way. We are always here for you if you need to talk.
Manage your social media usage
24-hour rolling news and social media can make it difficult to switch off from current affairs and to put them in perspective. News coverage and social posts, as well as conversations your friends and family might be having about news might be dramatic and upsetting. It can be easy to imagine lots of possible scenarios resulting from world events but it's important to focus just on what's happening now. Imagining the worst doesn't help us to manage our feelings.
It’s also important to remember that the reason events are on TV a lot is often because it’s such a rare event. This sort of situation doesn’t happen all the time, or even often at all.
Be aware of the amount of news and information you’re consuming and make sure it’s coming from trusted, reliable sources
You may want to stay informed, but you can take breaks from watching or reading the news. You might want to set aside a certain time of the day when you will look at the news and ideally have a couple trusted reliable news sources that you check for information. If you’re finding that your entire social media feed is full of videos and images of distressing news, try limiting the time you spend looking at it or take a complete break for a day or so.
Talk about how you feel
Speak to friends, family, teachers, or other trusted adults about how you’re feeling about the news to help lighten the intensity and feelings of being overwhelmed.
Balance negative thoughts with positive actions
Do something that makes you feel good, like watching your favourite movie, or reading your favourite book, to balance negative thoughts. This can particularly help before bedtime, if you’re struggling to sleep.
Take action
Feeling helpless about a situation can be stressful. There are little steps we can take to give us the feeling that we have some control, and can do something to help.
If you can, you could donate to causes that are supporting people in countries experiencing war, fundraise for a charity raising money for the cause or volunteer with a local charity that’s working to help those in areas of humanitarian need.
If you’re over 18 and think you could help be there for people who are struggling to cope, could you consider becoming a Shout Volunteer? Sometimes being there for others can help us manage our own anxiety, and can add extra meaning and fulfilment to our everyday lives. Find out more about volunteering here.
Need further support? Text 'Shout' to 85258 to speak to a Shout Volunteer. It's free, confidential and available 24/7.
