Anxiety and the News - Can We Get Too Much Information?

Covid-19 has ushered in a time of intense fear and anxiety
worldwide. Some of us are in areas that have already been affected by
coronavirus. Others are bracing for what may come. And all of us are watching
the headlines and wondering, “What is going to happen next?” Our 24-hour news
cycle and immediate access to information (and misinformation) online
contributes to these fears as we can get constant updates, theories and
opinions online and on the television. It might feel like all this dread and
fear is inescapable.

The uncertainty surrounding coronavirus can be the hardest
aspect to handle in this crisis. We don’t know for certain when we will be able
to return to a more “normal life” or when this threat would truly lessen. And
the uncertainty makes it all too easy to catastrophize and spiral out into
overwhelming dread and panic. But there are many things you can do—even in the
face of this unique crisis—to manage your anxiety and fears.

Stay informed—but
don’t obsessively check the news

According to the CDC it’s vital to stay informed, particularly about what’s happening in your community, so you can follow advised safety precautions and do your part to slow the spread of coronavirus. But there’s a lot of misinformation going around, that Facebook meme that says “a Doctor states…” isn’t a reputable source for medical information. Even many news sources depend on sensationalistic coverage that only feeds into fear. It’s important to be discerning about what you read and watch.

Stick to trustworthy sources such as the CDC, the World Health Organization, and your local public health authorities. These sources focus on facts and avoid the sensationalistic aspect of news opinion shows and websites.

Limit how often you check for updates. Constant monitoring
of news and social media feeds can quickly turn compulsive and
counterproductive—fueling anxiety rather than easing it. The limit is different
for everyone, so pay attention to how you’re feeling and adjust accordingly.

It is okay (and healthy) to step away from media if you
start feeling overwhelmed. If anxiety is an ongoing issue, consider limiting
your media consumption to a specific time frame and time of day (e.g. thirty
minutes each evening at 6 pm). You may even choose to step away for a news
break for an entire day in order to refocus or take a “news breather”. You can
always catch up on updates later.

Either shut off your phone news alerts or limit how often
they send you “breaking news”. Some news apps will send you alerts a few times
each hour, which can overwhelm (and distract) you from being able to focus on
anything else other than Covid-19. Go into your News App “notifications” and
you can choose to shut off or limit how often the app will send you an update.  

If watching the news or reading updates increases your
anxiety too much you can ask someone reliable to share important updates.

Be careful what you share online. Do your best to verify information before passing it on so that you are not a part of the issue spreading misinformation all over social media. Snopes’ Coronavirus Collection is one place to start. We all need to do our part to avoid spreading rumors and creating unnecessary panic.

The idea is to remain informed but not obsessed where your
fear and anxiety prevents you from functioning. It is not easy as a global
pandemic brings such uncertainty; however, we know our selves best and how much
news and information we need and can manage without becoming overly stressed.
We can stay safe and informed with facts and ensure we give ourselves time for
ourselves and our families so that we can manage our mental and physical
health. And don’t forget, there are plenty of silly cat videos, heartwarming
news articles on Covid-19 recovery and humorous movies and TV shows we can
watch on our media platforms.