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In today’s 24/7 news cycle, it feels like we’re constantly surrounded by breaking headlines, push notifications, and alarming updates. While many of us turn to news sources to stay informed, there’s a more complex, often subconscious reason why we keep tuning in: at some level, it makes us feel better about ourselves. Seeing the struggles, conflicts, and catastrophes happening around the world can trigger a quiet sense of relief that our lives, despite their imperfections, aren’t quite as bad as they could be. But there’s a hidden cost to this, as studies have shown, that continued exposure to negative news actually increases our stress, anxiety, and feelings of helplessness over time.
So why do we keep going back, and what’s really going on when we scroll through doom and gloom? Let’s unpack the paradox of negative news and its impact on our well-being.
The Comfort of Comparison: Why Bad News Makes Us Feel Good (Briefly)
When we see stories of war, economic crises, or even the personal struggles of others, it can spark a moment of comparison – our mind assesses our own circumstances against what we’re witnessing. Psychologists call this “downward social comparison,” a mental shortcut that makes us feel better by observing others’ hardships and challenges. This self-protective instinct can temporarily elevate our mood, helping us feel grateful or fortunate by comparison.
In the short term, it’s a natural coping mechanism. We think, “I may have issues, but at least I’m not dealing with that”, or “at least my life isn’t as bad as theirs”. For a moment, our stresses may feel smaller, our lives more manageable, it provides a temporary relief from our own suffering. This relief can even create a positive feedback loop, making us more likely to keep seeking out similar stories in the hope of feeling better about our own situations.
The Anxiety Trap: How Constant Exposure to Bad News Takes a Toll
The truth is that whilst this comparison effect might feel good for a moment, repeated exposure to negative news takes a very real toll on our minds and bodies. Psychologists have found that consuming bad news increases levels of cortisol, the stress hormone responsible for the body’s “fight-or-flight” response. Elevated cortisol levels, particularly when sustained over time, have been linked to increased anxiety, depression, and even physical symptoms like fatigue and immune suppression.
The constant barrage of troubling news can leave us feeling helpless and pessimistic about the world. This is known as “mean world syndrome,” a phenomenon where people who consume heavy amounts of negative news come to believe the world is more dangerous and cruel than it truly is. Over time, this heightened perception of danger creates a constant, low-level stress and anxiety that impacts mental well-being and reinforces a cycle of depression and overwhelm.
The Rise of “Doomscrolling” and Why We Just Can’t Seem to Stop
Doomscrolling – endlessly consuming bad news online – has become a buzzword, especially during major global crises. And there’s a reason why we keep scrolling, even when it doesn’t make us feel good. News, particularly bad news, is incredibly captivating. Our brains are hardwired to pay attention to potential threats as a survival mechanism, so anything that hints at danger or conflict grabs our attention faster than more positive or neutral information.
Social media and news algorithms capitalise on this. They tend to prioritise sensational or fear-inducing stories because these stories attract more engagement. We end up stuck in a cycle, clicking through article after article, feeling our stress rise but still unable to pull away – we become an adrenaline addict! This is why, despite the increased anxiety, we keep coming back for more.
So, What Can We Do? Strategies for Finding Balance
Breaking the addiction from the cycle of negative news isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. Here are a few strategies for detoxing and reducing the impact of negative news on our mental health:
- Set Boundaries on News Consumption: Limit the time you spend consuming news to specific parts of the day, and try not to read or watch the news right before bed. It can reduce the feeling of information overload and help you process what you’ve taken in.
- Choose Reliable Sources and Curate Your Feed: Not all news sources are equal. Stick to reliable outlets that strive for balanced reporting, and consider following sources that provide more solutions-oriented news. Try to stay away from source who sensationalise and catastrophise content. You can also curate your social media feeds to prioritise positive or constructive content.
- Balance with Positive Content: Seek out stories that focus on solutions, progress, or acts of kindness. This not only counteracts the anxiety-inducing impact of negative news but also helps build a more realistic view of the world.
- Practice Gratitude Without Comparison: Instead of comparing yourself to others in a negative light, cultivate a personal gratitude practice. It can help you appreciate what’s going well in your life without the need to draw comparisons to someone else’s suffering.
- Take Breaks from Digital Media: Spend time away from screens to reconnect with the physical world, whether through nature, exercise, or meaningful activities with friends and family. These breaks can help reset our stress levels and give us perspective.
The irony of news consumption is that we often turn to it in search of understanding, connection, and even reassurance. But when we’re exposed to a steady stream of negativity, it can leave us feeling drained, anxious, and powerless. The key to avoiding these effects lies in finding balance – consuming news mindfully, choosing sources carefully, and cultivating positive mental habits to counter the anxiety that negative news can bring.
By taking control of our media consumption, we can stay informed without compromising our mental well-being. After all, understanding the world is important, but so is protecting our peace.
