Dealing with World Events Anxiety

Hi besties,

My heart goes out to everyone caught up in these current horrific events.

As a super-sensitive person, I know the vicious cycle of becoming chronically overwhelmed by upsetting images in the media, as a result, shut myself off from any news or media, then feel like a terrible, selfish person for ignoring what is going on in the world.

Please know, you are not selfish for protecting yourself from world events you have no control over.

Staying glued to news channels in a constant cycle doesn't help anyone.

Here are some practical tips on how to cope with World Events Anxiety:

• Limit your news source, and set a time limit
• Pick one reliable source, and only watch/read/ listen for a strict time limit (I recommend 5 or 10 mins a day max).
  (Your news source should NOT be social media, that's for memes and dog pics only.)
• Mute, unfollow, hide any accounts/people whose posts make you feel anxious.
• Only look at facts, not opinions or speculation

Remember news outlets have to fill 24hrs, and are constantly trying to compete with each other, they fill the time between facts with interviews, which often lead to worst-case speculation.

Talk about your anxiety

You won't be the only one feeling anxious, please don't bottle up your feelings.

We have a thread in the Bestie Facebook group for tips / coping strategies on ways to deal with World Events Anxiety.

Look for practical ways you can help

If you can find practical ways to help, this makes a positive difference in the world, and eases your own anxiety too.

You won't be able to help with every news story, and that's OK, work out what is manageable for you.

For example, a lot of Besties eased their covid anxiety by helping an elderly neighbour or reaching out to a self-isolating friend.

Watch out for signs of rising anxiety

Use grounding techniques such as listing:

5 things you can see

4 things you can touch

3 things you can hear

2 things you can smell

1 thing you can taste

This brings your brain back to the present moment and stops it running into anxiety overdrive.

Sending you love & hugs, Anita x

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