Balancing Awareness, Activism, and News Overwhelm
Consider the last time that you felt refreshed and optimistic after reading the news. My guess is that many of you cannot remember ever feeling this way after scrolling through a news site. I fully acknowledge that there are many challenges and tragedies that are ongoing in the world, and that being aware of them can help spur us towards positive changes. At the same time, it’s fair to say that most news media are skewed significantly toward the negative, the sensationalized, and the tragic. There are so many beautiful moments, and myriad stories to celebrate, which are not represented in the news media, and which are also part of the reality of our world.
Highly Sensitive People tend to process deeply, and feel the emotions of others acutely, which is a ripe combination for both ruminating on negative news stories and also feeling depressed or anxious after reading an upsetting news story. I believe that, for many HSPs, reading most news media sends our nervous systems into a fight/flight/freeze that can have a significant impact on our mood, energy levels, and parenting. I have personally experienced feeling deeply upset, anxious, or even emotionally flattened by reading upsetting news. When this happens, it tends to lead to emotionally checking out from my role as a parent, and to lower patience for the challenging moments of parenthood. This is not ideal for my kids, and it’s certainly not ideal for me!
You might think I would advocate for HSP moms, dads, and caregivers to completely avoid news media, however, many of us deeply value being conscious citizens and advocates for peace and justice in the world, which necessitates some level of engagement with current events. Therefore, for many HSP parents, a balanced and boundaried approach to news consumption is ideal. Here’s what that can looks like:
Intentionally follow “good news” sites such as Upworthy, The Optimist Daily, or Good News Network. Think of this as balancing out the (mostly) negative news highlighted by major media outlets.
Limit daily exposure to news sites. If you have a news app or widget on your phone, or any avenue through which news can “pop up” without you seeking it out, consider deleting it. You might also set time parameters - such as reading the news for 10 minutes - so you don’t accidentally find yourself “doomscrolling.”
Thoughtfully engage with news that matters to you. Instead of reading 15 different headlines, consider subscribing to a newsletter or podcast that features news on a topic you care about, such as Animal Rights, Education, or Racial Equity.
Identify specific ways that you can respond to news issues that you care about. For example, if you are concerned about educational disparities, you might join an organization that donates books or resources to underprivileged areas. If you care about Climate Change, you might write letters to your government representatives on the topic. This allows you to remain aware of issues that matter to you, and to advocate for changes in those areas.
In 2022, the News Media is part of our lives whether we like it or not. Let’s not forget that we have a choice in how we consume it, though. If you have noticed yourself “doomscrolling” and then feeling anxious or down afterwards, it may be time to make a change.
Choose one (or several) of the above tips, try it for a week or so, and notice what difference it makes in your mood and well-being. Do you have more time for self-care or to engage meaningfully with your child(ren)? I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas - comment below!
P.S. If you’re interested in more resources for Highly Sensitive Parents, check out our Resources page at https://www.highlysensitiveparenthood.com/hspparentresources.
written by Amy Lajiness, HSP Parent Coach and Educator
