Staying Mentally Healthy Through Troubling Times
Dealing with Fear and Anxiety
Every single day, we are presented with a nonstop flood of troubling news and disquieting developments in world events. These come through traditional media, social media, the internet, and our daily interactions with others. It can often be quite difficult to remain emotionally secure and healthy through a deluge of bad news – but it certainly is possible to rise above the constant fear and anxiety which can often seem to be actively fostered by the world around us and find a fulfilling and productive way to grapple with those emotions.
Focus on What You Can Control
It is important to ground yourself and focus on aspects of the world you can control. If the issues troubling you resonate with or affect the community around you, look for related ways to help your community. Finding a positive way to contribute, even in some small way, can truly help keep one secure in the knowledge that, even if we are in many ways unable to affect the change we may wish to see in the world, you are doing the best you can to take whatever steps you can towards it.
Maintain Relationships
Fostering your bonds with the people around you, helping to form or leaning on a support system for yourself, in all situations, is one of the main ways of maintaining your happiness and mental health – but in the case of working through troubling world events, it can be especially important. It is key to remember that the people around you, and even those you may have disagreements with regarding the issues you care about, are likely going through the same fears and anxieties you are, and working through those worries together is a vital method for getting to a feeling of acceptance and fulfillment within your own life, regardless of the anxieties of the broader world around you.
Limit Social Media Time
It may seem obvious, but ultimately, one of the most vital things you can do to preserve your mental health through the constant stream of destabilizing events and the constant arguments surrounding them online and in traditional media – is to simply limit your time spent engaging with them.
Try to find ways to kill time that aren’t on social media, to focus on yourself and the people directly around you – because ultimately, that is what is most important, and that is where one has the most capacity to do good. You will gain a far more measured perspective by simply knowing when to stop doomscrolling.
What is Doomscrolling?
“when a person actively seeks out saddening or negative material to read or scroll through on social media or news media outlets […] attempting to get access to all the information you need to keep yourself protected from what’s dangerous around you.”
Korin Miller described in Health
Engage in Hobbies/Activities
Engaging with your hobbies and passions, or even finding new interests, is one of the best ways of maintaining a positive and healthy outlook through troubling times. Whether that be through exercise or meditation, artistic practices, gardening, or wherever your interests may lay, fostering those interests and finding fulfillment and personal growth through them can be a lifeline in mentally taxing circumstances.
Ultimately, these steps focus on maintaining perspective and remembering the positives in the world alongside the negatives.
“ Focusing on the good doesn’t mean you’re ignoring the bad; it means you’re mindful about where you place your energy and attention. You have a limited amount of energy, so where you focus your attention is important.”
Tess Brigham – Forbes
Do not ignore the events in the world that are important to you, for both good or bad, but always remember that the people, places, and communities you know and love should be at the forefront of your attention.
Focus on the change you can affect and the things you can do personally, rather than despair at a feeling of powerlessness that can ultimately keep you from doing real good in the world.
