Can Too Much Breaking News Cause Psychological Harm?
By: Christine Hammond, LMHC
The short answer is yes. Breaking news tends to be highly
dramatic, less specific, emotionally driven, and very current. Just this past
week, our area’s breaking news included: bomb threats at several area schools,
fatal car accidents, several homicides, discovery of burnt body, missing child,
severe child abuse charges pressed against parents, and the latest in political
upheaval. Any one of these events can trigger psychological issues.
·
Anxiety. The
first noticeable response is usually anxiety. This can be mild or more severe
leading to a panic attack. When parents were notified of the bomb threats for
their child’s school, many were concerned about sending their child to school
that day. The affected schools reported a significant increase in absences
which is unusual for the first week of school. While it is understandable that
a parent would be worried, the news generated anxiety affecting the entire
community.
·
Depression. For a
person already prone to depression, too much news can elevate levels. It is
discouraging enough to know that some parents abuse their children while other
parents are terrified of never seeing their child again. Just thinking about
the suffering of the children can place a person in a state of despair.
·
Secondary
Traumatic Stress (STS). Unfortunately, some news stations are
irresponsible about showing video footage of beatings, dead bodies, severe
abuse, or torture. Once these images enter the brain, they cannot be removed. A
person can relive the incidents over and over generating a secondary stress
response. In many cases, this can be just as impactful as PTSD.
·
Paranoia. With
all that is happening in the world, it is not surprising that many become
paranoid of things happening to them or their family members. When the fear
takes root, it can limit social interactions and associations with new people
which can lead to isolation. The suspicion sometimes becomes so strong that it
infects even family members and former friendships.
If any of these sound familiar, it is not too late. Here is
something that can be done right now that will change the intensity of the
emotions.
·
Limit
time. Decide ahead of time how many minutes will be devoted to
the latest news and then follow it. Try not to watch the news late at night
when it is easy to fester on the current happenings right before bedtime.
·
Lighten
it up. Intermixing
other lighter news stories with the breaking news will help to bring balance.
This allows for a more accurate perception of the world. Watching a comedy
before bedtime is also useful.
·
Use
responsible news stations, papers, or websites. Avoid
sensational journalism that is frequently inaccurate and intended to spark an
emotional response. Rather, choose a balance between several sources to
discover the truth.
·
Talk
about it. Having discussions about the news is a great way to release
tensions and reduce anxiety. Find a couple of people who are easy to engage in
conversation and limit the amount of time that a topic is discussed. For the
more traumatic news reports, it is imperative that the situation be discussed
to limit the potential for obsessive thinking.
A person doesn’t have to avoid all of the breaking news to
keep from being psychologically harmed. Rather, it is better to have a sensible
approach with some safe guards in place.
To schedule an
appointment with Christine Hammond, please call our office at 407-647-7005.