Oh no: Everything is terrible

Written: March 2017

We all read the news, whether we sit down to watch every night or we see furious tweets on our timeline summoning up the worst headlines of the week. Most of this news is bad news, that makes us feel scared, angry or frustrated. The last few years we seem to be inundated with terrorist attacks, celebrity deaths and political horrors (a.k.a the absolute mess of Brexit hanging over our heads like the devil's mistletoe). 

I choose to avoid the news, I don’t watch it on TV or read newspapers. I have a number of words and accounts blocked on my social media to avoid seeing news that triggers my anxiety disorder. I care too much about the news and it has a negative effect on my wellbeing. There is nothing wrong with choosing to not open a newspaper or scroll past an article, you do not need to feel obliged to read it all. 

But it’s hard to avoid it completely, you can’t, your friends talk about it, it’s on twitter, you read the headline of the metro that’s been discarded on the tube seat next to you. So, what can you do?

1.       Remind yourself terrible things make news headlines not because they are common, but because they are rare and shocking.

2.       We have the power to change the world. We do not have to sit back and watch things get worse. Some of us can protest, join activist groups and raise awareness. Others of us can sign online petitions, donate to charity or use their social media platforms to raise awareness of an issue. 

3.       There is more good in the world than bad. People will risk their lives to help the wounded, they will donate money to people who lose their homes and social media will light up with people offering free lifts or beds for those who need it.

4. Be kind. One act of kindness, either to yourself, a loved one or a stranger has the potential to trigger long term change.

5. Remember that history is evidence that bad things will and do happen and the good things will and do happen. Life is cyclical.

6. Practise some self-care. Turn off your phone and sit in the bath reading a good book. Ask your friend to come over and watch silly cat videos. Go to see your counsellor. Cook a comforting meal. Go for a run and have a well-deserved shower afterwards. 

Ignore the news if you want to because it’s important to put yourself first. That doesn’t make you a “snowflake” or an ignorant person, it’s because you care so much about what is happening to our earth that you are forgetting to look after your own mental health. Be brave and carry on living, because you will find kind people, peaceful moments and happy stories amongst everything that’s going on.