Did the News Put You In a Bad Mood?

Did the news put you in a bad mood? You are certainly not alone! We call this "Headline Stress Disorder." This is a real issue, and it is not going away any time soon. According to researchers, an increase in news consumption increases stress among many people and makes them worse partners with more unhealthy habits. But the solution may not be to turn off the news. We discuss this in an article written for CBC News by Jennifer Moss, an award-winning Happiness Columnist.

During the U.S. Presidential Election in 2016, therapist Dr. Steven Stosny stamped the term "Headline Stress Disorder" after noticing increasing anxiety in his patients with negative news and overconsumption of media at the root of their stress.

As a result, more people were disputing with their spouses and coworkers and fighting friends on social media; they were even drinking more alcohol and started smoking again.

However, this wasn't just a United States phenomenon — research shows that this particular election triggered something in people globally. Stress worldwide increased, and trust in the media and government was declining.

What Does the Data Say?

According to a 2018 Pew Research Center survey, 70 per cent of Americans say they are worn out by the amount of news available to them.

Data shows that 83 per cent of Canadians check the news every day and 56 per cent say they check it multiple times a day. We are obviously our own worst enemy when it comes to managing Headline Stress Disorder.

Bingeing Is Bad. Full Stop!

The human brain unconsciously processes roughly 11 million pieces of information per second, but can only consciously process about 40 pieces per second.

Now we're asking our brain to process unsustainable amounts of data and attend to more of it. Imagine how long it took for humans to evolve from walking on all fours to walking upright — it certainly didn't take 10 years. That is essentially what kind of demand we're placing on our brains currently.

Today, Canadians spend almost 10 hours dialed in to media per day, which is mostly digital technology. It's a shocking revelation, especially if you compare it to only a decade ago where that number was 3.3 hours daily.

We've even upped our consumption by an additional 80 minutes since 2015. This rapid and exponential shift in the way we digest our media is causing our brains to feel like they are constantly buffering.

And, since our survival depends on it, our brains are wired to find rewards and avoid harm. Our deeply rooted negativity bias is also why we are so attracted to stressful information — our brains will supersede looking for rewards over detecting threats to keep us safe.

To push back on this genetic hangover, we have to remind ourselves that most of what we see on the news is out of our control. We tend to forget that historically, we've been through bad times before and made it through, so it's important not to catastrophize our own personal life and connect it to what is going on in the news.

The Importance of Trusting the Source

In 2017, 90 per cent of Canadians said they had fallen for a fake news story until finding out otherwise —  and the majority of those false news stories originated on social media.

Feeling duped increases cynicism, so ensuring that we're consuming a healthy media diet is an essential first step to mitigating Headline Stress Disorder.

Trusted news sources should offer a balanced approach to the stories they cover and aren't tied to an agenda. They are the carrots and celery in your diet versus social media, which is like bingeing on cotton candy.

There's also a rise in what's called, constructive journalism, which essentially focuses more on solution-focused news instead of negative and conflict-based stories.

Last year CBC launched CBC News Snapchat Discover in order to better inform young Canadians and foster media literacy. It, like other examples of constructive journalism, asks, "How can we change this?"

When journalists forget to ask future-focused questions, they don't explore solutions which can trigger actions based on those perspectives.

Turn Negativity into Action

Like CBC, Huffington Post has also launched their special sections experimenting on constructive journalism and Washington Post has an online section they've aptly named, "The Optimist".

Podcasting has also grown exponentially as an antidote to negative news and in support of constructive journalism.

Finally, if you feel like you're suffering from Headline Stress Disorder, fight back by channeling that negativity into action.

What are the Next Steps?

As Canadian citizens, we cannot influence another country's elections, as we know. This can make many of us feel hopeless and frustrated. However, instead, let's concentrate on the things you can change!

Here are some suggestions: get immersed in local politics. If you're becoming frustrated with your local politicians, write them a letter or ask to see your local MP. Voice your concerns in person; it may go a long way!

In addition to this, many children can certainly use your support. We support children worldwide every day, and you can even take the day to volunteer to help children in your community.

Headline Stress Disorder is truly impactful; it causes a feeling of powerlessness, so taking some form of positive action helps reduce that feeling by counteracting it with hope.

Although taking a break from the news is worthwhile if you're feeling overwhelmed, the real issue lies in how we interpret the news we're consuming. There are ways to change; take positive actions; we're here for your support!

Do you want to discuss Headline Stress Disorder with Jennifer Moss? As an international public speaker, award-winning author, and UN Global Happiness Committee Member, she is here to help. Moss is based in Kitchener, Ontario. Click below to start a conversation.