If you are dealing with feelings of unrest, anxiety or doom right now, know that it’s completely normal. It’s in our physiological nature to feel some amount of empathy and sorrow for others dealing with a traumatic event. And while you may not be able to abate it entirely, there are ways to make it manageable.
Follow trusted sources
Disinformation spreads like wildfire during times of crisis
- Make sure you’re following credible sources and engaging with confirmed reports, tweets and other content
- If possible, try to find multiple sources confirming the same information before sharing or believing a report
Reach out for extra support
Pay attention to how you feel and behave in the coming days.
- If you notice you’re withdrawing from others, not keeping up with a standard routine, or feeling intense emotions that make it difficult to function, it’s time to seek professional mental health advice.
Set a few boundaries to prevent excessive doomscrolling
Set aside a block of time to check in on the news
- Try directing your attention to a lighter part of the internet instead of scrolling through headlines
- Racine Henry, a therapist and owner of Sankofa Marriage and Family Therapy in New York, told me that she limits herself to the explore page of either Instagram or Twitter and click around until something piques her interest.
Cry if you need to
It’s not frivolous to feel affected by what’s happening in the world right now
Turn to mental health experts on social media
During tumultuous times, it can be soothing to read quotes and hear takes from mental health professionals
- Whatever they post online shouldn’t be taken as direct mental health advice, but it can serve as a calming voice when your brain is otherwise racing
Be mindful of your other coping mechanisms
If you’re turning to alcohol or other unhealthy coping mechanisms as a crutch, you should reach out to a professional or someone who can help you process what’s happening in a healthier way
- These behaviors often worsen your mental health if they turn into a reliance
Try to keep a normal routine
When tragic events happen, we feel a loss of control in our lives and everything going on around us
- The more we can stick to our normal routines, the more our brains and our bodies feel like we are back in control
- Avoid scrolling late into the night
Move your body in some way
Our emotions need a physical outlet
