Is it Selfish to Switch Off the News?
As women who care about the world aroud us, the news plays a prominent role in staying informed and educated. Recently, it has felt particularly heavy, leaving some of us feeling overwhelmed. Where do we draw the line between staying up-to-date and looking after our mental health?
A HEAVY LOAD
There has been a steady influx of highly emotive and troubling news stories over the past couple of years. From the start of the pandemic in 2019 to the Israeli and Palestine conflict intensifying in 2021 and now the war raging after Russia invaded Ukraine. It’s no surprise that we might find ourselves overwhelmed by current affairs.
This is not to say that the emotions we feel reading these stories are in any way comparable to those directly affected by these circumstances, but you would not be alone in feeling anxious about what the future holds.
In a world where information is so accessible, not only can it be hard to switch off, but it might be viewed as ignorant and privileged to completely disconnect from the wider world.
A problem arises when rather than just reading about events, we absorb them and believe it’s our responsibility to fix the situation. Since these tragedies are far beyond our control, this can lead us to feelings of helplessness.
Here, we might find ourselves encountering a choice between staying informed on wider issues and protecting our mental health.
When feelings of anguish paralyse us, it prevents us from responding in genuinely helpful ways - such as financial support, prayer or volunteering at charities - instead, we can shut down and do nothing, or pontificate about the atrocities.
A NEED TO HELP
So, what can we do when the news becomes all-consuming?
There is no straightforward answer for navigating the world today in line with our mental health capacity and wellbeing.
In some instances, despite the uncomfortable emotions evoked from keeping up-to-date with world news, compassion also arises which can spur us on to take action to help the situation. In this case, perhaps staying plugged in has its benefits.
It’s innate for each of us to want to help other human beings in a position worse off than our own. (‘Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others’ Philippians 2:4, NIV). So, ignoring what’s going on around us is not always the best solution.
The desire to come together to support those in need is where we can find relief, practically for those directly affected, but also mentally for those watching from afar.
It’s an easy view to take - that beauty and terror can coexist - when we’re the ones in safety and someone else is facing loss. It can also be hard to find space for both without one nullifying the impact of the other.
At Magnify, we don’t claim to have the answer to figuring out how to give both recognition, but a brighter future feels more attainable when we see evil acts met with the good of humanity. (‘Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’ Romans 12:21, NIV)
A BALANCE TO FIND
Our concerns on the state of the world will be different for all of us. Perhaps they are focused on where we have personal attachment or particular interests, but whatever unsettles or moves us, the reality of the world can be troubling.
One way to remain positive is ensuring we are getting a wider picture. If we only consume the headlines from news agencies, we only see the worst of it. When we look further afield, both digitally and in real life, we can see that there are equal amounts of good.
While there are positives to staying informed, if it’s all becoming too much, there are practical steps we can take to protect our mental and emotional health. Things like turning our news notifications off, and taking a break from social media can create space for our minds to focus on other things.
Without denying the gravity of unrest in this time, faith in God can also offer us peace amid fear. In settling our anxious thoughts, we can turn to prayer and ask God for our minds to be at rest. ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’ John 14:27
Instead of being all in or all out of news consumption, finding a balance between the two can be helpful. We can also find peace in remembering what is within our control. It is not in our power to fix world issues, however, when we ensure we have the mental capactiy and are fortunate to have the scope practically, it is in our power to help.
WORDS BY
Ellie Dalton
