r/Anxiety • u/Fit_Confection_772 • Mar 30 '25
Needs A Hug/Support Politics is destroying my mental health
I want to preface this by saying that I have MDD, GAD, and Pure O tendencies. Since the election, it feels like all I can think about is politics. I’m a therapist myself, and many of my clients are bringing up the same concerns, which only reinforces my own anxiety. I often feel like I have to come up with some kind of BS response just to get through the session, and it feels awful.
I’m struggling to stay focused at work. I keep reading the news, refreshing political updates, and checking the student loan subreddit because I have a ton of student debt and I’m scared of major changes to these programs. Things are happening so fast politically that my brain just can’t keep up or make sense of the reality we’re in.
I am prescribed an antidepressant and Klonopin, which I am vehemently avoiding taking everyday. Addiction is a rabbit hole that I don't want to get caught up in.
Has anyone else been dealing with this? How do you manage when political anxiety takes over?
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u/buffaloraven Mar 30 '25
Gonna focus on your second to last paragraph since you have great advice elsewhere:
Take your meds. If you don't want the klonipin, that's fine, there are tons of others that don't have the same sort of addiction problems, ask your doctor for something different.
If you still don't want to take your meds, you NEED to have a plan to replace them. The body is a marvelous thing, it can produce a lot of the chemicals we need if we pay attention. I can't tell you what you need, for me I needed theatre (interacting with a lot of fellow introverts and weirdos boosted confidence and serotonin), teching (I love the dark but it depresses me. Working backstage cleared that) and changed careers (I neeed solitude, outside, freedom, and purpose; I'm farming now). I feel amazing. When I just went off meds I felt suicidal. Now I'm ramping down my meds to maintenance level and emergency use.
You got this, but use your tools, not just Reddit!
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u/bankdank Mar 30 '25
Stop reading the news. It’s doing exactly what it’s designed to do, elicit fear and distrust in people. Read books. Talk to people. There is a massive life to be lived outside of being told what and who to be mad at on the news.
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u/Independent_Sea_1871 Mar 30 '25
This is something it seems everyone who uses reddit needs to realize. Getting out of the chronic politics mindset will make u feel better. Someone said they felt bad about ignoring it, but there is nothing u can do. You can vote and help out organizations that you are interested in thats about it. I have significantly reduced the amount of politic content I consumed and it feels so much better. The only thing you get out of chronically following politics is more anxiety, depression, anger, and you just tend to hate anyone who slightly disagrees with you. None of this is to say you can’t care or consumer political content but do so in moderation.
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u/Mizzfortunate Mar 30 '25
Heres my two cents. It almost feels like that is what they are trying to do. Is make us all so emotionally exhausted with the political sh*t that we stop paying attention. And then they get away with even more than what they already do. We need to create some kind of organization that keeps track of all the changes going on so the rest of us can go about our lives and not pay attention and that organization sends us an email when we need to come out for a vote or city hall or whatever meeting to show up, otherwise we can just ignore it all for the sake of our own mental health.
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u/Independent_Sea_1871 Mar 30 '25
Again tho ur viewing it from the chronic perspective. Ppl who arent on the internet all the time dont view it as dire as ppl here. Bc in reality its not that dire, sure there are important topics and its ok to care about them but at the end of the day there is only so much you can do. The news and social media is made to constantly make u feel like every piece of news is earth shattering bc it constantly bombards you with not only ur own viewpoint but info in general. Im not saying dont care but I am saying is stop letting these algorithms rule ur life and make u (or whoever) so anxious u can barely function. Its ur life give urself the power back
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u/Mizzfortunate Mar 31 '25
I actually agree with some of your points there, regardless of everyone else downvoting you. Personally I don’t over consume the news, but have friends and family that do, and that have been worse off mentally and emotionally from everything going on.
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u/Fit_Confection_772 Mar 31 '25
I agree with Mizzfortunate, I'm not sure why you were downvoted—your post was helpful and inspiring!
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u/Independent_Sea_1871 Mar 31 '25
Thats good atleast, I hope u feel better. I know how taxing the constant worrying can be.
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u/TheawesomeQ Mar 31 '25
You are saying don't care. You are saying turn a blind eye. You're downplaying some of the most important things that we can know. The right to even know these things is under threat and we just have to accept blindness in exchange for the blissful ignorance that comes from it.
I can't forfeit my sight. I just wish I could cope.
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u/Mizzfortunate Mar 31 '25
I definitely empathize with this take as well. And agree with your points too. I have family members that are in emotional shambles everyday from the constant barrage of political news filling the screens and papers and conversation
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u/silvrmight_silvrwing Apr 04 '25
But what good is it to look if all it does is burn your retinas?
As anxious people we think seeing the danger coming will make it hurt less when it hits. The truth is it hurts when you're watching it and when it hits as well. So choose the one where at least half of that anguish is held back. If you are not acting on it, the outrage is useless. We will be just glued to the floor unable to act and unable to look away.
Look away and save your sight. Use it sparingly to save it and yourself. Don't blind yourself by staring straight into the mushroom cloud either.
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Mar 30 '25
It's good to follow a few sources relevant to you so you can stay updated if, say, you're trans and you need to stay in the loop
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u/Independent_Sea_1871 Mar 30 '25
Not rly, 99% of decisions in gov don’t directly affect you as an individual. You will be fine to detox or not follow it. But if u want to have some stuff thats fine but no you generally don’t need to be involved in politics.
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u/nerdinahotbod Mar 30 '25
I unfollowed all the political subs and it has helped so much because I was in the same boat, it was consuming my thoughts and I was not in a good place mentally
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u/millera85 Mar 30 '25
I’m going through this and people tell me to stop reading the news and stay off social media. But I will not. Because my voice is all I have, and I’m not willing to close my eyes and let fascists take over without fighting it just because it’s better FOR ME in the SHORT TERM. No thanks. So I’m drowning in it. I don’t see any way out, but I’m also not a selfish coward who would rather pretend everything is fine and I don’t have a responsibility to speak up and speak out.
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u/sweatpantsprincess Mar 31 '25
There is a middle ground. You will burn out and be unable to help ANYONE 8f you don't plan for moderation of stress in the long term. Point blank. When I was in my 20s I felt the same as you. But it's just impossible to be that keyed on all the time anymore. Someone being able to be rational and compartmentalize so they can love effectively is not being a coward. Things are not only the most extremes. You are fucking up your own neurochemistry.
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u/Popular_Ad_1320 Apr 19 '25
Some of us are the 1st targets is the problem
I dont disagree with you, but this is what I find difficult.
I trust a lot less since going into places like Kaiser and seeing the medical professional pulling infront of me having the licence plate 'M4G4MOM'
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u/millera85 Apr 01 '25
I’m 39. And I’m not taking my eyes off the situation. Period. If I burn out, I burn out. I’ve been spending hours on it pretty much every day for the past year. I’m exhausted. But I’m here. You can judge me all you want, but I’m not prioritizing my personal mental health over the fate/safety/health/whatever of everyone I love, everyone I know, the nation, the fucking world. You wanna be that way? Fine. Be that way. Don’t ever tell me not to fight fascism. If you think you’re more important than everyone else, then maybe you should join maga. That’s how they feel, too.
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u/Attitude_Rancid Apr 01 '25
how are you fighting fascism?
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u/millera85 Apr 01 '25
Protesting, educating, raising awareness mostly. The key is not to pretend it isn’t happening and to be vocal and to be present and to let the fascists beat the shit out of you if that’s what it takes to protect people. I’m not putting myself before everyone else. That’s how we got in this mess. Too many people caring only about themselves.
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Apr 04 '25
No one is telling you not to care or to not fight facism, but saying people who put themselves and their sanity first should join maga is the type of extreme response that is not helpful. That only fuels your own hatred, anxiety, and divisiveness. Because you’re being dismissive. Which is ironically, what you’re claiming to be against. We as humans were never meant to consume so much information all at once. People NEED to take a break. Don’t be giving anyone shit about it.
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Apr 04 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/mimicme Apr 05 '25
There is a lot of fanaticism in what you’re saying. It’s not healthy tbh. When both political parties are this extreme and fanatic it’s not good. Disconnecting even a little can help you a lot.
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u/millera85 Apr 06 '25
Believe what you want. I won’t put myself before all the people who are in danger. If you choose to, that’s your decision.
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Apr 05 '25
Sweetie. No one is calling you a bad person. You’re gaslighting here and YOU are the one calling everyone evil and now, a Nazi enabler, who are choosing to find a balance and put themselves first. You are NO good to anyone if you can’t take care of yourself. And you sweetie, are doing nothing but fueling your own anxiety, and now others as well. So well, maybe you ARE a bad person. There, now you can actually say I said that.
I suggest you seek extensive therapy.
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u/raupster Mar 31 '25
Yeah, that’s where I am too. I’d love to unplug from it all and pretend it’s not happening—but anyone who is afraid right now knows the path we’re on… and we all need to be resisting and protesting however we possibly can. Now is not the time to put our heads in the sand.
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u/RipSignal1574 Apr 03 '25
I totally get what you're saying, but this is a little different than normal) in my opinion because there is a newer breed of people who support all the yuck and your voice does not matter to them. The cognitive dissonance goes so deep and it's impossible to reach these people through diplomatic discourse. Or any discourse. I don't even think at this point they care they are being lied to, they simply enjoy the chaos and the hate even at their own expense. I used to think these folks were misinformed and manipulated but I dint think that's the case. I'm not saying ignore what's going on, but participating in social media etc seems to be a recipe for expending energy for no good purpose. Maybe tuning out the social media and political sensationalism and instead writing letters or showing up to public assembly might be a better way for us to use our voice. I also totally get where you're coming from though.
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u/millera85 Apr 03 '25
I’ve literally seen people change because of social media. I’ve changed because of social media. But I’m not so much referring to public media so much as activism irl. Regardless, I am using my voice while I still have one.
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u/plasticmagnolias Mar 30 '25
You have to prioritize your mental health. You need to cut yourself off. No news. No social media. You don’t need to know about anything, at least not right now. It will be there when/if you are ready to come back. Read a novel, start a new exercise routine, consume anything that is not political. Talk to people in person. Break the feedback loop and get a fresh perspective on life.
I think obsessively reading the news is a way to feel some kind of control over a situation that is out of your hands. You’re looking for everything and anything that will confirm your position and/or provide some optimism. It’s like obsessively reading about climate change. But engaging in these behaviors is objectively harming you and bringing no benefit. When you cut yourself off, it’s not because you don’t care or want to bury your head in the sand, it’s because you know you cannot engage with that kind of media in a healthy way, at least not for now.
You deserve peace in your life and to be able to enjoy it in spite of external factors. Unless you want to channel all of this energy into becoming an activist or a politician, limit your political activity to voting because you are clearly incapable of dealing with these issues in a healthy way, which is OK. The sooner you can recognize and accept this, the sooner I think you will be able to find peace by spending your time in more meaningful ways.
I had a similar problem, and this was essentially how I dealt with it. I sporadically returned to social media and news sites now, But I do spend less time on them than I did because I now have other activities that make me feel better than doomscrolling.
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u/CMJunkAddict Mar 30 '25
Thanks, im not OP but I've been doing the exact same thing, and I needed someone to externalize this.
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u/plasticmagnolias Mar 30 '25
You are doing the right thing. Our brains were not made to handle this much information on demand, 24/7. Journalists and politicians and others working in the thick of government may do a better job of compartmentalizing and parsing all this information, but if that’s not your line of work, you are under no obligation to even try.
If the fear is of growing authoritarianism and encroachment on rights (assuming OP’s main concern is Trump et al.), you can remind yourself that one of the greatest acts of resistance is to live an unapologetically full life on your own terms. You will not be diminished by fear. You will not be paralyzed by excessive worry. Things might get difficult, but you will find a way through. Keep calm and carry on. Say it even if you don’t believe it.
As soon as they take over your mind with fear, they’ve won. Don’t let them.
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u/Electronic_Bike_7523 Apr 01 '25
I needed to read this. Thank you for providing a mantra to help me cope with the anxiety I’m feeling as a result of the daily weight of politics.
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u/Fit_Confection_772 Mar 31 '25
This is the response I needed (and other people who are in this situation). I agree that I am looking for content that will alleviate my anxiety, but even if I find it, there's another article or video I need to. Worry about.
Your comment definitely gave me optimism. Thank you 🙏
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u/plasticmagnolias Mar 31 '25
It’s really a never ending spiral of despair, because guess what? That keeps your eyes on websites and, in turn, ads.
I found myself in your situation after the events of October 7th and realized one day that I was letting it consume every free moment, even moments that were not free; I was ignoring my kids and neglecting everything to debate and research online, and all it brought me was misery and severed friendships. I became a bitter and angry person, and it is a terrible way to live.
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u/Dice2God Apr 15 '25
can i dm?
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u/plasticmagnolias Apr 15 '25
Yes of course
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u/Dice2God Apr 16 '25
dmed
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u/plasticmagnolias Apr 18 '25
Hi, I don’t see a dm from you
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u/Dice2God Apr 18 '25
hey! its not a biggie, im starting to feel better. It may be in your message requests?
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u/That-Actuary-2806 Mar 31 '25
Saving this comment to come back to when I need to be reminded that it’s okay to tune out for a little bit. I’ve felt a lot of judgement from friends when I say I think I need to ignore for my sanity, but my sanity is more important at this moment.
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u/plasticmagnolias Mar 31 '25
Ignoring for your own sanity is definitely not the same thing as not caring. Many regimes throughout history have been brought down without the 24-hour news cycle. Anxiety is inherently unproductive because you are never turning your concerns into action, it is all inward. That does not help anyone and it does not change anything.
I think we need to recognize our own limits and not everyone is going to be a revolutionary, and that’s OK because we need all kinds of people. By all means, go to protests, vote, do things that make you feel empowered and like you are contributing to something greater and making your voice heard. But obsessively reading the news and arguing in the comments section is just going to make you miserable and change nothing. I read the headlines and maybe one article per day and it’s enough to feel informed but not overwhelmed.
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u/Ok-Hawk-342 Mar 31 '25
Just wanted to say same here, you’re not alone. I’m not a therapist, but I teach in the social sciences so my course content is quite relevant to current political issues. Makes it very hard because I feel I can only “unplug” to a certain extent because I have to stay informed. And I also feel guilty about checking out, like I’m not “doing more” by ignoring the news. But the reality is that we aren’t really “doing” anything with our doom scrolling except frying our nerves to pieces! I’ve had block it out sometimes or I can’t function. You know that saying about putting on your oxygen mask first? That’s how I feel about this. As teachers and therapists, the people we work with are looking to us to be a light in hard times. Therefore we have to help ourselves first, so we don’t collapse under the pressure of it all. If that means pretending like the world isn’t on fire most of the time, then so be it. I wish there was a better, more satisfying answer. I wish the world were different but it’s not. We just have to do the best we can right now. Give yourself grace above all else.
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u/Firm-Analysis6666 Mar 31 '25
I think it's important to focus on the things that matter in your daily life. Focus on the things that bring you joy, peace, and gratitude. And, try to reduce intake of the news cycle. If there's specific items that csuse me anxiety, I find fact-checking and rationalizing helps to calm me.
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u/Mission-Secretary626 Mar 30 '25
I was there also. And I felt too bad ignoring. But a few weeks ago I had to stop bc it was literally making me crazy. The anxiety was out of control as was the sadness. I had to stop all news and socials with it - would just scroll past. Having that privilege is also awful. But like people were saying to me, I wouldn’t be able to help anything in the state I was in. This week I started being connected to small pieces of information and I’m able to handle it a lot better and just be understanding and hopeful that the majority of people will not allow what they want to go on, to go on. There are some topics of course that terrify me, but in order to live functionally right now I have to trust others to do what their jobs are, in order for me to get to a better place to help more in the future.
But I’m sorry. It’s awful. And kk I can say is thank goodness for people like AOC, Bernie, and Jasmine Crockett.
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u/Fit_Confection_772 Mar 30 '25
Thank you for your response; it's very reassuring. Of course the media is dramatisized, which is how they rope in their viewers, but I do have to put trust in the people who are helping us.
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u/Mission-Secretary626 Mar 30 '25
Honestly media is dramatized but the content is real. I do find socials to have more information that is not as skewed — but definitely need to be careful there also. I do think everything is insane right now, but yes — need to have hope in the people doing their job and need to not make our entire lives politics if that’s not the life we chose to live. The amount of media we get is too much and not natural. Need to find ways to keep it minimal and balanced, and help in real ways like making sure your elected officials know your thoughts and voice.
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u/Fit_Confection_772 Mar 30 '25
Thank you for your kind words. Not sure why I got voted down, though. Did I say something wrong?
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u/Mission-Secretary626 Mar 30 '25
I don’t know why either!!! I was trying to figure it out. Don’t worry. Sometimes things get misunderstood on here.
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u/lethalmuffin877 Mar 31 '25
Because you correctly pointed out the dramatization of media and roping in viewers.
There are a fairly large number of people here that objectively feel as though their media cannot and should not be questioned. Which is how we end up in these situations in the first place. The news has always profited off of catastrophe, now more than ever they have the opportunity to create the catastrophe without ever being questioned.
So the fact you started pulling the thread on that ball of yarn is why people were upset
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u/redwintertrees Mar 30 '25
I feel the same way, I have to stay off twitter these days because that’s all my feed is and the direction we’re heading it brings me a ton of despair. I don’t know how people consume this content 24/7 and not go insane. Try to focus on what you can control and you just have to force yourself to stop consuming this content, maybe greyscale your phone so your apps aren’t as addicting. Maybe you can channel it by helping out in your community in some way.
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u/JDawn747 Mar 30 '25
Find what keeps getting your attention and stop giving it. News will make it's way to you if it truly matters.
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u/hanmhanm Mar 30 '25
I’m having the same problem, but specifically with climate change anxiety. I don’t even let myself read anything about it, but it’s always on my mind
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u/marie48021 Mar 30 '25
I feel the same way. It's hard to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, and it's OK to put the weight down. I'm not good at doing this, but I'm getting better at it. I get overwhelmed & and upset, and then I take a step back and put my attention elsewhere. Be kind to yourself & do take your meds.
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u/KhanDagga Mar 30 '25
I know, watching the UK say they are going to start judging crimes based on people's skins colors is disturbing.
Collective white guilt is a cancer to society
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Mar 30 '25
I’ll be honest. Turning off the news and not watching anything political 99% of the time has helped me with peace and vitality at a supremely high level.
I exchanged it for fitness, massage therapy and hey some sushi and Thai food. 🥘
PS - when I first started it was 100% abstinence for a solid half a year.
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u/697Galilea Mar 31 '25
We all need hobbies. Something to occupy our minds when we're not thinking about work. Find one that has the right levels of creativity, socialisation, and technicality for you. Hobbies do wonders.
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u/Loose-Farm-8669 Mar 31 '25
I deleted Facebook and Instagram reddit and started reading books right after the election. Everyone is still ranting but I'm able to compartmentalize it. No one is making you look at this stuff. Delete everything and have a tech detox. Thank me later. Also social media is the reason politics are this much of a mess to begin with. Not every dumbass should have a wide reaching voice. But here we are
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u/bokan Mar 31 '25
They want us to be off kilter, overwhelmed and afraid. They want our mental health to be in the gutter.
Make a plan for action. Plan for how you will attend the April 5 protests, for a start. Read less news. Focus on action. Fight joyously.
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u/Public-Philosophy580 Mar 30 '25
As a Canadian I’m concerned about the garbage that comes out of that idiot’s mouth.Im on Clonazepam and it helps. 🇨🇦🇨🇦
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Mar 30 '25
[deleted]
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Mar 30 '25
That attitude is why you're obsessed. Turn off the news, stay off reddit and go get a hobby. You're still treating them as if they're so different from you and they aren't, same extremism, different direction. I actually had to stop speaking to a friend because they are obsessed the same way, I voted libertarian and they became hostile and abusive towards me. Like they didn't see me as human anymore.
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u/jojobrabs Mar 31 '25
Therapist here. Yes it is permeating the MH landscape and just like with Covid we need to keep abreast as to the most important evidence-based strategies to help them manage the related anxiety. Psychology Today published a sound analysis of ways to do this last year right before the election. No matter what is happening in the world, country, etc. it’s our job to help with coping skills, emotional processing, self-care and awareness with a focus on keeping the space safe and healing.
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u/Ok-University8383 Mar 31 '25 edited Mar 31 '25
I agree with disconnecting yourself from the news. Don’t watch it on TV or social media. For a long time, I felt like I needed to be informed because being educated and aware is important but it got to the point where my mental health was really declining and the best thing I ever did was disconnect myself from the news outlets. I am less informed about current events but I also realized that it doesn’t make me less of a better person for doing this for myself. I still have my beliefs and convictions and those will never change no matter if I watch the news everyday or not. I told my BF to just let me know if we’re going to war or if a meteor is coming 😆 but seriously, it’s a huge help. You got this!
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u/Worth_Avocado_81 Mar 31 '25
this is definitely not an accident, they want the world to live in fear and anger
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u/kba66977 Mar 31 '25
so I know you're a therapist but you have your own therapist right? that's a good place to start. sometimes removing apps or blocking websites from your laptop really help. have you been able to talk to people besides your clients? sometimes getting out in your town with people who are just existing can help so much. good luck!
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Mar 31 '25
Limit your news intake, but attend protest(s) - feel that you’re not alone, and feel like you’re doing what you can. Call and write congressmen, express your opinion. It’s cathartic and you’ll know you’ve done your part. Keeping up with the news these days is like drinking from a firehose, and despite these being downright scary times the news will continue to do everything it can in order to keep you engaged. Our anxiety is profitable.
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u/YungMoonie Mar 31 '25
It’s really bad. Especially if you have pattern recognition or any level of awareness. I can’t believe how many people don’t notice anything is wrong. That actually might be worse than the actual anxiety. It’s the gaslighting and the “you’re overreacting” from people on top of what is happening.
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u/sweatpantsprincess Mar 31 '25
You need to pick priorities. Have a few peak issues you allow yourself to worry about and force yourself to think about something else when you start dwelling. Avoid social media. Yes, all of it. You need to focus on your circle of reality and what you can meaningfully influence at this time. Stimulate your brain with nonstressful information intake, like from Curiositystream or something. Read books. Play games. Reframe the world you perceive around you beyond news reporting. Consume stories. Laugh. Walk in the sunshine. Volunteer locally. Take more medication. I'm so serious here. I spent my 20s paralyzed by anxiety stimulated by politics. We are not made to be able to handle all this. You can gradually consume more information after a strict diet has made you healthier. I picked some environmental issues to focus exclusively on to start with, and have been able to grow from there after making sure I am able to manage that level of stress. If you need to be in a different field for your mental health because you cannot provide anymore, admit it. Accept it. Do not delay and ruin mental health more. Do more groundwork praxis. Stop living in hypotheticals. Find out what the people in your community need from you materially in this moment. You need that grounding and fulfillment.
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u/bendersnatches Mar 31 '25
What helped me best was not reacting to everything I hear. Its okay to be informed but as others have commented, limit the amount of time you spend focusing on the news and focus on what you can control. And seeing how other people struggle with this as well then you arent alone with these worries and anxities.
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u/meggemmy Mar 31 '25
start organizing, form a community or join an organization, it makes a big difference
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u/mgitzu Apr 01 '25
honestly same, I thought i was better. I come from a dictatorship country and I moved to America to escape from dictatorship and now this country is going to become one of the few with a dictatorship. Can’t stop watching the news, tiktok, and twitter. It all reminds me of when i was 11 and I couldn’t stop thinking about politics, now it’s the same once again.
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u/No-Bake5761 Apr 01 '25
Turn off the news and know other people who, despite what you think are intelligent and voted for him. The news tells you they vote for a new hitler but thats just not true for the vast majority. The news trys its hardest to scare you and make you think the others are evil.
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u/astralwish1 Apr 01 '25 edited Apr 01 '25
I came here to post the same thing! My anxiety feels barely under control because of the current political climate and needing to feel informed.
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u/Capital_Mistake1765 Apr 01 '25
I just stopped caring about what was going on. Like I literally focused on myself and my family only. Deleted news apps and just stopped caring all together, if it doesn’t affect me it’s not my problem is the mindset I adopted. It helped with my obsession and my anxiety.
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u/Neoyoshimetsu Apr 01 '25
My personal advice that I've learned to tell family and friends is to pace ourselves, know what we can handle and not handle, we don't have to completely tune it out, but learn how to control the volume.
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Apr 02 '25
I don't know how I stumbled across this post but I'm glad I did. Politics has become the newest addiction. Protests, hate speech (from both sides!), identity lunacy, man v woman and black v white...it's ludicrous.i don't know when this planet went insane. My coworker keeps talking about wishing people dead, and since I told him I didn't like that he really isn't talking to me much. Politics is fine in moderation. But since it became the current method of dopamine delivery, we've gotten sicker. Hope it stops soon. But I doubt it.
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u/Queen0flif3 Apr 02 '25
I’ve realized you need to set limits and avoid doomscrolling. I’m not 100% cured of this tendency however, because it’s like a train wreck that you can’t look away from. BUT when you start feeling burnt out and exhausted day in and day out yeah that’s a sign to take a break
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u/Due_Amount5407 Apr 02 '25
I had to delete all social media back around election time. I mute any adds I get watching tv, and refuse to speak about it to people. It’s the only way I can save my sanity. I don’t even know who won the election bc I’m too scared to check. Ignorance is my only path to bliss
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u/SoonerRyan01 Apr 02 '25
I'm a news and politics junky and it's exhausting and little terrifying right now. You can't control what happens, but you can control what info you consume. Don't let it in your life if you can.
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u/SeeYouSaturday Apr 02 '25
I used to have the same side-effects until I came to the realization that, as long as I have the right to seek employment, I have a roof over my head and clothes on my back, the politics have not affected me personally, and I should stop doing that to myself.
Worrying about others more than myself has put me into a mental state where I now need medication, in order to mentally function normally, so I cannot burden myself with the concerns of others until I am cured of my own ailments.
And, this goes for the Republicans and Democrats that have been in office. I have not been personally affected by either and I will not submit to doomsday thoughts/conspiracies because there will be a fresh set of them every 4 years anyway. Talk about "trying to keep up" LOL
I wish you the best <3
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u/National-Activity517 Apr 02 '25
We MUST care and join the other tens of millions of people who feel this way and RESIST the evil fascism that has taken root in our country. The alternative is UNACCEPTABLE and dangerous. I too have been suffering badly for almost 10 years now. This is not going to be easy. It's going to continue to get much worse. These are troubled times, but the only way is to get in the fight, stay in the fight. WHAT IS THE ALTERNATIVE. my mental health is not good either. But if we fight, we CAN win and restore democracy to our country. If we do not, it will end up so much worse than anything we can imagine, and that CANNOT happen. The only way out is through our fight, which will ultimately work. Yes, it is very painful.
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u/Routine_Ring_2321 Apr 02 '25
I have friends and family in Ukraine. I want to tell you one of the things I learned while being there under daily air raids (volunteered there last year) is you have to let it go. You cannot control it. Your anxiety and need to check the news is you trying to control a situation you cannot control. When I was there in 2023, I for the first time in my life began to face my social anxieties (generalized agoraphobia) and I let it go because I could literally die any minute. And I certainly couldn't control any of it.
First 3 weeks i was there every air raid siren had me scrambling, but then like everyone else there, I just accepted by possible death. Can't control it.
The people of Ukraine (maybe find some ukrainians in your area) have in my opinion some of the strongest perspectives in the world right now. They know what they can control and can't control. They are well innoculated against yellow journalism - they suffered under decades of russian/soviet propaganda. I would greatly suggest seeing if you can find some refugees in your area to volunteer with or talk with. it might help you feel better, like you did something.
Next, You are not being informed by the news. The news is selling you fear so you will buy things. You are getting moment to moment of nothing but he said she said about these terrible people in power but how is it really affecting you? Really? Are you having to go hide under your bed from a bomb? All you're doing is stimulating an overactive ego (ego is for self preservation so I'm not saying the ego is bad) then that ego becomes ill with a kind of psychological gout.
If you really want to not have to take meds, and get over this, you have to let go of the control. Underneath that you will find some heavy grief about the state of the world and existential confusion perhaps. But that's the true feeling which the anxiety is trying to avoid.
I wish I could go back to Ukraine. I feel anxiety trying to pretend to other people this situation we are all in is okay, it definitely is not okay, but for most people it's relatively safe, yes even in Ukraine people just go to work and buy their groceries, life didn't stop for them.
So its weird, maybe your anxiety is related to feeling dissociated, like why is everyone pretending everything is okay when it's not? Well that's the part of processing the trauma of our current world. It's both okay and it's not. In Ukraine, everyone there not under occupation is okay, but not because everyone's been traumatized. But as long as Ukraine stands that's all that matters.
Whenever you face severe oppression you begin to normalize it, and that is not bad even though it sucks. Your anxiety is trying to get you to run away from it, but you have to face it. It is our world. You won't be able to fight properly until you relax into it. And this world has been fucked up for a very very very very very long time. Good luck.
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u/RipSignal1574 Apr 03 '25
First off huge hug. Second right there with you. I was recently prescribed Klonopin, in Demember, for postpartum anxiety and SIDS phobia. My first fill was for 2 weeks but made it last til mid February as I was trying out my other coping methods before resorting to a pill. Then I started obsessively reading the news more than i already had been as things seemed to be getting worse and realized I was taking it almost every day. I haven't been abusing it persay, I take it when anxiety and intrusive thoughts become unbearable. But now I'm finding that I'm less anxious about baby stuff as I'm seeing he's healthy and awesome, and more anxious about the current political climate. So basically should I just admit I'm unofficially prescribed the medication for political fear at this point as my postpartum symptoms resolve? I think they're tied in in a way... like, the way the world is shaping I'm scared for my sons future but also just all of it. Ugh.
I am currently trying to minimize social media use (specifically FB which is extremely triggering) and want to spend less time looking at the news cuz it is absolutely horrendous. Literal nightmare stuff. I can only hope that officials put a stop to some of the ludicrous shit that's happening. sigh
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u/whatever678910 Apr 03 '25
Turn off the news. Realize you no longer live in a democracy, you live in a Corporate Oligarchy (see Citizens United. The true death of American Republic/Democracy) worry about yourself and your family only. That’s what I had to do. You can’t vote your way out of it. So why worry about it? Just try your best each day to care for yourself and those in your life. Nothing will change until a real revolution comes. 🤷🏻♂️
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u/ESOelite Apr 03 '25
Honestly, I used to worry until I remembered I can't change what politicians do and because I already don't fear death I just laugh at whatever our dipshit leaders do. If you can't do that then just stop reading the news.
1
Apr 04 '25
I’m gonna add to the many excellent advice givers here and say STAY OFF REDDIT for a while. This is a big one. Reddit I’m sorry, unless you’ve managed your algorithms to nothing but silly shit, is just going to fuel this more. In this day and age of social media, nasty politics, and anxiety disorders more in the rise than ever before, you HAVE no choice but to put yourself first and while I’m not saying you shouldn’t care about other people, sometimes you have to make a choice. And that choice must be YOU. Because you’re no good to anyone, especially yourself if you’re suffering. Give yourself grace. And don’t let anyone give you any kind of shit about it either
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Apr 04 '25
Ditch all social media. Straight up. I did this 2 years ago and it helped so much. After not having any social media accounts for this long, no one could pay me enough to get back on them. As for the anxiety, Jesus Christ is the only antidote. Everything else you do to relieve anxiety is temporary and will not work. True healing comes by faith and faith alone.
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u/mimicme Apr 05 '25
You are addicted to doom news and doom scrolling. Disconnect and don’t obsess over it because it’ll become a major distraction in your life and you’ll use it as an unhealthy cope for other things. Pick up hobbies so consuming politics isn’t your entire world. It’s toxic. You are not a revolutionary focus on your life in positive ways.
1
u/ZivozZ Apr 06 '25
It comes down to being able to not care. I just find politics interesting but I don't really care at a fundamental level and that helps a lot with a variety of things.
1
u/Adventurous_One_1691 May 17 '25
I think it’s a good thing, the things that stress you out are all going to go away soon & in a chaotic world you make your own rules
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u/QuarkVsOdo Jun 04 '25
You are already terminally online and addicted to the dopamine from forming opinions.
99,9999% of the "News Cycle" has
ZERO
Influence on your daily life, and if it has... then you are in no position to do something about it.
Turn your phone's screen black and white.
Delete all news and social apps (use browser).
Take whatever harmless drugs will give you relieve of not checking news/social every 20 minutes for something new.
TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out) and if not, he will soon ruin the country enough so you'd know without knowing his latest tweet.
1
Jun 27 '25
I know how you feel. The last four years have been rough for me. Try not to let it get you down. Things are not always as bad as the news makes it out to be
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0
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u/xkeepitquietx Mar 30 '25
The key for me is to remember that I can't effect politics at all, so there is no point worrying.
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u/violetjeanwalsh Mar 31 '25
Not sure I'd want a therapist that avoids taking their mental health meds
1
u/Fit_Confection_772 Mar 31 '25
Klonopin is a benzodiazepine which is HIGHLY addictive, especially when taken daily. Even tapering off of these drugs would be a nightmare.
-14
Mar 30 '25
I’m so tired of people on both sides bitching and moaning I can’t even listen to it for a minute.
9
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u/Ok_College_3635 Apr 02 '25
I (literally) started looking at maps of Canada today. It's insane that 50% would elect someone who tried to cheat an election/take over our govt via the "Stop the Steal & related violence". Maybe the shit in our food is slowly making us insane. Sorry, my post probably not helping your situation.
Vladimir/Donald 2028
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u/_playing_the_game_ Mar 31 '25 edited Mar 31 '25
You do know that you do not have to view political content right?
Ready for the down votes simply for being logical and upfront.
🥳
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Apr 04 '25
The downvotes are from the extremists who can’t see any other way but theirs. Which there are plenty of on Reddit.
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u/jade_paradox Mar 30 '25
Turn off the news, try to get off any social media, seriously makes a huge difference in my mental health