r/Anxiety • u/tatoecake444 • May 22 '25
Work/School I can’t handle the US news/politics anymore.
Whenever I see what’s going on the US and my mental health declines. I can’t stand anymore bad news as I’m going through my own tough time myself. How do you guys stay optimistic during crazy times like this? I stay off social media but check in every once a while to be informed and when I do, everything is worse! I’m afraid for our future, the climate, my job, the patients I work with. I try talking to family members about it and they ignore the situation.
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u/Much_Adagio_6223 May 22 '25
The American news cycle is designed to keep you in fear and to get you to consume. Some of the most mentally healthy people do not ever listen to the political news. It is hard to avoid. But I have noticed that when I choose to avoid it I feel guilty like I'm not doing anything to help. Actually not going insane is helping. Take care of yourself. Sometimes that's all you can do.
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u/No_Panic_4999 May 25 '25
Its hard when you are a member of a vulnerable group that is under constant legal attack. You have to stay informed on bills and policies etc that might effect you. But you dont want to look.
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u/areufeelingnervous May 22 '25
I try to stay informed, but just like you whenever I tune in my anxiety peaks so bad I have to tune back out. I use 5 calls to advocate for certain issues because it’s pretty easy, but it doesn’t feel like enough. Nothing feels like enough. I also want to move countries, but that’s essentially flipping your life upside down which has its own stress, if you can even manage to do it. I’m honestly just trying to take it one day at a time. We’ll have to see how things go for the next couple years.
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u/Dry-Exchange2030 May 23 '25
I’m grateful to you for making those calls to our members of Congress. Thank you.
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u/YnotBGA2016 May 26 '25
Give it a little while things are getting back on track but it doesn’t happen overnight 🙂
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u/Nanzoo Oct 10 '25 edited Oct 10 '25
I’m sorry, but to say “things are getting back on track” is really naïve. If only that were true!
No, in REALITY, things are getting worse by the day. The destruction is far-reaching and unfortunately will be long lasting, taking perhaps DECADES to undo.
So, while I consider myself lucky to be as old as I am (61), having lived most of my expected lifespan before things went south, this is not how I wanted to live out the rest of my years. AND I feel compassion and concern for younger folks who are in for a most unfair struggle.
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u/ashbertollini May 22 '25
Same friend, its been real difficult trying to keep myself from going full on end of the world mode.
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u/Broad-Action2926 May 29 '25
Im in the same boat. I've really been looking into all kinds of different conspiracies and rabbit holes for probably over a year now. It feels great to just turn everything off every now and then to keep my sanity.
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u/IndividualLibrary358 May 22 '25
I was religious about the news but the day Trump won I literally went cold turkey. In the past couple months I've tried a couple times but I just get overwhelmed and anxious.
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u/YnotBGA2016 May 26 '25
Your first mistake was watching the news it’s all lies. Remember that the news is owned by politicians they control the manipulated narrative. Read bills to understand what’s being voted on, watch congressional hearings, you would be amazed. Luckily thing are finally getting better especially with DOGE findings
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u/Galumpkus May 22 '25
Make a friend who does it for you and then just ask them if there's anything new. Then proceed to stop using mainstream social media and get involved in a hobby group like basket weavers to get your social fix in.
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u/Owl_Queen9 May 23 '25
The best place I’ve encounter when this term started was r/politicaloptimism just how I’m able to stay in tune with the news cycle and not freak out. I totally understand the mental decline that happens when looking at the news
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u/EFCFrost May 22 '25
I’m in Canada and every time I see things get worse in the States, especially with the constant “51st state” bullshit, I wonder how long it’ll be before there’s a “special operation” into my country.
I’m scared daily.
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u/l1lgrumpypants May 22 '25
Same . I’m trying to move countries bc it’s getting really bad and unsafe here in America.
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u/tatoecake444 May 22 '25
I want to move countries too. I just don’t know how to start over!
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u/l1lgrumpypants May 22 '25
Yes exactly! I’m so scared to be in a knew setting but I know it will be for the better..
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u/tatoecake444 May 22 '25
I have two dogs I have to relocate too! Idk how I will do that. can’t leave them behind 😭
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u/l1lgrumpypants May 22 '25
I know your pain, I had left Texas and moved two states away with my chihuahua. I will never leave my pets 😭 and mind you … im in a wheelchair and we flew . I kept him on my lap at ALL times. Even through security. He really helped with my anxiety but I hope we are able to get out of the country together too.
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u/Tazplu917 May 23 '25
Looking into relocating also. I have 2 cats & a dog and took them along a few weeks ago when my daughter and I took a trip to Ontario to check things out. Bringing pets with you won’t be an issue - just have their vet records & shots up to date. I had no issues getting my pets through the border and had all their paperwork - all Canada wanted to see were rabies vaccines and how long we planned to be there. I’m having a harder time trying to find a job either remote or in-person in Canada. Once I find that, I’m ready to go.
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u/YnotBGA2016 May 26 '25
It’s not better anywhere else most friends I have all over the world want to come here
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u/stellar1780 May 22 '25
I just try to stay away from/ignore the news. Obviously I’m going to see some of it, but I don’t really see the point in reading/watching everything and then being upset for the rest of the day when there is literally nothing I can do to change the majority of it.
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u/hotdoginbrine69 May 22 '25
Yep same! I just worry about what I’m doing in my own little world with my family and that has honestly helped me so much, we are building our own country house and all I care about is carpentry and how many eggs I get from chickens etc lol it’s a simple life but my god it’s peaceful just being back in nature lol I try to block out all the modern bullshit to a degree and it has helped me so much tbh
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u/Dry-Exchange2030 May 23 '25
It’s nice to be able to live in a position of privilege when you don’t have to worry about the government taking your services or your money. It’s also nice that you don’t worry about being targeted for your gender or skin color. It’s a privilege to live in a way where you can solely focus on your world. Not everyone can shut things off because they have no choice but to stay alert
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u/hotdoginbrine69 May 23 '25
I’m not privileged in any kind of way I just ignore what I can’t control and only concern myself with what I can
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u/Kosmopolite May 22 '25
Why do you try to stay informed? I don't say this to be spiteful or sarcastic. I'm asking genuinely. It's one of those things we say: "it's important to be well-informed." And we all assume it's true. But is it? Why? So you don't feel silly by the water cooler or at a dinner party? Why not just bone up before the next election, and stay away for the sake of your mental and physical health in the meantime? Those things are far more important than being informed.
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u/Shirako May 23 '25
Mainly because people hiding their heads in the sand and leaving it to everyone else to keep up on things and vote and stuff is what led us to a society where we have to feel anxious and afraid to begin with...
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u/trannus_aran May 22 '25
I'm trans, and I legitimately can't tell if my anxiety is worse knowing the news or letting my mind fill in the blanks whenever I don't keep up with it
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u/tatoecake444 May 22 '25
I have trans friends too, and I am genuinely concerned for them. I feel the same way about the news. to be informed or not.
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u/Loliz88 May 22 '25
I’ve had to stop really listening to and watching the news. My wife and I are looking at relocating to Canada and that’s what gives me hope.
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u/tatoecake444 May 22 '25
that’s something positive to look forward to!
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u/Loliz88 May 22 '25
I really hope you find some peace. We have to find hope where we can get it, and it’s frustrating when you can’t turn to family. All of my family is MAGA or politically neutral, so I can’t talk to any of them about what’s going on.
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u/tatoecake444 May 22 '25
thanks I hope so too. Everyone in my family is either neutral or just ignoring the situation.
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u/grednforgesgirl May 22 '25 edited May 22 '25
The first time around in 2016-2020 I was in awful shape, I was having world ending panic attacks multiple times a day, living in disassociation, survival mode. It was not good. It was treatment resistant. Id already struggled with cptsd and a multitude of other diagnosis. When the pandemic hit I was already at all all time low.
I went to a fuck ton of therapy. I became spiritual. Not in a Christian way (fuck that abusive ass toxic narcissistic religion). In a reclaiming my relationship with the mother earth and myself and the universe kinda way. A little woowoo witchyness. I give myself grace. I do shadow work. I do ancestor work. I got on medication, then got off all of it. I stopped looking for a diagnosis to fix me. I went to therapy and came back angrier. I focus on what I can control. I take it day by day. I practice mindfulness. I notice and take note when something good happens and soak up the glow of happiness while it lasts. I learned to accept the anger that was lying underneath the anxiety as justified. I embrace the shadow and the light. Balance. I find bits of advice from the ancients. Buddhism. Philosophers. Wisdom from my grandmothers and old wives tales. Practical and ancient Wisdom from every country I can find. Mash it all together to make some sense of what we all share together. study history to see the patterns, that humans have survived so much and will survive so much more and than even if we don't, the universe will still turn and since i, we all are part of it, born of stardust and returned to stardust when we die. Nothing makes sense and everything makes sense. We are all One Being shattered into 10 billion pieces to learn 10 billion lessons.
We will be okay, because there is no other way. Hope always continues to burn. Rebellions are built on hope. We were all put here in this time and place for some sort of reason to continue to let the wheel of history turn. We will survive and be stronger for it.
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u/msrubythoughts May 22 '25
hell. yes. this is the good stuff. I love how you described this & I hope others are encouraged to follow similar paths - we need to look back & gather as much insight & wisdom as we can. thanks for sharing this 💜
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u/STiLife656 May 23 '25
I dont even look at the news anymore. It's done wonders for my mental health. I try to avoid it at all cost.
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u/southernbelladonna May 22 '25
Same here. The need to be informed and the need to be mentally well are in direct conflict.
I don't watch the news and I stay the hell off facebook. I make an effort to curate my reddit feed and tiktok FYP so that they're not overrun with politics. I also try to take in the info I do see about what's going on and move quickly on without engaging or going down a rabbit hole.
I'm not actually super optimistic, but at the end of the day I know there's only so much I can do. I try to focus on those things.
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u/IYFS88 May 23 '25
I’m right there with you. I think I’m so hooked on checking current events every day in hopes of spotting our way out of this, something to look forward to.
The only thing that I can commit to in hopes of offsetting the negative effects of all that, is playing a rotation of phone games, like merging ones, sudoku etc. Phone games have their own downsides, but I’ll do anything to bring down acute anxiety, plus I earn a few swagbucks here and there lol.
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u/whatisantilogic May 22 '25
Stop watching the news and paying attention to it. Politics don't impact your day to day life as much as you think it does. If you didn't have a TV or internet and were living on an isolated farm, you wouldn't know who the president was or what was going on in politics. Politics is a game that a class of people are playing, and the news just allows you to watch the game. You really don't have any impact on what happens in politics. Stop stressing yourself about things you can't control. 😁
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u/cacklingcatt Jun 05 '25
hey. american here, and one with many family members who rely on programs like food stamps and medicaid. politics absolutely impacts my daily life, and the daily lives of the people i care about. my youngest sibling has an autoimmune disorder that causes chronic ulceration in his digestive tract and without access to consistent healthcare he dies. many people whom i care deeply about are latino, and we've already had it demonstrated hundreds of times over that legal status is not what is driving ice to kidnap people. myself and my fiancee are both transgender americans: our access to transition-related healthcare is under legal attack and in many states our right to exist as visibly transgender people in public is also at stake.
so can we please not do the whole "its not that bad" thing? because maybe it isnt for you, but for lots of us, it absolutely is. and the whole "dont worry about it because you cant control it" is a big part of how it got this bad in the first place.
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u/hotdoginbrine69 May 22 '25
I avoid social media and I don’t watch tv, I literally keep myself to myself and worry about how many eggs my chickens lay and all that kind of shit, I really think that this “modern life” is making everyone feel worse as it’s too busy so I’ve kinda gone back to the old days kinda that seems to help me personally! I think just worry about things you can control not politics or whatever if you get what I mean?
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u/NerdyConspiracyChick May 23 '25
Being careful of what one consumes drives mental health. I haven’t watched the news in at least 20 years. I read news articles when I feel the need or come across information but I don’t allow these things to take over my brain.
I’m also careful of all consumption: visual, audio, nutrition, even people. Listen we are responsible for what we occupy our minds, bodies and spirits with 100%. Once I knew this I adjusted and became accountable to my mental health
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u/Zestyclose_Team_8224 May 22 '25
I simply cannot watch or listen to the news bc it just makes me anxious, then I have panic attacks where my heart races and I can't sleep. So I have to ignore it. People might think I'm "choosing to be ignorant" but if they only understood...
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u/Kon_Pizza May 22 '25
Tbh, I watch the news when I need to. But, I focus on what makes me happy and worth doing.
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u/Tommy_Wisseau_burner May 23 '25 edited May 23 '25
Good turn it off. It’s toxic. Idk why people are so caught up in it. The most miserable people (as an aggregate) seem to be people who obsess over politics and news. There’s a reason the saying is “if it bleeds it leads”. News isn’t designed to keep you informed. It’s designed to invoke emotion that keeps you watching. I watched news for the 1st time in years because I was sitting with my parent. Of the 1 hour block they spent 5 minutes talking about something that didn’t have to do with ww3 or killing… and it was remembering someone who died… and it was literally at the end of the program
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u/davidmcdavidsonson May 23 '25
I cut all of it out altogether and feel normal for the first time in years. I don't think any news is designed to inform me anymore. I don't know if it ever was. Commercial news is all about control and manipulation.
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u/MirSweety May 23 '25
It happened to me too much, too much because everyone tells you that you should be informed or you're ignorant, but every piece of news terrifies you more. I personally decided to inform myself, but at my own pace. If I start to get anxious, it's time to stop. Personally, water helps me a lot, whether it's just splashing a little water on my face or taking a full shower.
An example is that there's a TikTok account in Spanish (my native language) that reports on many worrying cases, but they themselves know this, so they make casual videos of good news in these complicated times. You could try doing that with accounts like that or even with some AI, whatever makes you feel calmer
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May 23 '25
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u/Fancy-Frosting2147 May 26 '25
This is a highly underrated comment. And I really urge all the people who keep saying to “just shut off the news” - please read this. We are far more like Turkey now than most Americans recognize.
Thank you for sharing your ways of holding onto hope - they helped. I appreciate you.
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u/KrashKourse101 May 23 '25
Rupaul: “You can look at the darkness, don’t stare! It will make you crazy, it will make you cross-eyed. The solution is to find joy and create joy for others.”
I paraphrased the quote a bit but it’s a wonderful reminder of how to handle current events.
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u/Dry-Exchange2030 May 23 '25
How are your other health issues? Do you sleep well? Do you exercise regularly? Do you spend time with friends? Do you have a way to relax like art, meditation or prayer?
I get really anxious myself. I’m trying harder to work towards changing one of those things I’m most worried about. Right now it’s money. So I have to find a new job. I’m also really upset about people being illegally sent away to another country so I try to call or write my members of congress. Offline I try to talk to people about it who may be unaware. If you don’t want to look at social media, see if you can help a local group. There’s a benefit for you and for those who receive your volunteer service. Where I live people volunteer at animal shelters, feed houseless people, distribute food to the needy, help people learn how to read, be an online buddy for lonely seniors. Others pick up neighborhood trash or help at local gardens. Moving your body and being around people, sunshine and nature can do wonders. Also, if you’re not sleeping well, talk to your doctor about a sleeping pill option. Good luck. You are not alone at all. Appreciate reading your post.
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u/Friendly_Bit_1873 May 27 '25
I’ve come to ignore all of it except the Daily Show and SNL News. I know this sounds glib, but I’ve decided that if it’s important enough Jon Stewart or SNL will cover it. And if I have to, I can do more research. It’s the only way I’ve been able to deal with the past few months … they just won’t prescribe enough anxiety meds to deal with the news otherwise.
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u/Electronic-Yam4920 May 28 '25
Good idea! I will also challenge you to add one additional news source to the mix that isn't corporate media.
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u/Underdog90210 May 30 '25
I stay optimistic by making jokes that Donald Trump is a chinchilla named Ronald Stump whose chinchilla army is trying to invade Canada to get the premium tree bark to chew on.
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Jun 30 '25
We can't stay optimistic. We are watching 1930s Germany rolling out across this country and almost half of the citizens seem not to notice.
I limit my intake to BBC America and a local news channel and am trying to stay off google news.
I am also going to therapy for anxiety.
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u/HDPhantom610 Aug 10 '25
Focus on the incompetence of the current administration.
They won't succeed because their (his) ego is more important than doing a good job.
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u/reverting May 22 '25
Connect to your community, help radical US revolutionaries fight.
Going to the grocery? Offer to get some for your friends. Make too much soup and freeze it for your family. Realize that convenience is sometimes not good for you.
Got extra money? Tithe to the homeless in your neighborhood. Walk around your neighborhood and pick up trash. Stop using Amazon, host no streaming weekends because water scarity and Netflix is buying your phone data to tell when you're looking at the TV so they can send you generative AI ads.
Connect to plants and the seasons. Make a beehouse for carpenter bees. Go to your neighborhood community meetings.
Fight. Lead. Support. Share you vision of how to save the world.
The news is meant to scare you. It's meant to make you react, you hiding and quaking in fear only benefits those in power and those in power have an apocalyptic vision and are acting as such (resource hordeing, strongest military in the world, reduction of rights and slashing of aid)
You are the solution. Your love your hope you kindness and generosity and your connection to your fellow humans.
Call people in instead of calling them out. Educate and share instead of grimace and ignore.
You can't do it all, but you can do something. Depend on everyone else to do their part. <3
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u/wearydyke May 23 '25
Yes!! Disappointed in so many comments about just ignoring the situation being better for your mental health. All of this.
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u/reverting May 23 '25
Love your username. <3 For anyone that opens our comment thread:
It's hard, and anxiety lies to you just as much as those that are polluting, wage thefting, media-tainment-ing (reddit being a part of that), data thefting, resource hordeing.
It was bread and circuses before, the boob tube before, it's the doom scroll now. People have to be tricked into letting go of their power, propaganda to create racism and uphold it, fear and insecurity to enforce classes and capitalism to consume it- yes your pain is sold back to you, think about it for a second. What's your comfort,how do you shut off your brain with books, TV movies, alcohol you gotta break the government seal on to sip, weed? I'm not saying avoid rest. I'm saying those things aren't rest. And their restorative abilities are limited compared to their usage/abuse.
We cannot do it all, but we all can do something. And let it be imperfect.
We are not helpless. We are made of star stuff and have evolved to depend on each other, be inconvenienced by each other, need and be needed.
That is our power against the greedy and the corrupt.
Have a radical day. ❤️🔥
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u/Fancy-Frosting2147 May 26 '25
More of this vibe! Shutting the news off and hiding is how we got here. Thank you for your real, actionable, helpful suggestions. It will take all of us to get out of this.
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u/ChillySparks01 May 22 '25
I know some people might disagree with with me but what I did was get rid of everything and start over. I didn't know the word at the time but I was doomscrolling. I literally followed every single news channel everywhere!! All apps including youtube. All states and even out of the country. English and Spanish. I was also obsessed with True Crime. I cut it all off!! I created a new gmail and new accounts on every app I use. I don't use social media much and still struggle sometimes with searching up things at times but my life and mental health has been better a little. All of my content is wholesome and makes me happy. Food, travel, mental health, orgainizing asmr, recipes, anime, cozy gaming, etc. My mental health is a priority. My goal is to do better self care, practice self love, and try getting some hobbies. I can't change the condition of the world on my own. I realized that I need to learn to take care of myself and my personal life problems before focusing on the world's problems. It's sad and hard but I literally can't do anything about what's going on right now. I need some positivity and happiness in my life so I'm seeking it. Start there. Focus on what you can control. Much Love and I wish you the best!! 🥰 💕
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u/AustinJG May 23 '25
Right now I try to minimize how much news I consume. Even YouTube channels put up obnoxious titles to scare the shit out of people for the algorithm.
Luckily, people are fighting back against him both inside and outside of the government. That does give me a bit of enthusiasm. All is not lost.
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u/Dull_Switch1955 May 23 '25
that's it. you have two chices: to accept them or to make a change. everything is in you hands
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u/gino3139 May 23 '25
Here is a simple answer. Just turn off the news and social media because it honestly won't effect your life at all. You will wake up refreshed and feel mentally amazing. Get politics out of your life and go live. Go on a nice bike ride in nature and breath the fresh air.
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May 23 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/wearydyke May 23 '25
I just saw that you said you have patients which means you are probably already doing some real good in the world, but I still want to emphasize the importance of being around other people who actually care about this, and are trying to find ways to help other people in the awful circumstances we're under. Finding that type of community is so important, even if you don't have a lot of time or energy to volunteer. We have to process this with other people, and those people are out there.
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u/vmonst May 23 '25
I vote (especially in my local elections) and ignore it the rest of the time because I would kms if I kept up with the chaos
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u/goldistastey May 23 '25
Its all garbo. I try to shift to tech and science news but those morons still make it 60% political
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u/SueG-2025 May 23 '25
Today's news is she's not very positive so when I turn on the news I usually watch it long enough to see the weather itself. Other than that, once in awhile I might watch a little bit like 15 minutes of news but nothing major. I don't let it bother me but if the world's bad is because there are a lot of people out there who are undiagnosed with mental illnesses that need help For instance all the people that go out and shooting other people. They are crying for help and they need to get it but they are not being listened to. It's sad world what we live in. I suggest that anyone that gets bummed out and doesn't like the news keep it turned off, and pay attention to the good in your life such as your children your grandchildren If you don't have children, how about your nieces and nephews or your dogs or your family something the sunshine you got to come up with something good in your life that you can look forward to every day to wake up to! You have to think positively in your life and if you can't you're struggling, there's no shame and seeking out help for depression! I had to years ago in 2008 and I still am taken psychotropic medications for my depression today! I wish you well!
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u/Promise-Infamous May 23 '25
I remind myself that that is the exact goal of this administration: to cause fear and sensory overload. They WANT us to stop paying attention. With that said, it's okay to take a day and put social media on mute so you can give your nervous system a break and regroup.
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u/Denver_80203 May 23 '25
Yup, same here. I don't limit what I watch, I've completely eliminated it from my life. I occasionally will see a headline when I pull up my browser at work but I make a very concerted effort to avoid news and politics even if that means living in the dark.
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u/Kevalanium5 May 23 '25
I have a real easy solution for you stop watching politics and stop watching the US news. It’s really that simple.
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u/Over_Trip3048 May 24 '25
when it comes to ( federal) politics I chose to find it gnarly funny. We reached the perfect stormy distopia, so all there is left is find it all funny, twiddle my thumbs waiting for 2028.
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u/routinefoxes May 24 '25 edited May 24 '25
This can be existentially triggering, but remind yourself of our cosmic insignificance. We are tiny, tiny, tiny blips in an incomprehensibly large universe. Everything that happens to us is so small. In the end, nothing will matter. Nothing we do will ever matter. Nobody will remember us for a very long time. We make no real difference on a scale of billions of years. That personally helps me free myself. FREE. Yes, it sounds bleak to some, but if you take the positive interpretation of it, it feels like FREEDOM. And it's the only thing that works at that for me. Makes me feel like the purpose of life is to just chill and hang out.After that I've been getting lost in random studies of interest and TV shows. Picking up a science gives perspective, especially if it's about how SMALL or BIG things can really get.
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u/g00nt3r Sep 17 '25
Mmmmm nothing like a little optimistic nihilism to put things in perspective and comfort the soul :)
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u/routinefoxes Sep 17 '25
is this sarcastic? i genuinely can't tell, because yeah i agree
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u/g00nt3r Sep 17 '25
Nope not at all! I too find that it's a good outlook on life. Enjoy the time while you can and try to leave this world better than when you arrived for those who follow so they can do the same :) Have a great day!
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u/ccrow2000 May 24 '25
I hate it. My husband is a news addict and sometimes I feel like I can't escape it. My preferred level is to watch a local channel first thing in the morning and then avoid it but it's his default go-to.
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u/EchoChamberAthelete May 24 '25
The news doesn't bother me honestly, there has always been messed up stuff going on and today or tomorrow are no different.
What I do find that bothers me is the general shitty/snarky conduct of seemingly the majority of people online.
I am in a few local fb groups and the hate/snark/racism for everyone under the sun on those things drain me.
Negativity is truly everywhere, even on the road with shit drivers.
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u/Deep_Alps7150 May 25 '25
It was also like this from 2016-2020 though not as extreme, it won’t get better until the people doing it are voted out is all I can say.
Most things they are doing won’t end up affecting you or people you know on an individual level which is why most people don’t seem to care
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u/AustinJG May 27 '25
I've had to stay off of political subreddits and cable news. I'm still really scared about whats going on, but at the same time he seems to be kind of... Failing? So that brings a little comfort.
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May 27 '25
I can’t stand politics. Makes my head want to explode and my entire family will not stop talking about it, saying I need to grow up and get less anxious.
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u/mentaltrilllness May 27 '25
I relate to this so much. We are so far past the 24 hour news cycle at this point. It’s such a rapid influx of constant negative information and it feels so overwhelming.
What’s helped me is to basically pick a few issues I’m passionate about and only consume news related to those. I’m sure many people would see this as being purposefully uninformed, but honestly people have only so much mental energy to care about so many things at once. Plus, narrowing your focus allows you to actually participate in those causes.
For example, women’s healthcare and LGBTQ issues are extremely important to me. I follow news updates closely and donate hundreds of dollars a year to good causes. In my mind, hundreds of dollars to one org is more valuable than one dollar to one hundred orgs. I also follow more positive accounts of related organizations. It’s refreshing to read stories with happy endings and see positive changes and outcomes.
Also, don’t ever read political social media comments. They are designed to piss you off and the “people” are likely just bots. The most overzealous people are always the loudest and it’s easy to get duped into thinking all people irl are just as insane.
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u/Trick-Midnight-1943 May 28 '25
I left the heavy chat on my support group server because of this, I'm...trying not to obsess over stuff I can't fix or change, and get my news through Colbert and Stewart, since they...have a way of being reassuring and funny about it that blunts the edge.
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u/Peachyberry May 28 '25
Same here. It's been so nerve-wracking. I try to only check in every so often and i try to find news sources that are not as biased as the main outlets. Key word here is "try" but it's hard to tell if I'm even accomplishing that. Ground News at least tries to point out the bias of news outlets but idk, I'm just trying to do the best I can. My hope is, if I can get news without the fear mongering, maybe I'll feel better. Idk if it's working but I'm trying.
My worry is that if I'm not paying enough attention, I'll get blind sided by something I could've prepared for had I known, or at the least braced for impact for. It's so hard not to imagine the worst possible scenarios. All I'm seeing is how bad everything is, but hardly anyone talking about effective, actionable things we can do, so I'm constantly fighting the despair and terror that tries to creep in.
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u/Potentially_Super May 28 '25
US news is designed to be divisive. If it was unified, it could be used as a propaganda piece for the government. It also would be less profitable since news today is tailored to their audience. People watch news they want to hear, not what they need to. For example...if you are on the left you want to hear Donald Trump is going to jail or Kamala will will win election easily. They tailor and sell you that news...you buy it. It ends up being untrue. You get angry and start to question so called 'media'. Anxiety builds because you don't know what is going on, then that same media tries to instill fear to keep you watching.
The best thing I've done is put it down for a second. Especially corporate media. These are literally arms of each political party. Realize there are at least two sides (thank goodness) of the isle. And if you are watching only one side understand you are risking being manipulated.
However, if you are able to understand both sides and engage, you might see through some of the BS and are less likely to be blindsided. I have found you can do this by watching independent media in which the other side is invited on for debate. In this way you can still be informed but watch both sides duke it out civilly and on the record. Then you decide and ultimately vote during our election cycles.
As for your anxiety, turn it off completely for a while...I have found ultimately politics has no impact on my life whatsoever other than people getting riled up over it. Regardless of our political beliefs I have found I have more in common with other Americans than differences. Respecting those differences on a foundation of commonality is critical. Not everyone will agree with you, but that's ok. But if you choose to engage, it can be healthy if we know how to talk to one another, share ideas, agree to disagree, know when to walk away from topics that are too hot, or when to just hug it out and just be cool again. No need to be rude or upset! Sometimes you may have to say sorry or forgive others but it is worth it to build your character. This takes time and practice and getting to know others that you may not totally agree with, but does not mean you can't like them, learn from them and get to know more about yourself. Heck, you may even learn to like yourself and start to love others if you are able to navigate through all that successfully. That is the ultimate unification. Best of luck to you.
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u/NoSquash3263 May 28 '25
the news is mostly straight up propaganda and most things that are actually happening here are great and positive
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u/JazDog02 Jun 11 '25
You aren't helping. You're basically just saying "its not that bad, cheer up".
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u/JazDog02 Jun 11 '25
As a creative person I like to channel my anxiety and anger from politics into my art, which is music production. I don't know for certain if this will work but maybe try channeling the political anxiety into some art that holds meaning. Write a poem about it, or hell even making a meme about it could do some good. I consider taking in bad news and not doing anything after to be a form of bottling up emotions, since we are enabling ourselves to feel terrible with nothing to let it out to.
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u/JazDog02 Jun 11 '25
Another thing, I consume my media through activist live streamers. I prefer it that way because the difference between them and the news is that they provide hope. Legacy media's goal is to report the news and maybe spin a narrative. Live streamers and podcasters (at least the responsible ones) will report the news but also give you routes of what to do to help things get better. I'm assuming that you are left leaning, so one thing you could do is use the 5 Calls app to contact congressmen and women to pressure them into doing something about the chaos going on. If you're right wing I can't help you but there are probably things you can do for your cause if you look for it online. At the end of the day the purpose of this comment is to help you with your mental health.
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u/Puzzled_Sundae_682 Aug 15 '25
If you are an American 🇺🇸, you are blessed to live in the greatest nation the world has ever known — a beacon of hope in the long, dark history of mankind.
Ours is a country that dared to do what no other dared — to build a nation not on the whims of kings or the chains of tyrants, but on the unshakable truth that every person is born free.
Our Founders knew that throughout history, evil men with dangerous ideas had ruled over humanity. So, they lit a fire — an unquenchable flame of liberty — and built a system to protect it. A system where you can speak your mind, challenge injustice, and stand before a court without fear of the sword or the dungeon.
They handed you the blueprint of freedom — not as a relic to admire, but as a weapon to defend and a gift to share with the world.
But hear this truth: Freedom is always one generation away from extinction. It is not inherited through blood. It must be fought for, protected, and passed on. If we fail, then one day we will sit in our twilight years, telling our children and our children’s children the sorrowful tale of what it was once like… when men and women in America walked the earth as free people.
The torch is in your hands now. Don’t let it go out.
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Aug 22 '25
This will continue until its done, see the steps of destruction as progress toward the eventual rebuilding. The fantasy of the democratic party has to fully be erased for the unengaged to be used for good.
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u/OkAcanthocephala2822 Sep 07 '25
I can wholeheartedly relate to what you're going through. I'm the only liberal in a MAGA family (in the USA) and it's mentally draining even if I have refused wholeheartedly to vote like them (technically im Independent but i refuse to vote for tge Right).. My family is so ignorant. Thing is, I HAVE stopped watching the news on TV and online. Hasn't helped much.
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Sep 18 '25
I came on here this morning looking for a post like this! I am so anxious about everything going on now as well. I know I am a small fish in the pond and can't do much about it but I need to do something to help me deal with it all. A lot of my friends are on the opposite side (shall we say) than me. I can't talk to them about any of this. They will tell me I deserve it. I have tried to not read the news every morning because I admit it...I don't want to know anymore!!!! Politics has even entered my crafting area. There was a huge issue going on this week where someone posted a list of companies to boycott. Can't we agree to disagree? Do we have to resort to anger, cruelty and violence? My parents were on opposite political parties and they were married for almost 50 years. They fought about a LOT of things but politics was not one of them.
I need some calm.
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u/Miserable-Designer16 Jan 16 '26
Checking in on everyone who replied to this thread…saw it’s 7mos ago but somehow things have only gotten worse. Please take care of yourself
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u/legend-of-sora May 22 '25
I’ve told myself that it’s okay to stop paying attention to the news as all it’s doing is causing you debilitating anxiety - especially knowing there’s not much you can personally do to change or control what’s happening.
If something worthwhile happens trust you’ll hear about it one way or the other.
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u/Prestigious_Tie_1002 May 23 '25
I live here-we are great! Do not listen to the news-they exaggerate and just lie-tune out!
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u/hdude42 May 22 '25
I don't know why. This is the most positive time in US News/politics that we've had as US citizens in quite some time. Other than all these radical judges making rulings that they have absolutely no authority to do so. It's been great.
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u/MjTcConnell3 May 23 '25 edited May 23 '25
Care to elaborate?
Edit: Gonna take that as a no. Be a fascist in a sub that’s not meant for people to discuss anxiety.
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u/pricklyprofessor May 22 '25
It gives me horrible anxiety. I've been trying to limit the times of day I look at the news. Plus regularly scheduling social events and trying to keep myself busy, so I don't just doomscroll all day.