In an age where news is always just one click away, we find ourselves bombarded by an endless stream of negative headlines. From political turmoil, natural disasters and human suffering, the daily influx of bad news has had profound effects on our mental and emotional wellbeing. A concern I want to highlight and focus on, is a major outcome I have been observing lately amongst my peers. Desensitization.
When we engage with distressing news, our emotional responses can shift dramatically. Shocking events should evoke feelings of sadness, anger and even fear. However, when these events become routine, our emotional responses can dull. This is what we consider desensitization. When exposure to distressing stimuli leads to a diminished emotional response and reaction.
The Mechanism of desensitization includes; Emotional fatigue, normalization of suffering, and cognitive overload. Just like our physical body, our emotional capacity too can become fatigued. Constant exposure to negative news can wear us down, making it harder to feel empathy or compassion, leading to a nihilistic outlook on life. It also makes it harder for change to occur because people then become complacent when tragedy occurs. When regularly encountering reports of violence, hardship, and disaster...we eventually view such event as normal. The normalization of tragedy can create a sense of indifference towards it whether it's globally or within our own community.
The consequences of desensitization extend beyond our own individual emotional response and have a greater impact within society. A numbness to others suffering can hinder our ability to connect with the people around us. Empathy comes natural to most humans, as we are social beings. When we become desensitized, we may feel less compelled to take action or advocate for greater change. We may even become hopeless and feel that making any change is out of our realm. When suffering seems to routine, one could assume that nothing can be done to improve. Not to mention how prolonged exposure to negative news can lead to depression, anxiety and increased stress.
While it is important to stay aware on current events in order to stay informed and contribute to positive change, it is also vital to escape the constant cycle of bad news and mitigate its effects. Set boundaries for yourself. Designate specific times you want to check on what is going on rather than endless scrolling. Be sure to also balance those negative headlines by seeking out positive ones. Search for good stories and improvements we are seeing all around the world. I promise you; they may be harder to find but there is so much good happening. You can also practice mindfulness when engaging in negative news. Stay grounded and connected to your emotions. Use them for good rather than coming to doom conclusions. Lastly, stay connected to those around you. Share your thoughts with those you are close to and trust. Engaging in meaningful conversations is powerful and helps reinforce empathy.
Although the rise in desensitization has been concerning amongst our current media landscape, there is plenty of hope. I've noticed a huge growth of positive reinforcement among my own community that doesn't have an end of goal distraction, but instead, progression. While it is important to stay informed, be sure to keep yourself healthy and set your own boundaries, seek balance, and foster connection. We can navigate these challenges of consuming news without losing our sense of empathy and compassion to those around us. Preserving our humanity is crucial for both personal well-being and societal progress.
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