Attacks, wars in Ukraine and the Middle East… Faced with the anxiety-provoking news of the moment, it is important to protect your mental health. How to get there? Here are the tips from Siyana Mincheva, psychologist.
The news is rarely uplifting but there are times when it is more anxiety-provoking than others. With the death of the French teacher in Arras, the war in the Middle East and the conflict in Ukraine, listening to the news can affect our mental health. So how can you protect yourself?
What are the negative manifestations of the news on mental health?
By constantly being bombarded with bad news, our mental health can be affected. How to recognize this state of stress? According to Siyana Mincheva, this is akin to “a feeling of anxiety, which generally generates different symptoms such as: fatigue, difficulty falling asleep, headaches, dizziness, abdominal discomfort, palpitations, etc. All signs of anxiety which show that the mental state of the person is troubled.”
How to protect yourself?
To release this pressure and anxiety that can invade us, Siyana Mincheva recommends cutting off the source of stress. “We must limit screen or radio time, avoiding watching the news too much” she advises first of all. Next, she recommends learning to control your fears. “Knowing how to protect yourself and limit your anxiety begins by telling yourself that you cannot live without difficulties, without problems, whether they occur in the world or closer to you, geographically.. Once this observation is made, you must learn to implement strategies to limit your anxiety.
What are the strategies that help limit anxiety?
For the specialist, we must learn to develop strategies that help reduce anxiety. “This can be self-hypnosis, meditation, relaxation to be practiced daily, or several times a week” explains Siyana Mincheva.
“Or more simply listen to good music, laugh with friends, think of your family cocoon that you will return to in the evening or your next outing… So many pleasant moments that make us look upwards, instead of dragging ourselves down down” she concludes.
