How to manage difficult feelings around significant world events
If you’ve been experiencing difficult thoughts and feelings about news events recently, you’re not alone in that.
Hearing about these negative news events could lead to feelings of powerlessness, sadness, anger, fear or instability. You might feel worry for people you love, yourself, or topics you care about, such as climate change.
However you feel, know that your feelings are valid and true for you.
It’s important to look after your own mental health and wellbeing during this time. The Mental Health Foundation has put together some tips to help...
Practice radical acceptance
What occurs in the world is largely out of your control. There are actions you can take, such as engaging in advocacy, but the weight of these world events are not yours to shoulder alone.
Learn more about the skill of radical acceptance.
Create digital boundaries
It’s okay to consume the news, but try not to let it consume you. Leave online conversations if they become unkind or unproductive, and try to limit your news sources to ones that you trust.
Connect with your community
Feeling connected to the people around us can make us feel safe, and provide us with a sense of belonging. A lot of what we see in the news centres around disharmony and disconnection, but we can combat these narratives by making our own communities stronger, together. You might organise a neighbourhood potluck or volunteer with a local charity.
Take positive action
Taking actions that reflect our beliefs can be affirming, and help us regain a sense of control and mastery. How you choose to take action could look different depending on the cause you care about, and the capacity you have available. You could write a submission on a bill during a consultation phase, attend a protest, or join an advocacy group.
Continue looking after your wellbeing
We all have mental health and wellbeing, and we all need to look after it. It can help to start by talking about how you’re feeling with someone you trust. It also helps make time for fun – like engaging in hobbies – and ensuring you’re sleeping well.
Holding on to hope can be hard if we are experiencing feelings of powerlessness. But we’re never powerless, even if we can’t fix the problems in the world that we’re worrying about – we can make a positive difference in the lives of our whānau, friends and community. We can make it through hard times, together.
Get more information on managing difficult feelings around world events.