In the past few weeks, I have had a couple of physical symptoms. One of them is a sore throat that comes and goes. It’s been quite cold here in the Bay Area, so that might be a part of it. But it’s been showing up pretty randomly. Recently, I read something in Shelley Klammer’s newsletter that jumped out at me.
She said that whenever she watched too much bad news, she started to get a sore throat.
This is what she said:
“I have noticed a very curious thing about myself. Whenever I watch too much bad news, I start to get a sore throat. When I choose instead to dance, to write in my journal, to sketch, to read uplifting books, my sore throat goes away.“
How about that?
Maybe, this has to do with the fact that when we watch too much bad news, we feel scared, shaky and helpless. But then, we don’t usually express this fear. Things are coming at us so fast, it doesn’t seem worth it to keep diving into all these feelings. Many of us are also used to acting strong even when we are feeling shaky inside.
I can see how all this can lead to a sore throat. I think Shelley is on to something here.
So, how do you deal with the news then? On the one hand, it is important to follow the news. I also think it’s important to have a couple of different trusted sources you are following. There’s a lot of misinformation out there about the virus, so it’s good to know the facts, so the myths don’t scare you. Avoidance creates anxiety too.
But on the other hand, maybe like me, you’ve had overwhelming moments in this past month when it’s all felt too much, too sad and too overwhelming. Watching too much news definitely isn’t helpful. All it creates is stress and feelings of helplessness. And that’s something none of us needs right now.
Here are some of the things that I am trying to do:
- Read the news instead of watching it. It feels much less overstimulating.
- Listen to the people that make sense. Like many other people here in America and around the world, I follow what Dr. Anthony Fauci has to say.
- Have a list of publications that give in-depth reporting and that have given you good information in the past. I like The New York Times and Vox.
- Stop reading unsubstantiated memes on groups like Whatsapp groups that talk about what Coronavirus symptoms are, how to prevent them, and so on. The right information gets lost in the clutter of all the myths that are spreading like wildfire. Rememeber, lies spread faster than the truth.
- Check the news at scheduled times only. Twice a day is a good frequency.
I think we all need good journalism and reporting right now. Just like many other things I took for granted, I see more clearly now how I need to value and support places that give me good news. So, consider supporting and donating to publications that you value. And steer clear of all the fear-mongering.
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