Negative News is Almost Relentless, IPB University Psychologist: Avoid News Consumption in the Morning and Before Bed
In this digital era, bad news that comes almost non-stop can cause psychological burden. News about corruption, injustice, climate crisis, unemployment, murder, drugs, and sexual crimes can trigger us to become constantly alert, anxious, depressed, overthinking or even desperate.
Facing these conditions, psychologist from IPB University, Nur Islamiah, M.Psi., PhD reminds people not to make news as the first meal in the morning or before bed. According to her, at those two times, the brain is at its most vulnerable to emotional influences.
“Opening the day with negative news can trigger stress from the morning, while accessing it before bed can disrupt the quality of rest and worsen anxiety,” explained the figure who is often called Bu Mia.
She further explained, “Without realizing it, we may be experiencing what psychologists call media saturation overload, which is a condition when our brains and emotions become oversaturated due to constant exposure to negative news from various platforms, especially social media.”
According to her, this phenomenon is not just a momentary boredom. Constant exposure to negative news creates a cycle of psychological stress, where the more we tune in to bad news, the more anxiety we feel, and the harder it is for our minds to recover and calm down.
“Teenagers and early adults are the most vulnerable population, mainly because their consumption of social media tends to be higher than other age groups,” she explains.
However, Bu Mia continued, “We can still address this, one of which is by realizing that we have control over what we consume, for example by managing the time and frequency of reading news and choosing credible sources.”
In addition, take a break from the media with activities that support psychological well-being, such as light exercise, chatting with family, or simply taking a break to unwind.
“Equally important is accepting that you don’t always have to know everything. That way, we give our minds room to breathe amidst the swift flow of information that is not always friendly to the soul,” she advised.
Maintaining sanity, according to Bu Mia, means knowing when to take a break, when to stop and when to reconnect to understand, respond and contribute with a clear mind and a full heart. (IAAS/ASY)
