topic Re: Emotionally drained by the news in the world. in Anxiety

Emotionally drained by the news in the world.

Illbeok — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 02:57:49 GMT

I feel like the world is going crazy and I am getting so anxious about everything. I've always had anxiety and managing my depression at the bay. And the news tells me there are wars, bad politicians doing unthinkable things, AI is taking over, a market crash is coming, and so on. (The biggest is the climate change and these bushfire news makes me cry and feel powerless.) I feel like these issues are my own and keep donating money and feel financial stress at the same time (by the way some donations are not even tax deductible). I worry that we will become unemployed and Australia will become like these countries with high unemployment rates or the climate change will cause food shortage, the US will take over these key geopolitical locations by force and the world is divided into 3. I watch Eckhart Tolle or do mindfulness practice to stay in the "Now" but it is very hard not to worry about the future for me and everybody else's. I don't have friends so I cannot talk about it to anyone. The problem is that I cannot just shut it out. I need to look at the news and pay attention to politics because I have to manage someone else's finances, so I need to pay close attention to macroeconomics and geopolitics, do research. How does everybody cope with the current affairs in the world?

Re: Emotionally drained by the news in the world.

white knight — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 06:52:16 GMT

Hi, welcome,

I understand. Back in 1977 I became a prison officer, a very young one of 21yo. I had no knowledge then of pending diagnosises decades later. After 3 years there my brother took his life and that along with sensitivity threw me into depression particularly my burning desire to reject society.

What followed was a hatred for news, crowds, cruelty and toxic people eg manipulators and swindlers.

So I retreated to the mountains several times and one day found the compromise of moving to the country which solved all the issues I had. Yes, I'm still, like you concerned with the world but two things are important for you 1. You should try to separate concerns the you can achieve an impact on from those you have no control 2. Worry only gives to ulcers.

Google: beyondblue worry worry worry ... and: beyondblue distraction and variety ... and beyondblue anxiety how I eliminated it

I included on on anxiety as your issues could be related.

We also have a great online library just use search function.

I hope that helps. Reply anytime I'm here daily

TonyWK

Re: Emotionally drained by the news in the world.

Mudcakes — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 07:33:48 GMT

I was so close myself to making a post like this. Im having huge social media hiatus but sure its helped but damm the news is freaking me out. Like I am worried for the future and what my future kids have to live through. I gotta watch the news though for basic safety things to know about local things. Its like good evening, heres all the reasons why its not. I feel you and Im trying to stay present too. 💖

Re: Emotionally drained by the news in the world.

Picture — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 08:55:55 GMT

I can understand how you feel this way. I feel that there is so much negative overwhelming news at the moment. I try just to skim the headlines these days and have also removed myself from most social media. For me focusing on small actions within my control helps.

Re: Emotionally drained by the news in the world.

Alikiwi — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 23:21:07 GMT

I certainly feel this, as most do. Not a lot to add, but really make yourself avoid news like the plague that it is. In your case not easy, but I think essential. You need to focus on what is good for you, not stuff that will drag you down. Again not easy I know, but remember, you should come first. Take care.

Re: Emotionally drained by the news in the world.

Illbeok — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 07:52:09 GMT

Hi Tony, thank you for sharing your story. I feel what you felt then ("a hatred for news, crowds, cruelty ...") and feel deeply sad about the world. I am reading the posts you showed me. Yes "Worry is non productive", and I intellectually understand it yet I cannot emotionally control it. What you said about "separating concerns" is exactly what I have problem with. When I see bad news I feel like they are my own and my internal voice says "Hey, do something!" (Sometimes it backfires, like I got mugged when I tried to help a person on the street.) I think it is more of an anxiety than altruism. I often day-dream "If I were Elon Mask whose net worth's $700bn, I would give all my money to ..." What an unproductive thought!! I worry about myself and other people, particularly young people, and become sad or anxious. Anyway, thank you so much for understanding my feelings and practical advice, I don't want ulcers!! I will keep reading your past posts...

Re: Emotionally drained by the news in the world.

Illbeok — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 08:00:41 GMT

Hi Mudcakes, thank you for understanding my feelings and I feel like I'm not alone! I cannot imagine how I'd feel if I had kids, my worry would be x100... "I gotta watch the news though for basic safety things to know about local things." YES! That is the hardest bit about this, I cannot completely shut it out of my life! I wish I could just switch it off and forget about it. If you discover a new way to stay present let me know!

Re: Emotionally drained by the news in the world.

Illbeok — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 08:12:52 GMT

Hi, Picture. Thank you for your reply. I totally admire you for not clicking those headlines! What are the examples of "small actions" that you mentioned? I have difficulty drawing a line between what I can/should do and cannot, for example I got so anxious about the climate change and told people at work "all the scary facts you should know" and "we all must get an EV", and yes I am very unpopular.) I get upset about news and donate money emotionally but I often regret it later when I have hard time myself! Do you have some criteria for what you can and cannot do?

Re: Emotionally drained by the news in the world.

Illbeok — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 08:26:48 GMT

Hi Alikiwi, thank you for the encouragement, thank you for telling me that I myself should come first, sometimes I wish I had someone watched me and told me "don't do it, you should come first!". The problem is that I don't know how to avoid the news and be informed for important things at the same time. If you know some tricks to filter the right "information" from "noise", let me know!

Re: Emotionally drained by the news in the world.

Psychdiaries2 — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 10:22:14 GMT

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out!

I remember in lockdown watching the news and getting anxious about the state that the world is in. It is so scary. Honestly, the best thing for me was turning it off. Even now, I don’t watch the news unless it is a huge story. Apart from that, I try to stay away since I know it’ll make me anxious. Thinking about the future always is going to stress you out. I try to focus on the present as much as I can. You really don’t know what’s going to happen, all you can do is focus on the things you can control. Also, I try to not scroll on news accounts on social media.

I think everyone can relate to how difficult it is seeing these horrible things happening everyday, but I think sometimes you need to limit the media you’re consuming. I hope you take care of yourself today. Warm wishes 🙂

Re: Emotionally drained by the news in the world.

Illbeok — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 12:47:16 GMT

Hi Psychdiaries2, it is nice to know my problem is not uncommon, and it seems like many people try to limit viewing news. I feel like the world is changing so fast (in a bad way unfortunately) and sometimes feel like I'm the only one struggling. Thank you for your kind words and reminding me that I'm no alone.

Re: Emotionally drained by the news in the world.

audiology — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 22:52:21 GMT

Hi Illbeok - sorry to hear you're struggling with your anxiety so much! After reading your posts, I'd be wondering if you'd be open to trying an activity with me? It's simple - all you need to do is tell me up to 3 main reasons why you feel you absolutely 'need' to watch the news. Feel free to reply whenever you get the chance, should you want to that is 🙂

Re: Emotionally drained by the news in the world.

randomxx — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 02:32:46 GMT

Hi there op.

l've struggled with the news and what's going on in the world, especially of where it's headed that's pretty clear but as well as everything happening. Then especially again too even with our own country right here and which instead of avoiding the issues to they actually still to this day keep throwing fuel onto the fire in every way possible instead of fixing it all , they have no clue, just to ice the cake.

l gave up the news a few yrs back, it was unbearable , think l even have a thread here myself somewhere on the same thing.

l hate the head in sand avoidance but for me just being an everyday person with no power to do anything about any of it, l 've have to go that way of late just to save my own sanity and at least attempt to just enjoy life as much as poss.

l still watch bits and pieces but usually with remote in hand and finger on mute or off button ready for any horror that's for sure gonna be coming.

lt's disgusting to the way our media seem to thrive on all the worst to here where as in a lot of countries, l've watched news from all over the world, they don't even cover 99 percent of that sort of thing.

So yeah, there is sooooo much happening as you've said but as concerned as l am, wellllll. !

Re: Emotionally drained by the news in the world.

Illbeok — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 08:14:50 GMT

Hi Audiology, that is an interesting activity... let's see... I can only find one reason for why I "need" to look at news. I need to look at anything that is related to finance to manage people's portfolios (sad thing is that it's not my money). So i start to research / fact checking / check market and current positions etc. Then viewing another article online and my mind goes "OMG what happened!" and I click that and find more shocking news along the way...

Re: Emotionally drained by the news in the world.

Illbeok — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 08:16:35 GMT

Hi randomxx, "lt's disgusting to the way our media seem to thrive on all the worst..." YES, exactly! I absolutely loathe fear mongering media outlets yet I'm the one being capitalized by them... How cleverly written these click-bate headlines. I wish I could just move to a remote island with no internet, when I was young I just needed to read a single source of information, called "newspaper". I miss it. Anyway, thank you for sharing your thoughts, I feel supported and less alone...

Re: Emotionally drained by the news in the world.

smallwolf — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 11:08:02 GMT

hello,

I know a lot of people have replied to you already, but I want to add that I do not watch the news. On any channel. You might want to call me uninformed. Today, there are also many other places in which news creeps in and these are your social media platforms. I have learnt to ignore these as well - nothing will have really changed between the now, and say, 3 hours ago when they were talking on the same topic. It is just filler and otherwise a waste of internet space. With that said,if you want to remove yourtself from watching all this it can be hard. On the flip side, my mental health is more important - at least to me.

Re: Emotionally drained by the news in the world.

Illbeok — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:07:57 GMT

Hi smallwolf, thank you for sharing your experience and it sounds like your strategy is working very well. I laughed when you said "nothing will have changed between now and 3 hrs ago"! And yes, you are right about my mental health is more important than being "informed". Thank you for your insight!

Re: Emotionally drained by the news in the world.

audiology — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 22:50:57 GMT

Hi again Illbeok - apologies for the late response! Ok so that is a relatively understandable 'need' to look at the news - at least in some part. I'm wondering if it might be possible to configure your news app to solely feed you news based on finance? Or if you currently are just watching the primary news 'channels' - perhaps an idea could be to stop doing so and move to an app based delivery service of the news and configuring it to only feed you finance based news? Just a thought that could be worth looking into? 🙂

Re: Emotionally drained by the news in the world.

Picture — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 13:57:59 GMT

Hello - in relation to your comment do you have any criteria for what you can and can’t do in relation to small actions. An example is I just do things locally. Rather than focusing on the destruction of forests, I plant a range of trees in my yard, participate in the local councils tree planting, rather than writing letters to politicians etc. I understand that the world needs big picture thinkers and actions but at this stage it is necessary for me to take more limited steps for my own wellbeing.

Re: Emotionally drained by the news in the world.

smallwolf — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 11:38:46 GMT

hello,

Not sure what news services you watch, but I tend to find that all commercial ones are as good or bad as each other. I'm also cooking dinner when the ABC news is on so don't watch that. World news is reddit is about as good as it gets and I am only scrolling and not looking at the detail ... if I do read it, I'll likely get frustrated, but I'm not one to let it out and just stews up inside me. But if really want to find out then something like the ABC website is as good as any other. And that way I get it on my terms,