Streamlining News to Prevent Overload

The past two years have been life-changing as people worldwide endure the trials and tribulations of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ongoing policy surrounding social distancing and stay-at-home restrictions have left many feeling isolated and dependent on the news for updated information to learn about the outside world. This trend has caused people to feel overwhelmed by constant media coverage that can cause more fear and harm than useful knowledge.

It’s OK to Take a Break

Maintaining mental health is a priority in recovery, but it can be a challenge with 24/7 streaming news and social media access. Streamlining access to breaking news can be beneficial for people in addiction recovery who have felt anxiousness and uncertainty with the constant wave of pandemic news, along with other local happenings. Choosing to unfollow or hide certain accounts and news channels is an easy way to ease the burden of constant impending current events. Designating one outlet for news for a limited amount of time each day can also permit vital information to be relayed without continuous repetition. These breaks can last as long as necessary, especially for those who have difficulty coping or are undergoing an unusual amount of stressors.

How to Handle Bad News

Everyone handles bad news in their own way, but there are several tips and tricks to making it more digestible. With round-the-clock coverage being the norm, it’s almost impossible to escape all news all the time. Taking breaks from social media and news outlets can be beneficial, but building up resiliency to handle bad news is an important life skill, especially for strengthening relapse prevention tactics.

• Read past the headline. Eye-catching blurbs provoke people to click links that sometimes provide shady sources with ad revenue. The more dramatic the headline, the higher the chances someone will fall for misleading information that sounds much worse than it is.
• Check the source. With “fake news” regularly circulating, whether it’s satire or misinformation, relying on official sources rather than social media blurbs or articles from obscure websites is an excellent way to avoid needlessly damaging or devastating information.
• Go analog. With the internet at our fingertips, anything is accessible. However, picking up a local paper can sometimes give sufficient good and bad news that’s necessary to stay informed.
• Manage emotions. It’s healthy to allow emotions to flow as long as they’re not out of balance, allowing feelings of impending doom and despair to override gratitude and thankfulness. It’s not always easy to look past the suffering in the world but to protect fragility in treatment or recovery; people need to check in with themselves.
• Talk it out. Reaching out to loved ones when uncertainty creeps in is a good way to remain grounded during these uncertain times. A support system is crucial for precisely this reason, and creating discussion about current events can feel cathartic and reassuring.

HCRC locations are fully operating during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and are open for new enrollments. Patients benefit from private and convenient outpatient treatment programs to treat opioid use disorder with the help of specialized medical providers, nursing and administrative staff, along with compassionate and knowledgeable intake coordinators. For more information, message or call a local HCRC facility today.

Medically Reviewed By:

Health Care Resource Centers Clinical Team

Health Care Resource Centers Clinical Team

The Clinical Team at Health Care Resource Centers is our team of physicians and medical directors within the organization. HCRC is a CARF accredited organization and has been providing addiction treatment services for over 32 years in the New England area.