Headline Anxiety is Your Superpower. Here’s How.

(American Psychological Association/Charlotte Huff)

We’re all feeling it right now — the constant dread in response to the endless reports from the news media. Headline Anxiety or Headline Stress Disorder is real, and it affects more than 70 percent of Americans. 

Reading the sensationalized headlines about the latest mass shooting or humanitarian crisis, it’s easy to feel uneasy, dejected and hopeless. Why is there so much pain in the world, and why is it only getting worse?

And the burnout culture we live in makes it even harder. Capitalism rules, rest is for the weak, and we’re all expected to keep being productive while the world falls apart around us. It’s exhausting.

The good news is, there’s something you can do about it. You can use that anxiety to create and implement real solutions without succumbing to burnout culture. Here’s how.

1. Read the news
   “Whoa, whoa, whoa, Reni. What do you mean? The news is triggering my Headline Anxiety. Why would I read it?”
   
   Because we can’t afford to close our eyes to the issues around us. Not anymore. I know it hurts, but we need to feel the hurt to channel it into something powerful. 
   
   Also, avoidance increases overwhelm and complicates anxiety with feelings of guilt, shame, and frustration.
   
   Face the headlines, learn what is happening, and begin identifying areas where you can intervene. Who knows? You might even find a wholesome news story that brightens your day. 
   

2. Know your limits
   As much as I would love to end homelessness, food insecurity, droughts, flooding, climate change, and any form of violence, I have my limits. That’s why I’m a big fan of turning it off. Walk away, take a breather, and return when you feel stronger. You can’t build a movement if you’re exhausted.
   
   There are many practical ways to do this. I personally keep my phone’s news app notifications off and keep my daily news-reading time capped at 20 minutes. I also avoid stories with “graphic” or “disturbing content” warnings and have become very adept at dodging news story thumbnails while casually scrolling through social media. When someone asks me about a triggering topic that I’m not ready to talk about, I ask to change the subject. Finally, I never read the news within the 2 hours before bedtime.
   
   These habits take practice, but the mental rewards are worth it. 
   

3. Do something about it
   I know it’s easier said than done, but action relieves anxiety. So, ask yourself what you can pragmatically and realistically do to heal the pain you see in the news every day. 
   
   Can you afford a $20 donation to an organization or campaign trying to address the issue? 
   
   Can you call your Congressmember and ask them to vote one way or the other on a bill?
   
   Is there a protest in your neighborhood you can attend and show your support? 
   
   Who’s running to represent your neighborhood, school district, town, or congressional district, and how do you feel about the solutions they’re proposing to the issue? If you disagree with how things are being run, is there someone you support to do it differently? Or maybe, even consider running for office yourself?
   
   Every effort of time, energy, and/or money makes a difference. 
   
   Do what you can, and let go of what you can’t with pride. You did your best.
   

4. Hold on to hope.
   When we have hope, we hold space for good things to happen.  
   
   Hope, along with pragmatic, realistic plans, can make anything possible.
   
   Hope has raised our clients hundreds of thousands of dollars. 
   
   Hope has helped grassroots People-centered movements drum up massive regional support, elevating the voices of millions. 
   
   That’s not all. Hope can even be psychologically rewarding, giving us the resilience to face stressful events such as reading the news in the morning. 
   
   If you have hope, don’t lose it. You’ll need it later.
   
   If you’re losing hope, hold on. Remember your why and imagine the world at the end of the pain you’re feeling.  
   
   With hope, we can change the headlines. 

Battling burnout culture in political spaces is core to our mission at Evinco Strategies. And that's not all – we host regular events and create free content for current and aspiring politicos! Check out our FREE SOAR Community for time-tested, effective ways to make a difference through electoral politics without wrecking your mental health.