Life Kit How to deal with anxiety from the news
Feb 28, 2022
Judson Brewer, a renowned neuroscientist and mindfulness expert, shares valuable insights on handling anxiety triggered by the relentless stream of news. He discusses the emotional impact of constant news consumption, emphasizing the need for better management of our reactions. Practical techniques, like breathing exercises and mindful news consumption strategies, are provided to help cultivate calmness. Brewer also outlines a four-step approach for addressing anxiety, encouraging listeners to connect with their emotions while staying informed.
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How Worry Works
- Worry is a maladaptive brain mechanism built on fear and thinking/planning.
- Fear is helpful for survival, but thinking/planning needs accurate information, which is often missing from news.
Worry and Memory
- The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, involved in working memory, can get overloaded with worry.
- This overload reduces our ability to hold other information, similar to a computer's RAM getting full.
Notice Your Feelings
- Notice how checking out to avoid news makes you feel.
- Repeatedly noticing negative feelings can decrease the reward of that behavior.