Securely Attached Q&A: Is the 24/7 news cycle harming your mental health?
Nov 13, 2025
Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, a clinical psychologist specializing in trauma and stress, joins Dr. Emily Upshur, who focuses on parenting and child development. They discuss a revealing study showing that news exposure can cause more stress than direct traumatic experiences. The pair delve into how constant media messages keep our nervous systems activated and explore the importance of ‘orienting to safety.’ They also share techniques for parents to navigate scary news with kids, aiming to foster resilience and emotional safety.
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Media Exposure Can Outstress Direct Trauma
- Repeated media exposure to traumatic events can produce stronger acute stress than direct exposure.
- Indirect exposure powers the nervous system into chronic threat scanning and reduces felt safety.
Trauma History Raises Media Sensitivity
- Past trauma accumulates and increases sensitivity to media-triggered stress.
- Trauma history primes the nervous system to be more reactive to indirect threats.
News Rarely Signals 'You're Safe' Afterwards
- News coverage rarely gives cues to orient to safety after a crisis.
- That absence keeps brains stuck scanning for threat instead of settling back into calm.