Media Boundaries for Peace of Mind by your Sugar Land Therapist
Lately, the news has been really weighing on my clients. Even when my clients have not been watching the news themselves, through conversations, social media, and being out in the world, they are finding themselves exposed to political anxiety and stress. What is going on in the world impacts us; it can trigger trauma, it can cause us to withdraw from friends and family, and leave us anxious at baseline.
It is so important that we set media boundaries. This means you need to do your best not to let news updates take over your life. Make sure that you turn off your news notifications. It is not beneficial to get constant alerts about the same headlines with different wordings 20 times a day. Those notifications are like an alarm waking you up to the bad things happening in the world. Do not scroll news apps. If you are a reader, make sure you are reading a book; if you are looking to connect with people, text a friend instead of commenting on Instagram, X, or whatever it may be. (If you isolate yourself, tough feelings can get stronger. Talking with someone helps you remember you’re not alone. Let’s work to make things meaningful. Reaching for a book or a friend will help you sleep and reduce the feeling of constant overwhelm you get when you stay plugged in.
It is so important to explore how to calm yourself down. The more ways you try, the more you get to know yourself and learn what works for you and your body. This is important because everyone grounds themselves differently. This is also important because no one way is going to work every time; you need a variety so you can have a calming mechanism that fits the mood you are in. You need to know if you are in more of a going-for-a-walk kind of calming mood, a deep-breathing or listening-to-music mood. Drink some warm tea, read with a weighted blanket... what is the best vice for you in the mood you are in? If you don’t ground yourself, anxiety can spiral and make you feel worse. Active grounding helps you feel safe and in control.
Focus on what is in your power and control and feels good to you. We cannot fix the world’s problems, but you can make your family and community a better place. Spending time with your family cooking dinner or getting chores done may not seem like the most important things, but it gives you time together, which helps you not feel alone; it shows your family you care, and it supports them with things they need help with. Spending time doing a loved one’s favorite thing to do, even though it may not be your favorite thing, can go a long way in spreading love into the world. This can extend further if you volunteer with a local club, charity, or church group. You may not be able to change the world, but you can change your community. Trying to control things you can’t will leave you exhausted and stressed. Focusing on small, positive actions helps you feel accomplished and more at peace.
If anxiety, stress, or trauma is triggering you in your daily life, please contact Alyssia at Southern Pine Counseling. I always recommend in-person therapy because it gives you a private place to let your hair down and share your thoughts. If in-person feels too difficult, schedule an online visit with Alyssia to start your therapy journey. Learn how CBT therapy (cognitive behavioral therapy) can help you establish coping skills and change the way you think in order to change the way you feel. Ignoring your feelings can make things worse. Getting help from a professional mental health therapist like Alyssia at Southern Pine Counseling means you’ll learn ways to cope and start feeling better faster. Therapy helps you stay mentally healthy, even when the world is stressful. If you skip therapy, you prolong your feelings of anxiety, sadness, or isolation. Schedule an appointment with Southern Pine Counseling today!
