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What Constant Exposure To Negative News Is Doing To

Our Mental Health
02/19/2015 08:49 am 08:49:47 | Updated Feb 19, 2015

620

Carolyn Gregoire
Senior Writer, The Hungton Post

AFP

Its nearly impossible to turn on the TV, open up a web browser, or scroll
through Twitter without being assaulted with notications of a new world
disaster (or two, or three...). Thanks to the 24-hour news cycle, alerts of
shootings, plane crashes, ISIS beheadings, crime, war and human rights
violations are constant and this incessant news of violence and
destruction may be messing with our heads.

The world isnt falling apart, but it can sure feel like it. The news can be
violent, depressing and emotionally-charged.

Terrorism is newsworthy because it is inherently dramatic and threatening,

political scientist Shana Gadarian wrote in The Washington Post in October.
Media competition means that journalists and editors have incentives to use
emotionally powerful visuals and story lines to gain and maintain ever-
shrinking news audiences.

This may be driven partly by our natural negativity bias, which leads us to
pay more attention to things that are dangerous or threatening.
What Constant Exposure To Negative News Is Doing To Our
According to some psychologists, exposure to negative and violent media
may have serious and long-lasting psychological eects beyond simple
feelings of pessimism or disapproval. The work of British psychologist Dr.
Graham Davey, who specializes in the psychological eects of media
violence, suggests that violent media exposure can exacerbate or contribute
to the development of stress, anxiety, depression and even post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD).

Negative news can signicantly change an individuals mood especially if

there is a tendency in the news broadcasts to emphasize suering and also
the emotional components of the story, Davey told The Hungton Post. In
particular... negative news can aect your own personal worries. Viewing
negative news means that youre likely to see your own personal worries as
more threatening and severe, and when you do start worrying about them,
youre more likely to nd your worry dicult to control and more distressing
than it would normally be.

According to Davey, the way that negative news aects your mood can also
have a larger aect on how you interpret and interact with the world around
you. If it makes you more anxious or sad for instance, then you may
subconsciously become more attuned to negative or threatening events, and
you may be more likely to see ambiguous or neutral events as negative ones.

On a neurological level, when were confronted with images of violence, we

know that images or videos depicting violence are categorically dierent from
actual violence so we dont process the input as threatening stimuli.
However, we internalize the negative stimuli, which can aect mood and
cause one to feel more negatively towards the environment more broadly.

These images change our overall mood to a more negative one more sad
or more anxious and it is this change in mood that leads to psychological
changes in the way we attend to things around us (e.g. we are more likely to
pick out things in our environment that are potentially negative or
threatening), Davey explains. This can have a vicious cycle eect on mood
generally for some time.

Some research has even suggested that viewing traumatic images in the
media can cause PTSD-like symptoms. A 2001 study found that watching
the events of 9/11 on television was enough to trigger PTSD symptoms
such as worrying about future terrorist attacks and reduced self-condence
in some viewers. Severity of symptoms, interestingly, was directly
correlated with the amount of time the subjects spent watching television.

A recent study also found that being frequently exposed to graphic,

uncensored images of violence is emotionally distressing to many journalists
working in newsroom settings. The journalists who were regularly exposed to
violent video footage scored higher on indexes of PTSD including re-
experiencing, avoidance and general anxiety as well as increased alcohol
consumption, depression, and somatization (physical signs of distress in the

body). What Constant Exposure To Negative News Is Doing To Our

The researchers noted that over time, exposure to graphic violence can
cause a process of either sensitization, in which the individuals becomes
more sensitive to emotional distress upon viewing the images, or
desensitization a sort of numbing process in which individuals become
habituated to what they see to occur. This numbing eect, which causes
the brain to exhibit less of an emotional response to disturbing stimuli, has
been observed in those who have been repeatedly exposed to violent video
games.

The diagnostic criteria for PTSD which was appended for the DSM-5 to
recognize that not only experiencing something traumatic oneself but also
witness a life-threatening trauma to another could lead to symptoms of the
disorder acknowledges this to some degree. Davey notes, however, that
the DSM description does say that these events should be witnessed in
person.

Of course, its important to note that exposure to negative news is unlikely to

cause depression, anxiety or PTSD in individuals who are not already prone
to these conditions. But it can still lead to a pessimism and world-weariness
that leads us to perceive the state of the world in an overly negative light
leading us to ignore and overshadow the many things that are working.

Whats clear from this research is that more positive news is needed to
outweigh the violence and destruction were exposed to every day. As
psychologist Steven Pinker and international studies professor Andrew Mack
write in Slate, the world is not going to hell in a handbasket, despite what the
headlines suggest. Violence has actually decreased, and quality of life has
improved for millions of people. Journalism should reect these truths.

As Positive News founder Sean Dagan Wood said in a recent TED talk, A
more positive form of journalism will not only benet our well-being; it will
engage us in society, and it will help catalyze potential solutions to the
problems that we face.

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Thinkstock

Seasonal Aective Disorder (SAD) is most commonly associated with winter

blues, and it aicts about 5 percent of Americans. But for less than 1 percent
of those people, this form of depression strikes in the summer. Warm weather
depression arises when the body experiences a delay adjusting to new
seasons, says Alfred Lewy, MD, professor of psychiatry at Oregon Health
and Science University, in Portland. Instead of waking and enjoying dawn, the
body has a hard time adjusting, he says, which could be due to imbalances in
brain chemistry and the hormone melatonin. More from Health.com: 10 Tips
for Dating With Depression The Most Depressing States in the U.S.
Depressing Jobs: Career Fields With Hight Rates of Depression

Smoking

Thinkstock

Smoking has long been linked with depression, though its a chicken-or-egg
scenario: People who are depression-prone may be more likely to take up the
habit. However, nicotine is known to aect neurotransmitter activity in the
brain, resulting in higher levels of dopamine and serotonin (which is also the
mechanism of action for antidepressant drugs). This may explain the
addictive nature of the drug, and the mood swings that come with
withdrawal, as well as why depression is associated with smoking cessation.
Avoiding cigarettes and staying smoke free could help balance your
What Constant Exposure To Negative News Is Doing To Our
brain chemicals.

Thyroid Disease

Thinkstock

When the thyroid, a buttery-shaped gland in the neck, doesnt produce

enough thyroid hormone, its known as hypothyroidism, and depression is
one of its symptoms. This hormone is multifunctional, but one of its main
tasks is to act as a neurotransmitter and regulate serotonin levels. If you
experience new depression symptoms particularly along with cold
sensitivity, constipation and fatigue a thyroid test couldnt hurt.
Hypothyroidism is treatable with medication.

Poor Sleep Habits

 What Constant Exposure To Negative News Is Doing To Our

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Is Really Freaking

Its no surprise that sleep deprivation can lead to irritability, but it could also People Out

increase the risk of depression. A 2007 study found that when healthy
participants were deprived of sleep, they had greater brain activity after
This Probably Won t Be

viewing upsetting images than their well-rested counterparts, which is similar The Craziest Republican

National Convention In
to the reaction that depressed patients have, noted one of the study authors.
History

If you dont sleep, you dont have time to replenish [brain cells], the brain
stops functioning well, and one of the many factors that could lead to is
Micah Johnson Was Not
depression, says Matthew Edlund, M.D., director of the Center for Circadian
Who You Think He Was.

Medicine, in Sarasota, Fla., and author of The Power of Rest. But You Know Him Well.

Facebook Overload Progressives Pressure

Clinton Over Vice-

Presidential Pick

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Spending too much time in chat rooms and on social-networking sites? A

number of studies now suggest that this can be associated with depression,
particularly in teens and preteens. Internet addicts may struggle with real-life
human interaction and a lack of companionship, and they may have an
unrealistic view of the world. Some experts even call it Facebook
depression. In a 2010 study, researchers found that about 1.2 percent of
people ages 16 to 51 spent an inordinate amount of time online, and that
they had a higher rate of moderate to severe depression. However, the
researchers noted that it is not clear if Internet overuse leads to depression or
What
if depressed Constant
people Exposure
are more Tothe
likely to use Negative
Internet. News Is Doing To Our

End Of A TV Show Or Movie

Thinkstock

When something important comes to an end, like a TV show, movie, or a big

home renovation, it can trigger depression in some people. In 2009, some
Avatar fans reported feeling depressed and even suicidal because the
movies ctional world wasnt real. There was a similar reaction to the nal
installments of the Harry Potter movies. People experience distress when
theyre watching primarily for companionship, said Emily Moyer-Gus,
Ph.D., assistant professor of communication at Ohio State University, in
Columbus. With Avatar, Moyer-Gus suspects people were swept up in a
narrative forgetting about real life and [their] own problems.

Where You Live

 What Constant Exposure To Negative News Is Doing To Our

Thinkstock

You can endlessly debate whether city or country life is better. But research
has found that people living in urban settings do have a 39 percent higher
risk of mood disorders than those in rural regions. A 2011 study in the journal
Nature oers an explanation for this trend: City dwellers have more activity in
the part of the brain that regulates stress. And higher levels of stress could
lead to psychotic disorders. Depression rates also vary by country and state.
Some states have higher rates of depression and auent nations having
higher rates than low-income nations. Even altitude may play a role, with
suicide risk going up with altitude.

Too Many Choices

Thinkstock

The sheer number of options available whether its face cream, breakfast
cereal or appliances can be overwhelming. Thats not a problem for
shoppers who pick the rst thing that meets their needs, according to some
psychologists. However, some people respond to choice overload by
maximizing, or exhaustively reviewing their options in the search for the very
best item. Research suggests that this coping style is linked to perfectionism
and depression.

Lack OfWhat
Fish In The Diet Exposure To Negative News Is Doing To Our
Constant

Thinkstock

Low intake of omega-3 fatty acids, found in salmon and vegetable oils, may
be associated with a greater risk of depression. A 2004 Finnish study found
an association between eating less sh and depression in women, but not in
men. These fatty acids regulate neurotransmitters like serotonin, which could
explain the link. Fish oil supplements may work too; at least one study found
they helped depression in people with bipolar disorder.

Poor Sibling Relationships

Thinkstock

Although unhappy relationships with anyone can cause depression, a 2007

study in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that men who didnt get
along with their siblings before age 20 were more likely to be depressed later
in life than those who did. Although its not clear whats so signicant about
sibling relationships (the same wasnt true for relationships with parents),
researchers suggest that they could help children develop the ability to relate
What
with peers and Constant Exposure
socialize. Regardless To reason,
of the Negative Newssquabbling
too much Is DoingisTo Our
associated with a greater risk of developing depression before age 50.

Birth Control Pills

Thinkstock

Like any medication, the pill can have side eects. Oral contraceptives
contain a synthetic version of progesterone, which studies suggest can lead
to depression in some women. The reason is still unknown, says Hilda
Hutcherson, M.D., clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at
Columbia University, in New York. It doesnt happen to everyone, but if
women have a history of depression or are prone to depression, they have an
increased chance of experiencing depression symptoms while taking birth
control pills, Dr. Hutcherson says. Some women just cant take the pill;
thats when we start looking into alternative contraception, like a diaphragm,
which doesnt contain hormones.

Rx Medications
 What Constant Exposure To Negative News Is Doing To Our

Thinkstock

Depression is a side eect of many medications. For example, Accutane and

its generic version (isotretinoin) are prescribed to clear up severe acne, but
depression and suicidal thoughts are a potential risk for some people.
Depression is a possible side eect for anxiety and insomnia drugs, including
Valium and Xanax; Lopressor, prescribed to treat high blood pressure;
cholesterol-lowering drugs including Lipitor; and Premarin for menopausal
symptoms. Read the potential side eects when you take a new medication,
and always check with your doctor to see if you might be at risk. More from
Health.com: 10 Tips for Dating With Depression The Most Depressing States
in the U.S. Depressing Jobs: Career Fields With Hight Rates of Depression

More: Whats Working Ptsd 24 Hour News Cycle Negative News

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13 Comments Sort by Oldest

Add a comment...

What Constant Exposure To Negative News Is Doing To Our

Wayne G Sterba Writer at Www.dimensionsofmind.org

Whooaaahhh!!! Interesting article for HufngtonPost and its sensational HEADLINES!!
Like Reply 4 Feb 19, 2015 9:26am

Jo Anne Lorensen Social Media Specialist at LTC Expert Publications

Negative news and politicians have me totally depressed and sure that there is no hope for the world.
Like Reply Feb 19, 2015 2:27pm

Wayne G Sterba Writer at Www.dimensionsofmind.org

(Warning: Pretty long and subjective comments follow that are abstract and may be too
"woo-hoo" for some.) Media, especially like HP, present soooo much for review and thus
provide opportunity for individuals to "choose" a reaction to it, even if personal and not
shared openly. Because of the saturation of all our lives with 24/7 news coverage and
ubiquitous Internet accessibility, humanity is making continuous choices non-stop.The
subjective choices add up, conditioning human thinking about a solution, or way out of the
mess. (Think: consciousness entanglement and consciousness non-locality... See More
Like Reply Feb 19, 2015 3:30pm

Ben Williamson
Wayne G Sterba , What does the impact of fake news like Fox have on your hypothesis?
Like Reply Mar 4, 2015 5:31pm Edited

Russell Thompson
I understand what they're trying to convey about constant exposure to negative news...
But at the same time, that is the reality of the world we live in.
And to me, it sounds like they're saying "Ignore all the bad news" or "avoid the negative news".

I'd rather be aware of the negative news and horrors occurring around me and around the world
(along with the good uplifting stories) than to be living in blissful ignorance.

To Live is to Suffer. There will always be negative news along with positive news. It's all about how
you deal with it.

"But it can still lead to a pessimism and world-w... See More

Like Reply 3 Feb 19, 2015 2:30pm

Peter Guenther Wilfrid Laurier University

Juan Martin Harper Yup, Ignorance is bliss. I block people who continually post stupid pet
videos and cutesy daily afrmation type graphics etc. It doesn't cheer me up one little bit.
Thing is, we don't need to change things that are already going right, just enjoy them.
Ignoring the bad is the equivalent of condoning it. I won't sit by while anti-vaxxers convince
everyone around me not to vaccinate their kids, for eg. etc. etc. AND I like a good debate...
Like Reply Feb 22, 2015 5:21pm

Deva Od San Francisco, California

There is always a lot of both bad and good going on in the world. If you only pay attention to
the bad, you'll likely lose hope and get depressed and have a false image of the world. If you
only pay attention to the good, you'll be ignorant, have an equally false impression of the
world and may not develop the sensibility to x the things that you can. It's important to be
cognizant of both - to know the pain and suffering of others as well as to appreciate what is
actually good in life.
Like Reply Mar 4, 2015 7:10pm Edited

Peter Keane
I remember after 9/11, some viet nam vets I know had PTSD areups. One had to check into a VA
hospital for some extended treatment. At the time, I didn't understand their distress. Now, I do. This
was worth reading
Like Reply Feb 19, 2015 8:09pm

Christopher Lee San Leandro, California

#IRONY
 #IRONY
Like Reply Feb 19, 2015 11:53pm

John Eggert
I've known this from personal experience for a long time and it depresses me.
Like Reply Feb 20, 2015 1:01am

Ken Rothey BYU (Brigham Young University)

What Constant Exposure To Negative News Is Doing To Our
I am an optimist. I know things can be great but please suggest a point from which to start!

Like Reply Feb 20, 2015 3:04am

Good News Shared

Love this article! We come across people on a daily basis who tell us they don't watch or read the
news because it's too depressing. Our website (http://goodnewsshared.com) is read by people who
enjoy nding out about some of the good stuff people are doing in the world, alongside the regular
news.
Like Reply 1 Feb 21, 2015 8:54am Edited

Peter Guenther Wilfrid Laurier University

Glad you said "alongside the regular news." it is possible to do both. I love good works types
of stories too.
Like Reply 2 Feb 22, 2015 5:24pm

Carlos Rodriguez San Luis Potosi, Mexico

The NEW WORLD ORDER controls the media to control your mind.
Like Reply Feb 21, 2015 9:25pm

Peter Guenther Wilfrid Laurier University

We all know there are lots of good things happening around us. SO? Should we therefore ignore
growing inequality and the creeping New Guilded Age about to overwhelm us? Should we ignore the
billions still living in abject poverty because Pinker says "don't worry, be happy?" Of course it's not
good to obsess on the bad to the point where it depresses you. But, when you know there are
enough resources and wealth around to lift everyone on the planet out of poverty yet the opposite is
happening, it's really hard to just sit on your hands.
There's just a bit too much "shiny happy people" rhetoric in Pinker's privileged middle class world and
irritating "feel good" articles like this.
Like Reply Feb 22, 2015 5:11pm

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