Did you see that article? What about that tweet? What about that Facebook post? Did you check your email this morning? Today, it feels like politics are an inescapable part of daily life. The tricky part is that politics aren’t bad! They are a powerful way for us to connect with like-minded people and make changes that benefit our communities and our world. However, sometimes exposing yourself to non-stop political information can make it hard to have a healthy relationship with politics. How much is too much?
How Much Time Are You Spending On Politics?
As we stated above, it’s easy to be surrounded by politics 24/7 between social media, newspapers, television news and the rest of the internet. In America, a study in 2016 estimated that people spend approximately between 24-72 minutes on television news a day, 8-23 minutes on digital news a day, 5-14 minutes on radio or podcast news a day and 2-6 minutes on print news a day. All of that adds up, and since so much of the news that makes headlines today can be political and stressful, it’s easy to get sucked in. You want to be informed, but not at the cost of your mental health.
When Have You Crossed the Line from a Healthy Relationship with Politics?
One recent study from the American Psychological Association found that, for numerous Americans engaged in politics and the news, their consumption can have negative effects. Over half of Americans reported that news causes them stress, and many said that their intake of news and participation in political news leads to sleep loss, fatigue and anxiety. Because the way that we access news has changed so drastically over the past decade, it can be harder to escape news when you are on social platforms where people are talking about both their personal lives and politics. This makes it harder to find the escape you used to be able to get by closing the newspaper or turning off the TV.
How Can You Maintain Good Mental Health?
If you find that you are experiencing negative mental health consequences from the amount of time you devote to reading the news and engaging in political activities, there is nothing wrong with taking a step back. A therapist can help you to work through the anxiety or depression you are feeling and find positive ways to channel your emotions.
Improve Your Mental Health With CBT Baltimore
If you are interested in seeking therapy in Baltimore, we’re here to help. Contact the CBT experts at CBT Baltimore at 443-470-9815. We would love to speak with you.