When the media impacts our mental health

@Former-Member anniversies marking the loss of loved once can be really hard. Can you put headphones on to drown out the triggering noises?

Hoping you're looking after you.

Dear All,

I have virtually given up reading the paper because of all the tearjerking stories - I just buy it for the weather and the entertainment guide! You know off course you can turn the news OFF.It is not healthy to expose ourselves to so much trauma and shock when we are in a poor state ourselves.

This is something I did while I was sick. I started to read children's stories, especially "The Wind In The Willows.' These classics are beautifully written and a joy to read. They take you away into a magical world away from mental illness and help you keep your thoughts healthy. On a more adult level G.K. Chesterton's "Father Brown" stories and Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories are also good.

Take a visit to your local library and have a look. Most libraries also have comfortable seating areas where you can sit and read in air-conditioned comfort.

Ellu

Cool topic @NikNik

The media with their 'scare mongering' reporting as others have shared is negative to read.

I avoid the news as I tend to think it is a one sided view. But? I like to hear issues in the community and responses they have developed and are finding useful.

Murder, rape, assaults, robbery happen and are awful to read about. It is like horror movies or action packed violent movies. They are watched but most would not harm a fly. Where as 'advertising' a product or service is selling something. They want me to like it, offer it at a reasonable price and buy it. It promotes desire and sells the 'need' and 'affordability'.

I do read sad, violent news and shun and the thought of how others can harm someone.

I do try to balance it with news of acheivement, success and social change.

Hi everyone, interesting to read this thread. For years I haven't watched television news and I have an agreement with the person I live with that we will change channels every time a politician starts talking on TV. But I do read the news online pretty much everyday, ABC and my local. Usually only the headlines to get the sense of what is happening out there. An occasional full article, often about something related to the arts, the mind or the ongoing discoveries in astronomy.

Mostly, this approach has kept me relatively sane in the face of the media assault.

However, as @NikNik mentioned, I am now faced with a Facebook and Twitter feed full of politics, especially about the USA. I have a lot of net friends in the US, some have been online friends for years. I feel for their despair and rage at the current regime in control of their government. I am finding this is really affecting me lately but I don't want to mute these people. We have other interests that bond us, sometimes even bring us together in artistic collaborations. They are part of my life.

So I don't have an answer in regards the Facebook and Twitter feed. Perhaps when the world gets darker, it is just not completely possible for us to avoid being affected by that too...

I am afraid there is only one way to deal with media affecting mental health - turn it off! There are still a few good magazines out there, for example The Economist (which is not all about economics) where you can find well-written opinion pieces and reports of news. As for television news, why put yourself through it?

Our world is definitely a dark place at the moment. The only consolation is that looking back on history there have always been dark periods and happier, more constructive periods.What we need is good leadership (which we don't have at the moment)

As travellers in the 21st century, we have to reject rubbish reporting as it will only impact on our mental health.Be aware of this if you turn the television on - it is guaranteed to affect our mood, and who wants that?

Ellu

I have got distressed at times by the media and the so called big mouth experts on morning shows who give their opinions on us Centrelink bludgers.I would do anything to not be in this position.The judgements on those who have medical exemptions to get out of looking for work has distressed me when I am struggling to find a reason to live.I am getting upset writing this.I realise there are those who aren't genuine but I see it as kicking someone when they are down. At times they are bias,and poor judgements eg:the explanation I heard from one on the behaviour of someone was because they have poor education and from a low socioeconomic background.There could be many reasons besides making yourself look like a smart ***

I feel sad when turning the corner from Spencer St into Lonsdale St Melb.

My dad was a reader for the Herald and the Age and introduced me to a couple of mates there before he died.

For years when I passed the Age building I remember him and his legacy which was socially aware clear thinking. he may have presented more poorly to others, but that is what my child's mind took in and the way he treated me.

After he died there were no more papers in the house. Then my sister had to fight for her right to get the Age with mother whilst she was studying HSC. The one who died.

In my marriage we bought a TV after a couple of years but never bought newspapers. Simply not in the budget, we were saving up for paint cans and hardware supplies. Sometimes hub found one on the train or bought one .. that was enough.

For my son, I did what @Ellu does and chose subscriptions to quality journals from a range of points of view and topics, but only one per year, still he could keep abreast with his own internet connection.

I felt happy when I first started driving past the old Age building as it brought back positive memories and "they" had "taken" lol .. my old Spencer St Station.

Change is always around and needs to be managed. We also need to protect oursleves from media assault but not live too much in a fantasy bubble .. I guess where we draw the line is a unique choice.