F18: Fending Off Politically Induced Stress

Feeling overwhelmed by nonstop political news? You're not alone. In this episode, we explore the psychological and physical toll of constant exposure to divisive headlines, from increased anxiety to sleep disturbances and mood swings. With insights from Dr. Michelle Riba of the University of Michigan, we break down a systematic approach to managing news consumption—tracking your intake, balancing fact-based sources, and challenging your perspective to reduce stress. If the political climate is affecting your well-being, this episode offers practical strategies to help you regain control and find more peace in an era of information overload. Tune in to discover how to stay informed without sacrificing your mental health. #PoliticalAnxiety #NewsOverload #MentalWellness

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F18: FENDING OFF POLITICALLY INDUCED STRESS

I WAKE UP, CHECK MY PHONE AND CLEAR MY NEWS ALERTS…ALTHOUGH I STILL MANAGE TO READ A FEW. I HEAD DOWNSTAIRS, TURN ON THE TV AND A MORNING NEWS SHOW FILLS THE HOUSE WITH ONE BIZZARE STORY AFTER ANOTHER. I DRIVE TO WORK AND LISTEN TO A NEWS PODCAST. MY PHONE BUZZES TEN TIMES WITH NEWS UPDATES BETWEEN WHEN I GOT TO WORK AND LUNCH. I TOOK A QUICK GLANCE AT ALL OF THEM. AT LUNCH I SEE A TV IN THE DISTANCE AND CATCH A FEW HEADLINES. AFTER I FINISH EATING, I CHECK EMAILS ON MYCPHONE AND SCROLL SOCIAL MEDIA – ENOUGH TO READ SEVEN EXTRAPOLATIONS OF THE TRUTH. BACK TO WORK, THEN BACK HOME, BUT NOT WITHOUT MORE NEWS, MORE FEAR TACTICS, MORE UNSETTLING STORIES.  

BY THE TIME I TURN OFF THE BEDSIDE LIGHT AND ATTEMPT TO FALL ASLEEP, I’VE BEEN OVERWHELMED WITH HUNDREDS OF CHARGED POLITICAL OPINIONS AND INTENSE HEADLINES, LEAVING MY BRAIN OVERLY STIMULATED, ANXIOUS, AND UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN.

WHILE THIS MIGHT BE AN EXTREME EXAMPLE, IT’S PROBABLY NOT FAR FROM REALITY FOR MANY.

IN THIS EPISODE I SHARE SOME OF THE SERIOUS HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF THE POLITICAL CLIMATE WE’RE LIVING IN AND LAY OUT A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO HELP MANAGE THE IMPACT.

EPISODE

IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT YOU BELIEVE POLITICALLY OR SOCIALLY, WHAT AGE YOU ARE, OR TO WHICH SOCIOECONOMIC CLASS YOU BELONG, OUR DAILY LIVES ARE SCATTERSHOT WITH DIVISIVE HEADLINES AND SOUNDBITES JUST BEGGING FOR OUR ATTENTION.

ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW. WE JUST WRAPPED UP A VERY DIVISIVE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, AND WE’RE JUST STARTING TO SEE BROAD, TOP-DOWN DECISIONS AND DIRECTIVES RAINING DOWN ON AMERICANS ALREADY SPREAD THIN AND ANXIOUS ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

THE WHIPLASH OF NEWS IS NOT ONLY HARD TO KEEP UP WITH, BUT IT ALSO DANGEROUS IF YOU’RE CLOSELY FOLLOWING THE UPS AND DOWNS OF THIS POLITICAL MOMENT.

DR. MICHELLE RIBA, PSYCHIATRIST AND MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN’S EISENBERG FAMILY DEPRESSION CENTER SAYS THAT IF YOU OVERLOAD OR OVERWHELM YOURSELF WITH POLITICAL CONTENT OR NATIONAL AND WORLD EVENTS, YOU WILL SEE IT MANIFEST PSYSIOLOGICALLY IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:   

1.     INCREASED BLOOD PRESSURE

2.     WEIGHT GAIN

3.     ANXIOUS OR WORRIED FEELINGS

4.     DRASTIC MOOD SWINGS

5.     SLEEP DISTURBANCES

6.     AND AN INCREASE IN SUBSTANCE USE (TO INCLUDE CAFFEINE, SUGAR, ALCOHOL, NICOTINE, CANNABIS, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES)

IF YOU’RE NOTICING ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS, YOU MAY BE CONSUMING TOO MUCH POLITICAL CONTENT….BUT THERE ARE WAYS TO FIGHT BACK.

DR. RIBA RECOMMENDS MONITORING HOW MUCH POLITICAL CONTENT YOU’RE CONSUMING. LOG THE SCROLLING, THE PODCASTS, THE TV TIME, AND CONVERSATIONS – ANYTHING THAT DELIVERS YOU POLITICAL CONTENT. UNDERSTANDING THE AMOUNT OF YOUR DAY SPENT IN POLITICAL DISCOURSE IS IMPORTANT SO YOU KNOW WHERE TO DIAL BACK.

ONCE YOU KNOW HOW MUCH POLITICAL CONTENT YOU’RE CONSUMING, WHAT HELPS YOU FIND MORE BALANCE IS ADJUSTING WHERE YOU’RE GETTING YOUR NEWS. WHILE IT MAY BE DIFFICULT, TRY TO LIMIT YOUR CONSUMPTION OF OPINION-BASED OR HEAVILY BIASED SOURCES. WHILE IT MAY SUPPORT A BELIEF YOU HAVE, STICKING WITH FACT-BASED NEWS SOURCES LIKE REUTERS, AND THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, OR WITH SOURCES CLOSE TO THE MIDDLE, SUCH AS THE THREE MAJOR NETWORKS, AND THE WALL-STREET JOURNAL AND NEWSWEEK, CAN HELP DIAL BACK THE SPIKES IN INTENSITY. THIS MEANS DIALING BACK SOCIAL MEDIA - LIMITING YOUR EXPOSURE TO THE EMOTION-FUELED HEADLINES WILL HELP GET YOU ON TRACK FASTER.

ANOTHER KEY ADJUSTMENT IS TO FORCE YOURSELF HEAR OPINIONS THAT CHALLENGE YOUR OWN POSITION. YOU WILL PROBABLY DREAD DOING THIS, BUT IF YOU CAN CHALLENGE YOURSELF TO HEAR OUT ANOTHER OPINION, EITHER IN CONVERSATION OR BY CONSUMING CENTER-LEFT OR CENTER-RIGHT INFORMATION THAT OPPOSES YOUR VIEWPOINT, AND DO IT REGULARLY, IT WILL ACTUALLY MAKE YOU FEEL LESS OVERWHELMED. OF COURSE, YOU’RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE WHAT YOU BELIEVE – BUT DOING THIS WILL DIAL YOU BACK.

IT GOOD TO THINK ABOUT THE ROLE OF POLITICS IN OUR LIVES. I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT. PERSONALLY, I THINK IT’S VITAL WE FEEL CONNECTED TO WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD AROUND US, AND WE SHOULD PARTICIPATE. BUT IT’S THE ROLE WE PLAY WHEN WE PARTICIPATE THAT MATTERS. ARE WE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING, USING OUR CRITICAL THINKING TO DISSECT INFORMATION, OR ARE WE PASSIVELY REACTING TO OPINION-BASED NEWS? IT’S THE QUALITY OF INPUT WE GET THAT ALLOWS US TO FIND LONG-TERM BALANCE.

AS THE ROMAN EMPEROR AND PHILOSOPHER MARCUS AURELIUS ONCE SAID, “THE HAPPINESS OF YOUR LIFE DEPENDS UPON THE QUALITY OF YOUR THOUGHTS.”

https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/5-ways-manage-politically-induced-stress