12/01/2026
Ever felt heavy, anxious or numb after watching the news?
It’s a common human response. Our brains are wired for threat detection. constant exposure to distressing events can keep the nervous system in a state of alert, even when we’re not personally in danger.
Distressing material on the news or social media can repeatedly activate stress responses, blur the line between awareness and overexposure and create a sense of helplessness or loss of control.
When we are exposed to this on an ongoing basis, it can lead to:
- heightened anxiety or worry,
- low mood or hopelessness,
- sleep disruption, and/or
- emotional exhaustion,
but this doesn’t mean something is “wrong” with you.
To relieve this distress, it might help to:
- set intentional limits on news consumption,
- choose reliable sources over constant scrolling, and/or
- learning to notice when your body signals “enough.”
If it feels all too much, try to focus on your "sphere of control," meaning to:
- re-anchor to daily life and values,
- engage in meaningful, local, or values-based actions, and
- allow rest without guilt.
When the distress is persistent, interfering with sleep, work, or relationships, or bringing up past trauma, then professional support may be helpful.
However, if you need support now, help is available.
Lifeline, call: 13 11 14
SA Mental Health Triage, call: 13 14 65
Urgent Mental Health Care Centre, visit: 215 Grenfell St, Adelaide CBD
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