06/03/2026
I still remember 21 March 2003 as if it were yesterday. I was watching ITN’s John Irvine reporting from Baghdad as the “shock and awe” phase began. My children were very young. I felt terrified, helpless, and found myself checking the news over and over — an endless loop of fear that left me exhausted. That’s when I first felt the heavy weight of what I now call news anxiety.
What is news anxiety?
News anxiety (media stress, news overload) is the aching sense of overwhelm, dread, or numbness that comes from constant exposure to distressing headlines and feeds. It raises our stress hormones, undermines sleep and concentration, and can pull us into unhelpful habits like doom-scrolling and withdrawal.
How counselling can help
Counselling offers a safe, compassionate place to make sense of those feelings. Together we can:
- Explore how news exposure affects your body, thoughts, and relationships.
- Identify unhelpful thinking patterns (catastrophising, “what if” spirals) and gently challenge them.
- Build practical, personalised strategies to set boundaries with media and reduce compulsive checking.
- Develop grounding tools (breathing, mindfulness, short restorative activities) you can use in moments of overwhelm.
- Create a plan to turn worry into action — supporting causes, community involvement, or focused advocacy — so you feel empowered rather than powerless.
Practical steps you can try now
- Choose set times to check news; keep your phone in another room outside those times.
- Turn off news and social notifications; use site-blockers if needed.
- Seek trustworthy, balanced sources and avoid relying on social media as your only news outlet.
- Replace doom-scrolling with a short restorative activity: a walk, music, journalling, or calling a friend.
- If the news is affecting your sleep or daily functioning, reach out for professional support.
If my fear in 2003 taught me anything, it’s that you don’t have to carry news anxiety alone. Small, steady changes and compassionate support can restore a sense of safety and control. If you’d like to talk about how to reset your relationship with the news, I’m here to help.