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Health

News is unhealthy

(83 Posts)
nigglynellie Mon 20-Feb-17 15:11:13

Discussions about D Trump have been banned in this house, as has Brexit, Council tax rises, The House of Lords not starting work till after lunch,(?!!) along with certain other international people/events guaranteed to raise blood pressure! There is nothing we can do about any of it so why threaten health and family harmony?! Our main worry is the imminent four monthly PSA test for DH's prostate cancer, always a stressful but necessary hurdle! We should, after six years, be used to it, but somehow we're not.

Jalima Mon 20-Feb-17 15:07:48

DH likes to watch BBC News at Ten because he can then sit and moan '20 minutes on Trump, what a waste of b*** time, is there no other news?' chunter chunter chunter
Then gets up at 10.20 to go to bed and misses anything else.

Indinana Mon 20-Feb-17 14:57:37

I have tried to severely cut down on watching, reading or listening to the news for the reasons given - I do believe it is damaging to mental health to be bombarded with world news of the Trump/ISIS/Brexit variety unless we are galvanised into action to try to do something positive about effecting change in the world. And seriously, what on earth can we do about these issues? It needs people stronger, healthier and more resourceful than me I'm afraid.

Anniebach Mon 20-Feb-17 14:41:14

Not glancing at the news,rolling news we are saturated with Trump, Brexit, disasters, murders, elections, NHS, I realise after listening to a talk given by a physciatrist to our mental health support group this morning it is affecting me . We discussed it and he asked - what are you going to do about Trump? the answer from all was - nothing I can do. I know I have become more irritable , upset, at times rather unkind in thought . So I am definitely cutting back on listening / reading news .

rosesarered Mon 20-Feb-17 14:16:43

It's not just glancing at the news either, is it?It's that there is so much of it....rolling news, coming at you 24/7.
My strategy is to limit it, seeing or hearing the news once a day is more than enough.

HildaW Mon 20-Feb-17 13:58:43

Definitely, Life has been complicated for us as a family especially over the last ten years and I have had some very stressful times which has lead me to having some real anxiety issues. When its really bad I totally ignore TV news and do not look at news papers etc. I know I am feeling a bit more calm and coping better when a fleeting glimpse of a headline does not make me more unsettled.
During some counselling sessions I had mentioned that I felt a real whimp for deliberately turning off the news and not reading papers but my councillor just smiled and said it was a perfectly sensible strategy.
Also so much news nowadays is 'spun' or just downright untrue depending on the source, so basically I pay attention to the small stuff; family and friend's news, the important bits of local information from the community and that's about it. I certainly find it helps.

rosesarered Mon 20-Feb-17 13:53:00

I can believe that ab and am sure that is what does happen.Think I will go and live on an island in the outer Hebrides for a while!

Anniebach Mon 20-Feb-17 13:50:59

It is claimed reading , listening to news is bad fir mental health. It can instill fear, cause anxiety, instill anger, can be addictive , become an obsession .