Protect Yourself from the Worlds Information Overload!
I can hear the rumble in the clouds above giving off the feeling that a big storm is about to come. The anticipation of the storm can cause unrest in so many ways inside of us. Our bodies can even experience physical symptoms of a storm coming, migraines, body aches and a sense of feeling tired. Metaphorically, our bodies can feel like there is a storm rumbling inside of us emotionally at times. The feelings of uncertainty and unrest in the world around us can cause this reaction.
I guess I am lamenting about this due to the Unrest in the World. As I write this thousands of students are on college campuses protesting, taking over buildings and encampments. The war in the Middle East, Ukraine and unfortunately the current Presidential election in the United States is all hard to escape. The reality is this is all a small part of the Unrest in the World. There is a feeling in the air that the world is crumbling and this can cause extreme Anxiety in many.
I long for times past where you could shut off the television and you were protected from any uncertainty or tragedies that were going on. I have sat in many groups with my clients and the topic of the world news comes up. My clients at that time in their lives were already struggling with life and anxiety. It was so easy for me to say stay away from the news. Today, well that is not such an easy task to accomplish. News comes to us from so many places that it is truly hard to avoid. All you have to do is log in to your computer or Ipad and it hits you in the face, as if someone just threw a pie in your face. You think to yourself, “how am I going to clean up this mess?” Exactly how the uncertainty in the world can cause anxiety, makes us wonder, how are we going to clean up that mess.
The college protests have ignited protests all over the world. I have two kids in college and this impacts them directly. College students are having difficulty getting to class, dining halls and their dorms. I am all about marching and protesting, shit I have done this myself but I have never disrupted the lives of others. Hearing the anxiety in college students voices and their parents has really created unrest in many. How do you cope with the world’s unrest? I know there will be some of you who will say I just don’t pay attention to it. I get that, but sometimes the Unrest is hard to avoid. I am confident that the subliminal messages are having some kind of impact on all of us. Let’s be real there is always something out there trying to pop our own personal safety bubbles.
The big question is how do we cope with unrest? I really have had to think about this on a more personal level recently. I have a college student who has to walk the long way to class and the library to study for finals to avoid the protests. My college age student can hear the protesters chanting and sirens all night long. The stress they experience each time they need to go to campus is palpable. I bring up this example to represent that our world’s can become chaotic at anytime, based on the Worlds Unrest. I am not going to express my personal opinions on the current unrest on the college campuses but I will talk about how this has sparked anxiety in many.
How do you cope with the Unrest in the World? I wish I had a magic potion that I could give you and shit that I could just take myself. I am truly on this journey with you. I can only give you suggestions and trial and error ideas. I believe that for most you are impacted by the uncertainty of peace in the world and honestly here in the United States. Others of you will be impacted more personally, like my college kids. The obvious first coping mechanism I can suggest is, to not click on the articles, TikTok, Insta, Facebook or the news channels on your devices. This honestly is challenging my impulse control not to click. The Click Bait is real and almost seems as if it calls to us, “just click and you can read what is going on in the world,” This is where the technique of Thought Stoppers come in. Envision a big red stop sign in front of you and your computer screen. This image will stop you from clicking. Yes, this actually will work, if you attempt to step out of your comfort zone and try this coping mechanism.
I have a very basic coping mechanism that you can utilize when it comes to all of the “Information Overload,” talk to other like minded people about your anxiety. We are really in an area of uncertainty and unrest and talking with others is a chance to have a “Verbal Diarrhea” moment. Just have a great expression dump with your friends so that you can feel the release of your thoughts. I did this the other day and it felt so good to talk about my concerns and anxiety. I realized how much others are going through the same exact thoughts and I felt a release.
I don’t usually recommend talking much on Social Media Groups; however, talking with others who have a commonality with you can be a great way to express yourself. I am not advocating in any way getting into arguments or altercations with opposing opinions. That is not a healthy way to cope with the anxiety that the World Unrest is causing you.
Unplug from the world for a specified amount of time. I am recommending “You to Unplug” from all forms of information. No phones, computers, Ipads, television, newspapers, social media and any other ways that you get your news information. Target time everyday to Unplug and identify how long you are going to spend in this stressless environment. I mean take yourself out of the stress and find a peaceful place to spend some “Unplug Time” with yourself. I understand that this may be challenging for you, “I know it is for me” I am working on this skill each day and everyday I am able to “Unplug” for just a little longer.
I also am a firm believer that taking action on your feelings and participating in a healthy solution, is a great way to cope. I do not believe in disrupting others daily lives but I do believe we can have our voices heard in productive ways. When the shooting occurred at my local High School, I Marched on Washington, went to Rallies, attended a News Networks Community Forum, attended groups on how to heal our community and of course shared my thoughts through my blog and podcast. These actions empowered me and gave me a sense of control and coping with my anxiety, after the town I lived in felt unsafe. No matter what your views are on the Middle East war, there are ways to volunteer to help you contribute to providing aid and support for those countries. Taking a role in giving of yourself is a great way to ease some of your Anxiety, from the Unrest in the World.
I will say, please educate yourself on the issues from reliable sources. There is a lot of propaganda out there and misinformation. Please don’t get wrapped up in this rabbit hole. This is a sure way to allow the Unrest in the World, cause you to experience overt Anxiety. If you live in the US the Politics are overwhelming. Research the politics from sources you can count. Guess what???? You don’t have to take sides, you can lie somewhere in the middle. Right, Left, Independent, maybe your beliefs entail a little from each party? That is good and I am giving you the permission to accept this. You don’t have to pick sides with family and friends on the issues. I have allowed myself to acknowledge that not every party is wrong or right. I can take from each what I believe in. I don’t have to agree with everyone and I don’t have the urge anymore to make others understand why I believe what I do. Believe it or not this has taken so much pressure and anxiety off myself and my relationships.
Initially, I said that I am not a novice on how to cope with the Unrest in the World. I am a work in progress and I wanted to share some ways in which I am working on coping with the information overload and unrest. If you have any great suggestions on how you are coping with the unrest, I would love to hear about it. Please send me your thoughts in the contact section of my blog. My tag line is,”Let’s Listen and Evolve Together”, these words have never rung more true then what we are witnessing in the world at this very moment. How do you cope with the Worlds’s Unrest? Guess what, it’s time to figure this shit out my friends. If you allow yourself to continuously absorb the information without a release you will malfunction from the overt anxiety that it causes you. It is time for you to be proactive in your physical and mental health when it comes to this topic. I will ask you my readers one more time, “How do You Cope with the World’s Unrest?” I can actually visualize all of those “Thought Bubbles” over your head right now. Grab a bubble and get to work on improving how you cope with the world around you and inside of you.
POSITIVE THOUGHTS CREATE POSITIVE ENERGY
GO OUT AND EXPLORE THE WIDE OPEN SPACES IN YOUR WORLD
CIAO
ILISE
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