There's never been an "easy" time to be alive; for most of history we humans have struggled with varying degrees of war, poverty, disease, and inequality, with the concept of mental health care only establishing itself in the past century.
Regardless of where you stand on personal politics and current issues, there's no denying that the events of today have taken a mighty toll on our mental health: Mental Health America recently released a report citing a spike in adult suicide ideation from 3.77% in 2012 to 4.19% in 2017, meaning over 10.3 million US adults have seriously contemplated suicide.
We live in an era where the standard evening news has been replaced by around-the-clock, around-the-world reporting, with social media simultaneously acting as both safe space and battleground. While suitable medication for mental health is available, prevention for the possible triggers is still important.
With so many triggers, how do we protect our mental health in an increasingly hostile age?
So Much News, So Little Time
As mentioned above, we now exist in a constant, unavoidable news cycle. With the events of the world being relayed to us in real time, it's all too easy to feel perpetually bombarded by the worst of human atrocities.
A 2018 survey published through the American Psychological Association found that more than half of Americans reported feeling extreme news-related anxiety, with additional side effects including fatigue, loss of sleep, and stress.
The Burden Of Social Media
The same survey conducted by the American Psychological Association mentioned above revealed that not only do 1 in 10 adults watch or read the news on the hour, 20% of Americans admit to compulsively refreshing their social media news feeds, even when they find the process upsetting.
Most of us conduct a large portion of our lives via social media, and it's hard to disengage entirely without feeling left out of the loop. Because it's in our nature to fear being forgotten or rendered irrelevant, many of us give in to the pressures of staying online long after we'd rather log off.
With such a constant stream of voices, influences, perspectives, and stories, it's no wonder an hour or more of social media can take a serious toll on one's mental, emotional, and even physical health.
Disengaging From Disagreements
Heated disputes are the norm online these days, and often they escalate well beyond the topic at hand. Whether it's politicians or celebrities, current events or social concerns, we take our issues seriously--enough so that many are willing to make things personal, thus causing irreparable damage.
Constantly engaging in heated online debates, particularly after they've reached a point of outright abuse, can affect your mental health and mindset in the long run, leading to increased anxiety, anger, and easy triggering.
Lifestyle Pressures
Despite the detrimental state of the world, we're still inundated with messages from the media, advertisers, and Hollywood that our lives could and should look a certain way. Men and women of all ages and lifestyles are perpetually assaulted with reminders that they're not beautiful, wealthy, or worldly enough, that they must do and purchase x,y, and z to join the realm of the elites.
Such day-in and day-out messages can make a gradual but devastating impact on one's sense of self worth, and young minds in particular are highly susceptible. After all, when you're constantly being told you're not good enough, how can you be expected to practice self acceptance and cultivate any semblance of confidence and security in your personal pursuits?
These messages aren't just limited to advertisers and entertainment moguls; social media also plays a heavy hand in influencing our values. By comparing our lives to others' travels, triumphs, and good times, we inevitably come up short.
In fact, this topic continues to come up in self care discussions, with popular relationship guru and life coach Matthew Hussey advising: "Don't compare your behind-the-scenes to somebody else's highlight reel."
All The Friends But None In Sight
Community is an integral aspect of human life, and while we can't choose our families, we can construct the environments in which we move and the people we support and in turn are supported by.
The vast and multi-layered world of the internet can instill a sense of community that doesn't in fact exist; while meaningful cyber connections can certainly be forged, they by no means replace the value of actual, in-the-flesh friends.
Today we strive to tally up followers and social media "friends" without actually putting in the effort to extend ourselves beyond the online sphere, and the increasing rise of reported loneliness in Americans is the sad proof of such.
What You Can Do
You may not be able to change the world at large, but you can make an effort to fortify your own, starting with conscious practices aimed at keeping you in a sound state of mind. Limiting your time online is a huge step towards protecting your mental health, whether it's social media, the news, or basic web browsing.
Give yourself an allotted amount of time each day or evening to check up on current events and the to-do's of others, then make a point of logging off and devoting your time to an outside project or social activity.
If you still find yourself struggling with feelings of depression, anxiety, and trauma triggers, it may be well worth your while to seek professional therapy, either in-office or through an online therapy platform.
Speaking with a licensed therapist or counselor, or even a trained listener as many free sites offer, can help you detect and deter your triggers, and focus on maintaining a healthy balance between real-world horrors and the very real promise of your own.
