Finding Calm In A Media Frenzied Society
By Leah Mathison
Anxiety can be triggered by events (global warming, war, a charging pit bull) that sometimes occur as part of life and survival. However, in this time of perpetual, pervasive news coverage, we are exposed to anxiety-inducing events all day, every day. Never in history have we been presented with a more continuous flow of catastrophe and negativity.
Ronda Thomas, M.A., BCHD care manager, describes the toll the media phenomenon takes on our psyche. “Modern news media sell uncertainty and fear. When that mindset takes hold, we become toxic to ourselves and everyone around us.” Thomas coordinates support groups and resources for people looking for tools to manage issues in their lives, including everyday stressors. The 20 to 30 monthly support meetings held at BCHD and in homes (to serve the community’s older, disabled and homebound residents) indicate an anxiety-ridden epidemic. “Anxiety breeds an energy that develops a life of its own,” explains Thomas. “If you walk into a room full of anxious people, the intensity is palpable, and it is difficult not to succumb. It’s contagious.”
The good news is that a study by Harvard Medical School and the University of California, San Diego reported a similarly contagious effect with regard to happiness. Study coauthor James H. Fowler, Ph.D., says, though it’s not news that one person’s happiness directly affects others, new research shows that indirect relationships also impact the spread of happiness. According to this study, a person’s happiness permeates social networks in a positive way, up to the second degree of separation.
Krista Arthur-Magidson, who specializes in guided meditation, visualization and mindfulness, agrees that positive socialization is an important part of our ability to appreciate our present reality. Healthy relationships help us feel hopeful.
Thomas notes we also need to master techniques to improve our outlook and find our own release. “Most adults lack coping abilities. In our culture, we’re not taught from an early age to focus and center ourselves,” she says. Professionals like Thomas and Arthur-Magidson are working to turn this around. As a first step, both recommend breathing and centering as the frontline defense against stress.
“Anxious people often take shallow breaths through their mouths,” says Arthur-Magidson. She teaches clients to breathe in and out, deeply, through the nose, in the same way infants breathe when asleep. “This is our natural way of breathing; it restores our balance and increases our lung capacity.”
Thomas suggests next steps for immediate results:
· Self-evaluate. Ask yourself: Am I getting enough sleep? Exercise? Nutrition? Quiet time? Socialization?
· Make a list. Organize problems into items you can control and items beyond your control. Set aside the items beyond your control. Prioritize the rest and start solving the most important issue on your list.
· Create a no-excuses plan. “Sometimes people need help through the discovery process,” says Thomas. For example, finding affordable, nutritious food is a common frustration in an economic downturn. “We help clients get past roadblocks by focusing on what they can change first.”
For long-term changes, Arthur-Magidson guides clients through a 12-week plan to develop daily meditation, visualization and mindfulness practices. Over time, these techniques help reprogram the brain to soothe rather than stimulate nervous reactions. Thomas emphasizes that mastering our own energy helps calm others, too.
We can’t always avoid what is happening in the world, but we can limit our exposure to negativity and enhance our ability to create positive change. Choosing to quiet the noise and reach out to others frees us to experience a more joyful life.
