Lately, it seems that everywhere I look I see negative news. While I like to think I usually maintain a realistic outlook, seeing both positives and negatives around me, these days it seems the negatives are outweighing the positives. Here’s a rundown of what I’m referring to and some strategies I’m using to cope.
Domestic Terrorism
My feelings of being overloaded by negativity began on January 6, the day the US Capitol was overrun by a violent mob trying to stop the counting of votes cast in the presidential election. Before this, I was certainly noticing lots of negative news, but I was managing to keep it in perspective, seeing positives amidst all the negativity. Unfortunately, January 6 was a turning point for the worse for me. I saw the very foundation of the United States—its democracy—being threatened, and this made me feel threatened on a personal level as well.
Why did I feel personally threatened? I think it’s because it was hard to know at that point where other people feeling the same way as those at the Capitol might strike next. I certainly didn’t feel better when a next door neighbor began flying a Trump campaign flag the next day. Would this person resort to violence the way others supporting this same cause had?
Now, several weeks later, a report has come out warning about the threat of domestic terrorism in the United States. The report states that “extremists…could continue to mobilize to incite or commit violence.” While the report also suggests that such violence is most likely to target elected officials and government buildings, I still feel unsafe and distrustful on a personal level. Who knows when or where the violence will strike next? And news about future attacks will be broadcast across media of all types—print, broadcast, and social—affecting everyone’s personal psyche.
COVID-19 Illness and Death
Along with the threat of more domestic terrorism in the United States, illness and death from COVID-19 is on the rise around the world. NPR keeps a running total of those who have had the illness or died from it. At the time I’m writing this, according to the tally, the world has seen over 100 million people become sick with COVID-19 and more than 2 million people die of it in the past year. These numbers are astounding.
Those of us living in the United States can be said to be seeing the worst of the disease, as NPR notes over a quarter of all cases worldwide have occurred in the United States and more deaths have happened here than in any other country. The NPR statistics show that other countries are suffering significantly as well, though. The Czech Republic has seen the highest percentage of its population become infected than any other country with a population over 1 million people, and Belgium has the highest death rate per capita.
It’s hard not to feel overloaded by negativity when death and illness are spiraling out of control across the globe. Even if one country manages to get a grip on how to stop the spread of the disease, the problem will exist until every country can put a stop to it. How likely is this? I admit I’m skeptical that it will happen any time soon.
Environmental Destruction
Last year, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology released a report that showed the North American bird population had declined by 30% over the past 50 years. I wrote a little about this study in a previous post. Now, the Associated Press has reported on a study that shows a more than 70% population decline among ocean sharks and rays between the years 1970 and 2018. According to the report, there are 31 species of sharks in the world, and 24 of them are considered threatened with extinction. Three species are considered critically endangered.
I find this news about potential extinction of so many species disheartening. Once a species is extinct, it’s a permanent loss. That species can never be replaced. The role it plays in the global biosphere will be gone forever. How will this loss impact the functioning of other species? How will it impact the survivability of our planet? These are sobering questions.
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| Earth (NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory) |
Along the same vein, I recently read a book by M. Jackson called The Secret Life of Glaciers that investigates a potential extinction of another kind, the global loss of glaciers. In her book, Jackson discusses the complex relationships between the people who live in Iceland and the glaciers there. She notes that while in the short term the shrinking of glaciers may have some positive effects for humanity, in the long term, the loss of all the glaciers in the world would have a negative impact. Even though she states on her website that the purpose of her book is to investigate how we might use the human-glacier relationship to save glaciers, I came away from reading the book with a sense of sadness and doom. I admit I just don’t see the will of the people of the world being directed toward saving the glaciers any time soon.
Coping
How am I coping with all this negativity? As I already mentioned, not as well as I had been before January 6. In a post I wrote early in the global pandemic experience, I listed some coping strategies that might be useful for managing stress. Here’s a rundown of the ones that have been helping me lately:
1. Taking time each day to experience nature has been most helpful. On days when the weather allows me to take a walk outside, I feel better than on days when I don’t go for a walk. On days with inclement weather, I spend some time sitting by a window, watching the birds, and observing the wind in the trees. Even though I’m noticing negative news about the environment these days, when I look out the window or step outside into nature, I feel more alert, less fatigued, and calmer.
2. Another action I’m consciously taking these days is to try to stay in the present. What can I do right now to make myself feel better? I often find reading books can help. It takes my mind off worries about the future and lets me think about whatever content the writer brings to my attention. Unfortunately, my recent book choices haven’t been overly uplifting. After finishing M. Jackson’s book about glaciers, I started reading Natalie Cole’s autobiography called Angel on My Shoulder. If I had realized the battles with addiction she faced in her life and would share with her readers, I might not have chosen this book. Nonetheless, it has at least been a distraction from negative news about domestic terrorism, COVID-19, and environmental destruction.
Another way I’m staying in the present is by doing crossword and jigsaw puzzles. These give me a break from heavy thinking and give me a sense of accomplishment when I finish them. I also watch TV, including shows like Building Alaska, which I wrote about previously. I find watching inconsequential TV shows like this allow me to suspend my critical mind and just pass the time paying attention to whatever the show is illustrating. I’ve recently started watching a series on PBS called All Creatures Great and Small which fits the bill nicely.
3. I’m also trying to stay connected with people. I Skyped with a friend a few weeks ago, and I’ve exchanged snail mail letters with another friend. I text message with a few friends on a semi-frequent basis as well. Reminding myself that there are people out there who are willing to share their thoughts and experiences with me and who are interested in my thoughts and experiences makes me feel better. Of course, writing this blog is another way for me to keep connected with people, too.
4. One last coping strategy that’s helping me is focusing on what I can control. Lately, this has consisted of paying attention to my breathing. When I feel stressed, I notice my chest feels tight, so I take a moment to let a deep breath of air into my lungs and then let it out. I feel instantly calmer when I do this. Breathing may seem automatic, but how we breathe is something we can control.
What are some of the things you’re doing to cope with the stressful, negative time we’re living through?
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