Television

Ethans Mommy! · Post by **Ethans Mommy!** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 2:30 pm

This may sound really weird but I just can't quit fearing over this. So since the new year has begun I have seen so many commercials and programs on Discovery Channel about the day that the earth comes to an end and all the natural disasters that are supposed to be happening and everything. This makes my anxiety take off! I have had this weird state of mind about everything today. Like as if any second the entire earth is going to come to an end. I am going to try not to watch any more of those shows but I know that it really is reality and so that is what is scary. One the radio here we keep hearing of what rivers are flooding and what streets are closing down and so on and so forth. Has anyone had these thoughts? How did you ease your mind? Please help. I fear that I am going to lose it because I don't have anyone to talk to because they will all think I am nuts for thinking about this stuff and worrying myself sick. On top of it I have still had my normal headaches that make me all woozy and I have noticed that they are worse when I am scared and sometimes they come out of no where. I am in desperate need of some advise. Thank you.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 3:00 pm

I've got this one too, EM. We are very sensitive to "catastrophic" thinking aren't we?? The news media loves a good story of disaster and catastrophe. I try to stay away from the TV news and be very selective about which news websites I visit. I try to remind myself that these are stories of "non-news"...meaning they are reporting on something that has not happened and probably will never happen in our lifetimes. It is "what-if" news! Much like our trouble with "what-if" thinking. I hope this helps! God Bless.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 3:01 pm

Hi Ethan's Mommy,

I'm very new to the program and I'm not an expert. But, having said that, I think you have it right when you say that you should stop watching those programs. I think that when you hang around negative things, the negativity can "rub off." It may be true that the world might end one day in any of those interesting ways that those programs talk about, but 1) worrying about won't stop it, 2) when God wants to take me, He will and far be it from me to object to that - presumably He knows what He's doing and 3) what if it doesn't happen and I've cheated myself out of another good day because I let myself get worried about it?

I know you can't just turn the thoughts off light a light switch, but you can turn off the TV (or at least change the channel) just like a light switch.

I hope this helps.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 3:16 pm

Hi EthansMommy!:
I can so relate. I was driving home from my boyfriend's house tonight and I started thinking, "well, I guess that _____________ didn't _______________ YET!"

Immediately, the stop sign went up in my mind, I took a deep breath and said, "thoughts....only thoughts."

I don't know why my mind went there, to a place, based entirely on conjecture and theory, when I'm faced with real-life tragedies happening all around me. I only know that we catastrophize and sink straight into the negative thinking, and it's exactly where our depression and anxiety would like us to go.

Turn off the television, avoid the news, don't watch those documentaries about ___________ or _______________. Get involved in your life, take Ethan for a walk, to the park, or sit on the floor and play with him. After all, he's what life is really all about; he's our future and he's the joy of your world.

~Lynnier

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 7:04 am

I stay away from the hard core news channels like CNN, FOX, Headline News, etc. All watching those does is depresses me. I wish there was a news channel for positive news ONLY! But, alas, there isn't. I am VERY selective about which shows I watch and which articles and books I read or listen to. I watch light-hearted comedies, mainly the old ones, British sitcoms (they are a hoot) and selected shows on some cable channels. I do not watch hard core crime shows or depressing documentaries. I tend to take everything in and I want to laugh and not cry, I want to relax and not get stressed out. Good luck, my friend, and be ever so selective in your television, internet, books, magazines and even radio. Most these days are downright depressing and anxiety-producing. Bob.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 8:00 am

Yeah...I don't watch the news...I can't....it totally sets me off into the "what if" thinking and pattern.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 8:50 am

This so sounds like me. I don't watch much news either. I have enough trouble dealing with my own "normal" problems without taking on the whole world! But it isn't easy not focusing on all that. Hopefully as we continue with this program, we will learn how to deal with these thoughts.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 9:54 am

I've had alot of these thoughts lately, too. I have alot of family in different parts of the country, and I was worrying about everyone all the time! I finally said to myself, "Ok, look, you cannot do anything about a natural disaster!focus on your own space and be happy that you are safe!" Normally, positive thoughts like that would not work on me, but for some reason, I have felt better.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 7:00 am

OMG yes, but the problem is for me at least, I will stay away from news or disturbing shows and whatever, but as I was watching a innocent daytime soap, that commercial about lung cancer came on!!!!! I can't get it out of my mind!! I tend to be on the hypochondriac side of anxiety and commercials like this freak me totally out! My husband's allergies has been acting up and with his coughing I am like, "you don't have that do you???" I mean I really have been freaked about that. So, sometimes you can avoid the shows but it's those commercials.......