'The Cost of Knowing: How Staying Informed is Killing our Mental Health' FULL POST: johnpavlovitz.substack.com/p/the-cost-o... - ThreadSky

johnpavlovitz.bsky.social • 75 days ago

'The Cost of Knowing: How Staying Informed is Killing our Mental Health'

FULL POST: https://johnpavlovitz.substack.com/p/the-cost-of-knowing-how-staying-informed

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Comments

marieresists1.bsky.social•75 days ago

Great article. If most of us can’t totally ignore the news, you make a case for cutting way back.
I’m working in that myself.

harkster57.bsky.social•75 days ago

It is and that is bad

bettymemoryprobs.bsky.social•74 days ago

Agreed. Too much can be
TOO MUCH.😬 -E

cjpexton.bsky.social•75 days ago

Good column capturing the way many of us are feeling -- trying to stay informed while maintaining our sanity. It would help if there were more pieces that focused on actual solutions or positive steps each of us can make, creating a toolkit we can take into the new year.

pollysky.bsky.social•75 days ago

I miss not being informed but I don't miss the anxiety and feeling of helplessness. I'm not looking forward to going back to that. I may not go back.

tempus1.bsky.social•75 days ago

Go back on your own terms. Set limits for daily consumption. Turn the devices OFF after x amount of time.

theverbosepoet.bsky.social•75 days ago

That's one hell of a headline to entice intelligent thinkers to self harm by merely reading further.

robertelewis.bsky.social•72 days ago

I encourage all my followers to know the prescription drugs, and their own health for longevity. I make all the decisions on my health, not my doctor.

agileaussie.bsky.social•74 days ago

I couldn’t agree with you more. 5 minutes of looking at any news source sends me into considering if I can survive 4 years of this and then I just spiral from there.

simplyelonna.bsky.social•75 days ago

It seems to me that it isn't staying informed that's tanking our mental health so much as what that information is. If we were getting inundated with*good* news, I don't think we'd be suffering like this.

jsmci.bsky.social•75 days ago

How did you get inside my head? 🤨👍

alliea.bsky.social•74 days ago

Since the election I have started to feel a sort of hostile condescension from people who know I am up on current events but who are not themselves. . I'm not entirely sure what it is. It's an attitude of, "you know it's terrible for you, why do it? Do better."

natesofamerica.bsky.social•75 days ago

This has to be a joke. It isn't the staying informed it's the inaction and overconfidence in a ruling class of duplicitous, gaslighting narcissists. There's tough but necessary fix to all this. Tear it all to the ground.

darryl901.bsky.social•75 days ago

What's the phrase, the smartest people are always a little depressed

musicdragon333.bsky.social•74 days ago

Great post. Thank you.

sunraa.bsky.social•75 days ago

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free"

truth won't make you happy

sforchetti.bsky.social•74 days ago

Oh, the irony - the ill-informed voted us into this hellscape, yet remain happy. Those who are politically literate continue to struggle with depression and insomnia, and a creeping sense of dread. This community site does help foster a belief in a shared mission; thank you for speaking out.

percy139.bsky.social•73 days ago

This too shall pass...no use in worrying. Trump and company now have a grand opportunity to screw up. They will big time because of who they are. By the end of this 4-year misadventure Trump will be the oldest president of the US ever, even more senile and stupid than he is now.

chippy18.bsky.social•74 days ago

I am noticing that I just can’t finish anything. I am so afraid of mental problems caused by 9 years of political anxiety

born2bblue.bsky.social•73 days ago

Yes same!!!

jilliq37.bsky.social•75 days ago

I have had to unplug from almost all social media & tv news.

born2bblue.bsky.social•73 days ago

Same here.

ifnotnowwhen.bsky.social•75 days ago

So true.

drpreacherlady.bsky.social•75 days ago

I have found that I am better off reading news info rather than listening or watching the news. I can check sources as I go and get much more nuanced info I can use. For some reason, I am better informed and less emotional as a result.

catsbetterthanmen.bsky.social•75 days ago

Don't worry. As fast as the billionaires are snapping up all the media (and censoring social media), none of us will be informed much longer.

raiastar.bsky.social•72 days ago

Thanks for this. I reposted.

yodelayheehooo.bsky.social•75 days ago

Ain’t that the truth!

hightest.bsky.social•75 days ago

Let me count the ways!
Truth!

mjmckenna50.bsky.social•75 days ago

Good stuff but I must stay informed!!!! I love making MAGA get that blank stare before they deflect.

contextplease.bsky.social•75 days ago

This is another reason I wanted harris to win. I felt I could stop worrying and paying attention so closely. I wanted a break from the chaos and worry that comes with trump

natesofamerica.bsky.social•75 days ago

This is what I meant by overconfidence in a ruling class of duplicitous, gaslighting narcissists. The Bell riots are 2 months overdue.

jmelfi.bsky.social•75 days ago

Agreed. If she would have won, I would have felt safe to not have to know, be prepared to act and could relax, just like when Biden won.

leevair.bsky.social•75 days ago

Can't we revel in our self-imposed ignorance for just a little bit? Come on! It's the holiday season.

jmc4now.bsky.social•75 days ago

Nov 6 deleted X
Haven’t watched news since Nov 5.
Much improvement in mental health.

jmelfi.bsky.social•75 days ago

Absolutely. I just began to recognize this in myself last week and I've taken some steps to reduce and manage my intake of "news" and social media.

firebelly2.bsky.social•75 days ago

This is exactly where I am at. It is painful, but I refuse to look away. I protect my mental health by stepping back to do what brings me peace. Then I’m right back at it, bearing witness to what ~32% of the eligible voting population has brought upon us, and acting to minimize the damage.

drpadilla.bsky.social•75 days ago

Why do you think Cypher wanted to be plugged back into the Matrix?

hopefulhorn.bsky.social•75 days ago

Like you, I choose to stay informed. As you note, balancing that with staying sane is a challenge. Some thoughts: 1) Avoid cable news 2) Read instead (Talking Points Memo, the Atlantic for me) 3) Balance with combo of work, play, quiet 4) Interact with like minds, hearts. Good luck!

kim2penn.bsky.social•75 days ago

I had the loveliest breakfast today in Skokie, IL. Holiday music was playing. The customers and the staff were upbeat, chill, and kind. I didn’t look at my phone.

I thought to myself, I need to get out more!🥰

kim2penn.bsky.social•75 days ago

The last month has been rough, and it’s not looking like the world is going to be anything but disturbing for at least another 4 years.

christygibson.bsky.social•75 days ago

Totally agree! In fact, I think fight-flight and freeze-dissociation are driving a lot of people’s decision-making. I gave a TEDx relating this to the climate emergency back in June.

judyd42.bsky.social•75 days ago

I’m finding some calm in watching Westerns and spy tales where the evil guys get their comeuppance.

jo-b68.bsky.social•75 days ago

I love Christmas. This year, with Harris not getting the recounts done to show she really won, it's like why do I want to celebrate anything. I barely got through thanksgiving. Last year I decorated areas. Trump is too stupid to know what his actions could do. Where's responsible actions by VP.

iflysolo2016.bsky.social•75 days ago

I get overwhelmed but seeing posts of nature, Corgis, kittens/cats, bunnies are like a dose of medicine to get me through the day.

realmommatalk.bsky.social•75 days ago

Thank you for putting words to how I've been feeling.

purplechef71.bsky.social•75 days ago

I definitely feel this.

sandrainpt.bsky.social•75 days ago

It’s taking a toll on both my physical and mental health..

dcnrd.bsky.social•72 days ago

Sorry, John. This is an unhelpful crock.

peaceplez.bsky.social•74 days ago

The cost of NOT knowing is killing our democracy

hypergraphic.bsky.social•74 days ago

Agree. My mental state of mind has been on high alert ever since Donald Trump came on the scene. My peaceful existence on this planet has been shattered by one man who threatens my freedom and enjoyment of life.

born2bblue.bsky.social•73 days ago

You are not alone with this! 💙

ispw8842.bsky.social•75 days ago

Don't you have to report this with the context of what it costs to NOT even try to stay informed. Given the state of our national politics, I would say that cost is very very high!

adkrob.bsky.social•74 days ago

I am totally this. My husband doesn't want to hear it. He knows it's bad but doesn't want to know. I can definitely see his side, he is happier day by day

emma5155.bsky.social•75 days ago

Half an hour tidying the garden works wonders sometimes

zacesse.bsky.social•75 days ago

Indeed. I still wander out to see how all my dead plants are doing now that the season's over.

emma5155.bsky.social•75 days ago

lol
I meant getting out of our minds and doing something nice and practical and grounded and creative
Yeah it’s nicer in spring and summer 🤣

zacesse.bsky.social•75 days ago

Hmm.. awkward. Lol. I really do still go out to the garden. Plucked out my dead Zinnias this past Sunday.

Mental wellbeing is my jam. My friends and I do a podcast about just that.

emma5155.bsky.social•75 days ago

That’s just it
Something people had more of a few decades ago

Good luck with podcast and the gardening 🌺👍

zacesse.bsky.social•75 days ago

Thank you so much!

jblakeslee.bsky.social•74 days ago

Save the Zinnia seeds.

zacesse.bsky.social•74 days ago

Too late... I already did! Haha. I'm trying my best to figure out collecting seed. Some are certainly easier than others.

wolf2point0.bsky.social•75 days ago

“Maybe I would dream if I could sleep.
Maybe I could see what this could be
instead of what it is.
And is there bliss in ignorance?
Is this our demise we can't prevent?
Should we fall asleep?
I've been awake too long”

suecalifornia.bsky.social•75 days ago

boulevaardvark.bsky.social•75 days ago

Can confirm.

sporkupine.bsky.social•75 days ago

great piece! I was blissfully off social media the last few years thinking the country was ‘back on track’ (whatever that means) and now I’m on bluesky regularly. I lost weight after the election as well because all the bad things were happening all at the same time (& still are).

sporkupine.bsky.social•75 days ago

For me, it’s to just stop consuming when other things need my attention. To keep pursuing my hobbies and interests regularly, but also stay abreast. And to choose what to pay attention to. Where there may be pressure points and to lean-in on them.

sporkupine.bsky.social•75 days ago

To communicate out and translate impacts for others who don’t yet realize what’s coming. Maybe they will wake up one day and say ‘Hey! That’s not right’ and I will be there not to say I was right but to say “Here’s what you can do!”

rusty94582.bsky.social•75 days ago

Yea, and in the meantime Trumpers blindly go their way until something kills them, and even then won’t acknowledge it.

Dangerous times brother.

hellcatfury123.bsky.social•74 days ago

Define mental health?

tammytalkingpoints.bsky.social•74 days ago

As a long time mental health professional I’ve thought a lot about this. It comes down to one thing for me. Balance. I understand the gravity of our circumstances. I will stay informed, not inundate myself 24/7 with news. To survive, I will participate in life with laughter and gratitude. It helps!

jblakeslee.bsky.social•74 days ago

John Pavlovitz, have I told you yet how thankful I am that you are on Bluesky?

fiction-machine.bsky.social•75 days ago

So ignorance really is bliss?

That's bleak.

mtkiff.bsky.social•75 days ago

definitely resonates. if i could just switch it off for a bit. listening to music is helping at least it drowns out the thinking part of my brain.

wildbilldonovan.bsky.social•74 days ago

This describes me.

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