Coping With Anxiety Around The News

Reward System

Understanding the brain's reward system can significantly aid in changing behavior, particularly in response to stress and anxiety. Judson Brewer explains that by recognizing how unrewarding certain behaviors are, such as excessive news consumption, individuals can update the reward value of these actions. This process involves feeling into the behavior and acknowledging its impact, which can lead to a decreased desire to engage in it over time 1.

It's the feeling body that drives future behavior. It's not the thinking brain.

--- Judson Brewer

Marielle Segarra adds that this approach can be applied to news consumption by assessing how it makes one feel and deciding whether to continue or limit exposure 1.

   

Behavioral Change

Replacing anxiety-inducing behaviors with healthier habits is crucial for managing stress. Judson Brewer outlines a strategy involving three steps: identifying the trigger, understanding the behavior's reward, and finding a "bigger, better offer" (BBO) to replace it 2. This BBO could be as simple as reducing news consumption or fostering connectedness over divisiveness.

What's it feel like when I'm connected, when we're all here together with a common cause, which is, you know, health and happiness?

--- Judson Brewer

Marielle Segarra emphasizes the importance of mindfulness techniques, like five-finger breathing, to support these behavioral changes 2.