Is the news making you physically ill?

**frugalbabe** · 10-09-2008, 08:30 PM

Ok this is going to seem like kind of a weird topic but is anyone experiencing any physical symptoms from the stress of all of the economic bad news? I am pretty young (36) but I have been having chest pains lately and bad headaches. Now I am pretty healthy and usually take things in stride but I think I am starting to notice a correlation with how I am feeling physically to when I have been listening to a lot of news. It's kind of like after 9/11 after a week or two of just being emerged in all of the horror I noticed that I had a lot of aches and pains. I think I need to make a conscious effort of really limiting my input of all of this mess, take more walks, listen to more music. Not go into denial I mean I know I still need to deal with things but I think I am in danger of going into overload. Does anyone else feel like this? I would be interested to hear other's experiences and feelings as well.

**Pemberleyan** · 10-10-2008, 08:40 AM

No. I'm sorry you're feeling that way.

For years I've been hearing in Christian circles that a very bad depression was coming, and just hoped somehow it wouldn't happen. I know it's difficult not to worry, but it usually doesn't accomplish anything. I just try to take one day at a time.

**RaineyDaye** · 10-10-2008, 08:51 AM

Yes, my anxiety is high, and it makes it hard to concentrate. I am trying to walk off my anxiety and telling myself to take it a day at a time.

**Monner 1** · 10-10-2008, 08:56 AM

Yes, between the economy and helping my husband recoup from hip resurfacing and taking care of an 11 inch incision I seem to have all the symptoms of stress. We are retired and it seems like October is ready to bowl me over with extra bills. Things have to get better because there can't be much lower to go than the world is now. Just keep thinking that this too shall pass.

Monner

**PrairieRose** · 10-10-2008, 08:57 AM

Only if I leave the news on for more than about 30 minutes a day. I can catch up in that amount of time, get plenty of depressing news to carry me through to the next stint in 24 hours. I figure it's up to me to 'filter' how much of it I get.

**jean08** · 10-10-2008, 08:58 AM

Yes, I feel very anxious which has led to some physical problems. However, it's more than the economy. It's an accumulation of my husband being ill this past summer, the economy, the election and other things. I find that when I turn off the tv for a bit and exercise (walk) every day, I feel much better.

**IntlMom** · 10-10-2008, 09:02 AM

I haven't. I am aware of what is happening in the news and economy....but I am not interested in watching it. I don't really think about it.
I am of the belief that "none of this is a suprise to God", so I try not to let things like this worry me or make me anxious.

**monkeywrangler71** · 10-10-2008, 09:17 AM

The financial news does not make me ill, I watch and read plenty of it (too much according to my husband, who accused me last night of turning into his father). Despite the fact that our life savings are rapidly disappearing, and the fact that my husband works in the industry which is currently imploding, I still find the economic news fascinating in a detached academic kind of way.

I can't watch regular news though and never have been able to. Sensationalized stories of murder, war, accidents and such leave me very distressed.

Odd that the news about stuff that actually affects my life has no emotional impact, and the news about things that have nothing to do with me can leave me virtually incapacitated for hours.

**cheles2kids** · 10-10-2008, 09:24 AM

I've been feeling a bit more "down" lately and I know that it's because I've been glued to CNN as much as possible.

So yesterday, I started limiting myself to only watching it for an hour, then I made a conscious effort to make sure it was either turned off or on a different channel the rest of my t.v. watching time.

I think it's easy to get drawn into the media drama, I mean, they're talking about it everywhere: presidential debates, t.v. shows, newspapers, magazines, radio, even when you log online you see the "doom & gloom" headlines staring at you in the face, geesh!
How can you not be hearing about it and thinking about it on a daily basis?

I say, just unplug for awhile every day, or if you can, for a couple days at a time and try to give yourself & your mind some time to destress and get away from it all.

**frugalbabe** · 10-10-2008, 09:46 AM

I agree I just need to turn it off after a while. I am a SAHM and I tend to turn on my favorite talk station and then it stays there all day. So maye a few days of nice calm music for me are in order! I think you take all of the news on top of the fact that I'm watching a friend go through a horrible personal tragedy and I'm starting to feel it physically.

**Buc-O-Mama** · 10-10-2008, 09:56 AM

The media is really playing this for all it's worth. News people love this drama, and are so pumped up because it gives them so much to talk about. Just like the tv weathermen down here that can barely hide their giddiness when a hurricane is coming near us. We all just need to disconnect from it as much as we can and see how it plays out. We can't change any bit of it, but we can change how much we let it dictate our level of anxiety for the day. It's hard to do that if we are dwelling on how bad it "could be". Be frugal, be careful, but don't forget to be happy.

**shoiji** · 10-10-2008, 12:09 PM

I am trying to keep up with the economy and election on the news. However I do limit how much I watch since I do get upset or overwhelmed with everything going on. I have also made it a point to watch something funny to help relax. I realize that there really isn't much I can do except wait it out about the economy, and cut down as much expenses as I can.

**cab54** · 10-10-2008, 12:25 PM

No TV up here at the cabin. But when we go home in 2 weeks, dh will have it blasting 24/7.

I have been looking occasionally online at news, so I'm aware.

But I tend to tune most of it out. I think the news people sensationalize everything soooo much, that they make everything nowadays sound like "ooooooh, BIG story, Breaking News!"

Not that it isn't real (the economy and stock market, etc) but I think they play on emotions a lot. If we take in what they have to say calmly, and make changes to be ready for anything, we will get though. That's what I believe anyway.....

**C@rol** · 10-10-2008, 12:29 PM

Sorry you're not feeling well. Try to relax and do what I do.

I am doing the same thing I did during the aftermath of 9/11. Turn the TV and radio off. I listen in the morning to get the main news I need and once in the evening. After that I just turn it all off and go on about my life.

Worrying, stressing and making myself sick is not going to change anything. Living below my means and being as frugal as I can will. Everything else that comes after that I'll deal with at that particular time.

**frugalfriend** · 10-10-2008, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by IntlMom

I am of the belief that "none of this is a suprise to God", so I try not to let things like this worry me or make me anxious.

I agree! I have had those butterfly feelings in my stomach off and on lately, like an anxious uncomfortable feeling. Then I remind myself that God is in control, and like IntlMom said, none of this is a surprise to him!