Have you found yourself worrying more than usual about politics and the state of the world lately?

Do you worry about the direction in which the world is heading from all these possibilities?

Will oil prices rise due to the political crisis between these two countries?

Or you may be wondering: Should I sell the gold that I save because its prices will drop due to the war that is expected to occur in the coming days?

Will there be a nuclear war?

Will there be a third world war?

Does your son ask you if a devastating war is possible?

Are you emotionally affected by all these questions, all these tensions and global news and feel that this negatively affects your emotional state and even your physical health?

If so, you are not alone.

In fact, even if you don't feel it directly, a mental health survey (1) has shown that more than 65% of people usually feel stressed and anxious about uncertainty due to news and political events.

And if you have any young children, sons or daughters, who go to school or mingle with their friends, they often, according to one study, and when political crises occur, children’s questions to their parents increase and their fears grow that a devastating war may occur, even if it is far away (2), they are ignorant of The factual data of things, and they may misjudge their effects.

From here, if you personally do not feel nervous, it is possible that one of the close people around you is feeling panic and fear at the possibility of what might happen.

This article - in particular - will help you on how to manage this anxiety, and how to deal with yourself or a relative in case he has this panic or fear caused by global political events.

What you should know

Political change can affect us humans in different ways. The big events that are taking place around us, even remote ones, we feel as if they are happening outside the doorsteps of our homes, so they seem to us to be closer than we imagine, thanks to social media platforms, and due to the ability of technology to transmit events Video and audio, in addition to the discussions and the enormous publications that are shared by friends and those around us on their accounts.

For many of us, the transition of political power and uncertainty can cause stress and anxiety about our country's future.

The main problem lies in the rapidity of transformations and the suddenness of crises in the contemporary world. According to the French philosopher “Therese Delbach” in her book “Savagery: The Return of Barbarism”, man today is a terrified and frightened being who easily falls into a panic attack due to the nature of the modern world based on the principle of the unexpected and the sudden changes that It led to the creation of a feeling in the collective unconscious of humanity that humanity is rushing towards a crazy epic, and we have firm convictions that anything can happen at any time, and above all we have been subjected to mental and moral confusion and our inability to understand what is going on around us because of the momentum of information and the severity of the sequence of events and their succession very quickly That is why she says in her book (3):

“Unexpected is no longer an alien concept today as it was only 100 years ago, but has become a part of our lives, and a hallmark of the strategic relationships of this time.”

Hence the importance of any person being psychologically prepared to face and face the challenges, risks and fluctuations that the future brings to people. It is true that we cannot avoid all the coming dangers, but we can at least immunize ourselves to be more internally stable, and to be armed with psychological tools that help us to think in a reasonable manner. Together in times of crises and disasters, and to inspire others to control their fears and panic and to stand by them and support them.

Why is it important to manage anxiety caused by political news?

It is said that Leon Trotsky (3) once said: He who longs for a quiet life has erred when he came into the world in the twentieth century.

If this is what Trotsky said about the twentieth century, then what can we say to those who live today in the twenty-first century with all these tumultuous events;

Epidemics, wars, and crazy events here and there that come from all sides and overtaken the calm and psychological stability that one of us is trying to establish for himself.

The importance of knowing the nature of the world today is that it is the only way to deal with it. A person cannot deal with what he does not understand. According to sociologists and politicians, these fluctuations, tensions, suddenness and uncertainty that hang over the world and the endless possibilities of what can happen tomorrow, all of this constitutes A special feature that distinguishes the era in which we live from the rest of the previous eras (4).

We cannot live a world without conflict, we cannot live a life without calamities and without problems, as long as there is more than one person on earth, there will always be a struggle over something, for economic, social and psychological reasons.

Conflict is one of the main causes of stress that we face in our lives, whether the conflict is from co-workers, from family, in the market, from our friends or even from people we meet on the street.

Almost any conflict causes losses to one or all of the parties.

The conflict is also related to deep psychological biases that lie within us as humans, so when a conflict occurs, this would raise within us the survival instinct that would stimulate deep needs that make us instinctively feel the need to belong, fanaticism, and bias to the group that represents us, and to be more Hostile and less fair with groups that oppose us, in our desire to perpetuate ourselves and survive and find settlements and solutions that achieve this goal, and when we are unable to reach a settlement or a solution to these fears and uncertainty of what could happen, this would drain us psychologically and reflect on Our mental and physical health is bad and harmful (5).

Political discussions on social media platforms also play an important role in fueling conflict and in igniting the psychological crisis that is engendering within us.

Political disputes are particularly stressful because political opinions can be very divided between members of the same family, i.e. political opinions can easily differ sharply among members of the same household, which can lead to quarrels and a sense of threat.

If this is taking place at the level of the same family, imagine the size of the differences and tensions that may occur at the level of friends, and then at the level of co-workers and at the level of the same country, which would cause psychological anxiety due to the disintegration of the natural and spontaneous sources and safety nets that social life gives us. .

Many people do not like to accept the idea of ​​"difference," but prefer to convince people with opposing opinions that their views are "incorrect";

This can be counterproductive, especially when discussing political views.

Social media and online discussions can contribute to the rudeness and polarization of some of these political discussions.

What should I do to get rid of anxiety and tension because of wars and political news?

  • First, stay informed, but set limits on your daily dose of news

Consider the amount of news you receive and the effect that information has on you.

If you are preoccupied with global or local events and are interfering with your daily life, this may be a signal that you need to reduce your input from news and social media discussions.

For example, some people may find it useful to set a short time in the morning and another in the evening to follow the news without checking every new update during the day.

During "digital breaks," make time to focus on something fun, such as a hobby, exercise, or spending time with family and friends.

  • Second: Look for commonalities with others

Every day we communicate with people whose beliefs differ from ours, and whose political views differ from ours.

You should appreciate according to your experience the people with whom you will want to discuss because you know that they are discussing in a rational and calm manner, and for those who consider any political discussion to be a personal disagreement, avoid heated discussions, and try to identify the commonalities in the different points of view.

Sometimes different views can come from a similar basic principle.

Be open to hearing the other person's story, and then check out their opinions and ideas later.

When we direct our thinking in this way, it may be easier to tolerate or understand people with different points of view, and perhaps even work together on a common goal.

If you find it difficult to discuss political issues in a calm and constructive manner, it may be best to withdraw from the conversation and not engage in it in the first place.

  • Third: Find useful ways to get involved in your community

Determining the issues that concern you, and determining your scope of influence may be the most important remedial step. Any panic or crisis arises from a person’s feeling of inability to bring about change, or to control what is happening, so the first thing you should think about is to identify the issues that are subject to your influence and you can Control it, so reduce the circles of influence and the scope of social work to serve the relatives, the people of the neighborhood and the people of your town.

Reach out to charities and discuss with them how you can join your efforts with theirs and what kind of intervention you can give them.

You could also consider getting involved in local politics, where the immediate impact of your efforts can be seen.

Attend a city council meeting to hear and share your thoughts with elected officials.

Taking active steps to address your concerns can reduce stress.

  • Fourth: Look for psychosocial support from close circles

Religious gatherings, going to the mosque, and communicating with those who share religious beliefs and practices with you can boost your sense of psychological safety.

In addition to community clubs that provide vital emotional and spiritual support during stressful times.

Engaging in calming activities, such as meditation or progressive relaxation, can help you connect with the present moment and find some calm.

  • Fifth: Take care of yourself

Because stress can have a physical and emotional impact on your overall health, find activities you enjoy to help you recharge and reduce stress, such as exercising, listening to your favorite music or spending time with family and close friends.

It's important to prioritize getting enough sleep and eating healthy foods, and avoiding ineffective coping mechanisms such as alcohol abuse, smoking or social withdrawal.

Tools that will help you

  • Reconstruction Table of Ideas

  • Meditation mobile apps

Tawazun app: The app provides short sessions in Arabic that you can listen to while you meditate.

  • Consult a doctor or psychiatrist, if this problem worsens

If stress begins to interfere with your daily routine for an extended period of time, or if you are unable to manage stress on your own, it may be time to see a psychologist or other licensed mental health professional.

Psychologists are trained to understand the relationship between the mind and body, and they can help you identify problem areas and develop a plan of action to change them.

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Sources and references:

  • STRESS IN AMERICA™ 2020 A National Mental Health Crisis - APA

  • 4 in 10 British parents indicate children are anxious about the threat of terrorism |

    Mental Health Foundation - 2019

  • Savage: The Return of Barbarism in the Twenty-first Century - Therese Delbach 2009

  • The Uncontrollability of the World - Hartmut Rosa (2020)

  • The Relationship Between Uncertainty and Affect.

    Anderson EC, Carleton RN, Diefenbach M, Han PKJ.

    (2019)

  • Is Political Activism on Social Media an Initiator of Psychological Stress?

    Hisam A, Safoor I, Khurshid N, Aslam A, Zaid F, Muzaffar A (2017)