i was wondering if anyone gets anxious when watching the news on tv. i have been doing so good with my anxiety and then this week i was watching the news and a terrible story really set off my fears. i can't let go of it. i'm letting it scare me and i don't know why. any suggestions?

yup...i do...actually a lot of tv viewing gives me anxiety.....movies or anything. but especially news....my best suggestion for what its worth is dont watch it.....

I think the news now days gives everyone anxiety and for those of us already with anxiety it can be even worse. I skim the headlines now but don't listen to the stuff in depth. I'm much happier this way.

Yup, before taking Lexapro the news would set me off. I too would hear a story and then worry about it non stop. I dont watch much news now, but if I do I try not to watch the bad news stories. I also find that the Lex doesnt make me anxious anymore.

Absolutely! Something always felt "off" about the news to me - I could never understand what everyone saw in it, that that made it so appealing. Now, having been through the program, and having a much clearer view of what the world is all about, I realize now that much of tv, and especially the news, does nothing but perpetuate the seemingly endless stream of negativity in today's world. It just feeds the paranoia, makes us worry about the next impending doom, and makes us depressed by unveiling all the "evil" around us. Negativity and skepticism - that's all it is. I'd also advise NOT to watch it. There's way more to life than all of that crap. Don't help perpetuate the madness! ;-)

hi again, thank you for the advise. i have started to put on music channels on tv instead of watching the news. i decided also that i have a fear of fear. working on it. thank,lily

Suggestions your asking?

Don't watch it.....It;s 99% negativity and why torment yourself with it. If you need specific information about something you can look it up on the website like weather and traffic without the other drama.

Yup, same here. I dont watch the news anymore, actually no tv really that much. Like Jcraver1 said, the majority of tv is negativity, so watching it is of no use.

Side note, there is a small section on msnbc under the World News section called "Wonderful World", it only has happy stories. I look at it sometimes to make me feel better if some of the inevitable news stuff gets through to me somehow.

i can so relate to that. i am pregnant and have ocd, very anxiuos, so I was searching online information about ocd and found that this lady had ocd during pregnancy and ended up with post partum psychosis....oh boy, thats was it. I couldnt sleep, and I am nervous now fearing that could happen to me. I wont watch or search anything else. I think stories on tv and news just makes our anxiety worse...
You will be fine though!!! I pray for all of us!!!

My anxiety is horrible when I watch the news, I was an addict of the news for many, many years! No MORE! I don't watch it at all. Best to keep away from it.

Yeah TV News can make you anxiety because 90 percent of the time news are NEGATIVE! It can create or trigger your anxiety. I avoid watch news myself too. I do read some news but very limit now.. Before when I had a bad panic attack for few years I avoid newspaper, news etc.. Now I do check news (not TV) but limit.

It depends on the day for me. If I'm having a good, positive day, then watching the news doesn't affect me. If I am feeling very anxious, I skip the news because I know it could make me worse.

Once you understand what your triggers are, it certainly makes sense to avoid them until you are in a place where you can deal with them more effectively.

I am so sure tv news makes me anxious that I tell my family that I will find out the weather when I get outside! At this point I rather not chance a panic. I also agree that it mainlines fear into our homes.

LilyRose
I too have the same symtoms and fear. Sometimes, even reading my yahoo homepage will set me off. I know that it's hard to let go of the story you heard, but you have to. You have to let it go as best you can. Distract yourself with other things. I read someone else's advice to not watch it, which is true. You probably shouldn't watch it. I normally will watch the weather channel (on the 8's =)) to get my weather and avoid the news like the plague.

I have a really hard time watching any kind of medical show too like ER, House, Grey's Anatomy. They scare me silly!

Okay, I'll admit this on here. Since I stopped watching news, medical shows, Nancy Grace etc., I am a big fan of Rock of Love, deadliest catch and 30 minute meals and proud of it! (I think!).