Your Nervous System Wasn't Designed for This Much News
There was a time when humans learned about danger in very immediate ways.
You may remember hearing about the fight or flight response when a bear is chasing you or the response you have after getting into a car crash.
Those examples are happening in our direct environment so our nervous systems have evolved to respond to these immediate signals.
But today, many of us wake up and are instantly exposed to the grief, uncertainty, and conflict of the entire world before we’ve even had our first sip of coffee (or tea for me!).
It can start with a notification, a quick headline, or a Tik Tok video.
And suddenly our bodies are taking in information about events happening in our immediate environment AND events happening thousands of kilometres away.
Not to say the events that are happening far away aren’t important. They are VERY important, but our nervous system experiences them as if they’re happening right here, right now.
It can be a lot for a system that is simply trying to answer one ongoing question: Am I safe enough in this moment?
When the World Feels Close
When we repeatedly take in information about events involving crisis, tragedy, or conflict, something subtle (or not so subtle) begins to happen in the body.
Our nervous system starts to stay a little more alert.
You might notice it as:
a tight chest while scrolling
difficulty concentrating afterward
feeling emotionally heavy
irritability that seems to come out of nowhere
exhaustion from trying to process it all
Your nervous system is doing what it is supposed to do - responding to perceived threat and trying to keep you prepared (hello, survival!)
The Part of Us That Wants to Stay Informed
For many people, there is also a strong pull to stay connected to the news. I am one of those people.
A part of us might believe that staying informed is responsible. Another part may worry that turning away means we are not caring enough.
These parts often come from a place of deep empathy and social awareness (which are good things).
Even though those parts are present, another part of us is asking for something different — a little more space, a little more quiet, and a little less input.
When we slow down enough to notice this internal tension, we can begin to respond with curiosity and compassion instead of judgment.
Boundaries Aren’t the Same as Avoidance
Taking care of your nervous system doesn’t mean shutting out the world. It simply means recognizing that constant exposure isn’t sustainable for most humans.
Just as our bodies need rest from physical activity, our nervous systems need pauses from emotional intensity.
For some people, this might look like:
choosing a specific time of day to check the news
limiting scrolling before bed
stepping outside after reading something heavy
noticing how the body feels and taking a few slow breaths
These small boundaries aren’t about disconnecting from the world.
They’re about making sure your nervous system has enough support to stay present in it.
Returning to the Body
One of the most helpful places to start is simply noticing what happens inside you when you take in difficult information.
You might ask yourself:
What do I notice in my body right now?
Is there tension somewhere?
Is there a part of me that needs a pause?
Sometimes the most regulating thing we can do is take a slower breath, rest a hand on our chest, or let your eyes settle on something else in the room.
These moments gently remind the nervous system that it is safe in the present moment.
Caring for Your System in a Loud World
We live in a time where information moves faster than our nervous systems were designed to process.
In my sessions and in my own personal life, many people (including myself) move through their days expecting themselves to absorb all of this information without it affecting them.
If you’ve noticed yourself feeling more tender, more reactive, or more overwhelmed lately, it may simply mean your system has been taking in a lot.
And sometimes the most supportive thing we can do is allow a little more space — not from caring about the world, but from caring about it all of it at once and constantly carrying the information.
I’m rooting for you,
Bailey Charrois, Registered Provisional Psychologist