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Media, Misinformation, and Mental Health: Protecting Your Peace
Lora Newman • February 28, 2025
You are in charge of your mindset and wellbeing
As both a mental health professional and a trained coach, I have spent months helping people manage anxiety—anxiety largely fueled by the media. What started as a pattern in my clients soon became a personal journey into research, fact-checking, and a growing awareness of the role misinformation plays in our emotional well-being.
Here is an article from GALLUP
reflecting a decline in the trust of media. Gee, I wonder how that happened?!
At first, I didn’t believe that major news outlets would report outright falsehoods. But then it happened in front of me—multiple times. I would hear a report, whether from a client or a major media source, and something wouldn't sit right. So, I started looking things up. I would listen to full replays of hearings and speeches, and dig through primary sources. Over and over again, I found that what was reported as fact was either misleading, exaggerated, or outright false.
Worse still, I rarely saw corrections or retractions. The damage had already been done. People were left stressed, fearful, or angry—reactions that could have been avoided had they been given the truth from the start.
This is deeply irresponsible journalism, and it has real consequences for mental health. Fear and anger are powerful tools for manipulation, and the more emotionally charged we are, the easier we are to influence. It’s no wonder that so many people feel overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure of what to believe.
Protecting Your Mental Health in a Time of Misinformation
With so much happening in the world, it's more important than ever to take care of your mental health. Here are a few steps you can take to safeguard your peace of mind:
Unplug from the headlines.
Limit your exposure to sensational news. Constantly checking updates keeps your nervous system in a heightened state of stress.
Engage in relaxing activities.
Spend more time outdoors, with loved ones, or in hobbies that bring you joy. Your mental well-being is more important than staying on top of every breaking story.
Question extreme narratives.
If a report sounds shocking or emotionally charged, take a step back and look deeper. Who benefits from you feeling afraid or outraged?
Do your own research.
If something upsets you, take time to verify the facts. Go to primary sources, listen to full speeches, and seek out a variety of perspectives. You may find that your fears were unfounded—or that there’s more to the story than you were led to believe. You may feel you don't have the time to do this. It amazed me how much source information I can take in while getting ready in the mornings, driving to a meeting, etc...
Remember that you are in control.
The media thrives on attention. You don’t have to engage with every headline or let every news story dictate your mood. You have the power to choose where to place your focus.
In a world filled with noise and conflict, taking care of your mental health requires intentionality. When you become stressed, your thinking performance, decision making, and productivity drop dramatically. If you are leading teams, you need to be on your game instead of distracted by irresponsible reporting.
Stay informed, but don’t let misinformation steal your peace. Seek truth, but also seek balance. Your well-being is worth it.