What does too much bad news do to your mind? Understand with Dr. Kalil
The human brain has a threat detection system that was extremely important for the survival of humanity throughout its evolution. Constant and repeated exposure to negative news over the last few decades, however, has transformed this system into a significant risk factor for mental disorders.
This is what Camila Magalhães Silveira, psychiatrist at Hospital Sírio Libanês, and Guilherme Polanczyk, psychiatrist and professor at FMUSP, explained on the CNN Sinais Vitais program, presented by Dr. Roberto Kalil.
According to Polanczyk, "situations perceived as threats trigger a series of reactions in the human brain and body."
The perception of constant threat
The problem, according to the expert, lies in the continuous nature of bad news today. Events that are often unique and circumscribed are repeated incessantly, conveying the idea that the world is permanently dangerous and threatening. "Our brain does not distinguish between what is a real threat, present in the environment where we are, and what is an unreal threat", explained Polanczyk.
"This constant exposure to negative content therefore represents a relevant risk factor for mental disorders in general, with emphasis on anxiety", stated the psychiatrist.
The impact, however, varies depending on the individual characteristics of each person. "Adults with a positive view of life or with a greater ability to contextualize events tend to be less affected, as they are able to use reasoning to regulate their emotions", argued Polanczyk.
Children are the most vulnerable
Polanczyk also highlighted that children are especially susceptible to the effects of repeated bad news. "Unlike adults, they may not understand the real dimension of the events and, depending on their age, imagine that the situations portrayed are happening on their doorstep or that they could directly affect their family members," said the expert.
As an example, Polanczyk mentioned the pandemic period. Even with people isolated in their homes, anxiety rates increased considerably, and children followed daily the release of the number of deaths in the country.
"This is a reality that, without a doubt, directly affects the brain, especially those that are more sensitive", he concluded.
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Source: CNN