Do you ever get the feeling that the world is coming to an end? That is how it may feel everyday when you turn on the news and witness a story about a tragic event whether it is a mass shooting, terrorist attack, war, crime, or the death of a major figure. Maybe the elections are stressing you out as you fear the politician you believe has malicious intent of our country is about take office. Maybe your political views have gotten in the way of your friendships or your relationships with your family.

The truth is, it is normal to feel that way when you watch the news. After all, it is rare that the news has anything positive to say, both objective and subjective, and it doesn't help that, with the advancement in technology, our access to the news has evolved from nearly corner from the television to our finger tips. This may lead to the question of whether watching the news is bad for your mental health. To be honest, it is important to be informed on of our happenings locally, nationally, and internationally, but don't let your news watching grow into an addiction.

In an era when politics continue to dominate the headlines through 24-hour news and social media, the news is nearly impossible to avoid. The increasing access to news programs has symbolized the importance of staying informed to current events that in some shape or form have effect on our daily lives. But there comes a point when keeping your eyes and ears glued on the news becomes an obsession, and such addiction to programs where almost every headline has something to do with a tragedy or threat to human life can be very unhealthy.

It's become to easy to be distracted by current events to the point you believe the world is reaching a chilling end of days. News has become so powerful to evoking fear of the world we live in we tend to forgot there is a lot of good in the world regardless of whether we hear about it or not. You may struggle sleeping at night or have a sudden change in attitude of everyday things you normally enjoy or tolerate. That is why is important to limit the amount of news we consume.

Studies have shown that constant consumption of news can have negative effects on not only mental health but sometimes even physical health. The goal of news programs is to grab your attention as much as possible. That is, of course, how these programs achieve ratings. That doesn't mean it is healthy. People say eliciting frightened emotions out of you is the purpose of the news media, and that is true. But you also have the choice of setting the times table on your news media consumption, and you can do it for the better.

If the news is causing you stress to the point you are struggling to sleep or perform daily activities, this is a good sign you need to step away and find something fight back at the stress. Find a show that makes you laugh. Entertainment was created for a reason. It has served a purpose of diverting us the grim reality of the world we live in, and being distracted from reality is not always a bad thing, especially for children.

Being interested in politics, I keep track of the news, but I only do so sparingly. When things get scary to the point where thinking about it all day puts me a taxing mood (such as the nuclear threats from North Korea), I always try my best to distract myself from all the unsettling vibes by watching something on Netflix or spending time with friends to lighten the mood, and this is the best solution to countering the stress from all the disastrous events pummeling the headlines. Maybe it should be yours too. Don't let the news ruin your day, make your news watching just a steady habit rather than a source of binge consumption.