Veterans, as you come home from the military or retire from a civilian employment you are more subject to depression. Once you allow yourself to fall into a negative state of life it can get harder to recover.
Sometimes, here in the world of lightning-fast news cycles, it’s hard to fight the fear-mongers. After all, we face an avalanche of negativity from a widening array of media sources that have discovered bad news sells better than good. So, anxiety-producing headlines shout about shocking stories while good news often goes unreported. For example, Climate Change and deadly storms, Crimes repeated with no charges by the DA’s, illegal immigrants are forcing veterans out of hotels so they can move in, and the costs of living.
In today’s hypercompetitive and incessant news delivery ecosystems, about half of the U.S. adults report that they get some of their news through social media. Unfortunately social media postings tend to highlight the more negative or dramatic news. This leads to suffering from “media saturation overload,” causing stress. Television and social media exposure seem to make people more vulnerable.
Reports indicate that 83% of Americans reported stress over the nation’s future, as they attempted to process dispiriting and converging news events, including economic turmoil, racial injustice, and the pandemic. It was also reported that 73% of Americans reported being overwhelmed by the number of crises facing the world, and were sapping their ability to make basic decisions including what to eat or wear.
The media is working around the clock to grab your attention in an attempt to rearrange your priorities. Yet the all-important things in life have little to do with the alarming images that are so common in today’s media-driven world. The most important things in your life have to do with your faith, your family, and your future. Period. So here’s a question for you. Will you focus on the media messages, or the things that are most important to you?
To avoid these problems and others, the first thing is to limit the news programs and use the standard programs. Even more important is that you become active and not a couch sitter. Find a local volunteer organization that you can join and work with them to clean or help the local neighborhood grow and move ahead. Especially as a veteran that type of activity can be a great help not only to the community, but more important to you.
Help is available to you by calling the local VA hospital in Northport, (631) 261-4400 or Veterans Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255, press 1 to talk to a veteran or have a confidential chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net or text to 838255.If you have any question relating to veteran problems please do not hesitate to contact us and we will do our best to answer it. Contact us at: Drfred72@Gmail.com.
Rev. Frederick Miller, Ph.D.