If you are feeling overwhelmed by the news,
1) Learn how big a dose you can take without becoming emotionally charged.
2) Read beyond the headlines to get a fuller understanding.
3) Fact-check by comparing story lines.
4) Look at different news sources for different perspectives.
(Gold, S. S. How to be a better news consumer. Scientific American Mind, 2017, 28(3), p. 14) http://www.finebergpsychotherapy .com
Michel de Montaigne: The reverse of truth has a thousand shapes and a boundless field. http://www.finebergpsychotherapy.com
Researchers in the UK did a longitudinal study on 174 subjects measured first at age 14 and then at age 77. They were rated on six personality characteristics related to dependability. At age 14, they were rated by teachers; at age 77, they rated themselves and were rated by a close relative or friend. The ratings at 14 and 77 showed no relationship. The study had many flaws, like the different raters, but, nevertheless, called into question the stability of dependability over time. (Mayer, M. W. Once dependable, always dependable? Scientific American Mind, 2017, 28(3), p. 10) http://www.finebergpsychotherapy.com
William Shakespeare: Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt. http://www.finebergpsychotherapy.com
There is a fear of being laughed at. For those who have this phobia, all laughter is suspect. It is probably treatable, but “the bad news is it might be hard to convince someone who dreads laughter to visit a therapist who might smile at patients to put them at ease” (p.9)(Zaraska, M. No laughing matter. Scientific American Mind, 2017, 28(3), 9) http://www.finebergpsychotherapy.com
The brush stroke patterns of great artists who developed Parkinson’s disease (e. g.,Salvadore Dahli) or Altzheimers (e.g., DeKooning) changed as they aged. Those who did not develop any neurodegenerative disease (e.g., Picasso)kept the same patterns. (In brief. Monitor on Psychology, 2017, 48(4), p. 12) http://www.finebergpsychotherapy.com
A meta-analysis of 2075 studies with over 20,000 patients showed personality changes from psychotherapy and medications. After an average of 24 weeks of treatment, patients became significantly less neurotic and somewhat more extroverted than pre-treatment. (In brief. Monitor on Psychology, 2017, 48(4), p. 12) http://www.finebergpsychotherapy.com
