Protecting Your Mental Well-Being in Uncertain Times 

Feb 2, 2026

Between social media, TV, radio, and pretty much anywhere we get our information, it can feel impossible to escape the scary and unsettling things happening in the world right now. At times it can make the world seem dark and overwhelming. There’s so much uncertainty, and everything can feel very unstable. Listening to the news can be unnerving, and with the rise of fake news and AI‑generated images and videos it makes it hard to know what to believe and what to disregard.  

On top of all of this, we still have the everyday stresses of our own lives, and it can be a lot to carry. It can lead to sleepless nights, stressful days, and increasing anxiety. In my own family, I have people who keep the news on 24/7, others who never miss the morning, dinner, and late‑night news, and others who don’t watch or listen to the news at all. While staying informed is important, it’s also true that too much news, and especially repeated coverage of distressing stories, can be harmful to our mental well-being. 

For me personally, if I scroll through social media late at night and then try to sleep, my mind immediately starts to wander. I already struggle to fall asleep most nights, and when I add worries about the state of the world, it becomes even harder. My thoughts spiral toward things I can’t control, and I have to remind myself that staying up worrying won’t change anything, but it will leave me exhausted and drained the next day. 

I end up asking myself this: Will staying up all night worrying about things I cannot control change what’s happening in the world? For me, the answer is always no. When I notice my thoughts drifting into worry, I try to gently steer my mind toward things that calm me, nights under the stars, days in the mountains and quiet moments that bring me peace. After a bit of grounding, I can finally drift off to sleep. 

Social media can easily pull us into a rabbit hole of information, personal stories, and emotional content. If turning on the TV, opening your phone, or listening to the radio leaves you feeling anxious, unsettled, or mentally overloaded, here are a few things that have helped me stay grounded: 

Limit your news exposure 

Try to be mindful of how much news you take in each day. If the news is constantly on, start reducing that time; even small changes help. This frees up your mind for other, more positive things. If you usually watch or listen to the news in the morning or evening, consider limiting it to just the top stories and then switching to something lighter. 

Curate your social media feed 

Scrolling isn’t always bad, it can help us connect with loved ones, take a break, or catch up with the world. But it can also expose us to upsetting content, misinformation, and AI‑generated images that amplify fear and uncertainty. 

I recently decided to take control of what I was seeing. I went through every account I was following and removed any accounts that made me feel anxious, sad, or overwhelmed. I was surprised by how many accounts I unfollowed, but I replaced them with pages or content that makes me smile, inspires me, or reminds me of the good in the world. 

Put down the phone, turn off the TV, and live in the present 

Create memories, do something you enjoy, find beauty in the little things, be the reason someone smiles today and focus on what brings you peace.  

During uncertain times, taking care of our mental well‑being is more important than ever. We need to look out for ourselves and each other and do what we can to make our days and the days of those around us a little bit brighter. 

Remember to be kind to yourself, practice self-care, and reach out for help if you need it. 

• Contact CMHA South Cariboo for mental health support at 250-395-4883. The office is open Monday to Friday from 9 am – 4 pm. 

• Call the Emergency Crisis Line 24 hours a day at 1-888-353-2273. 

• Call the Suicide Crisis Line at 9-8-8. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 

Written by: Kristin Buxton