Headline stress disorder, also known as “media stress” or “news anxiety,” might not sound bothersome to the layperson. You see a headline, it might make you feel a little uneasy, perhaps even slightly fearful, but you move on.
Yet some people can’t move on. For them, the headline doesn’t just invoke a little stress; it brings about feelings of overwhelming anxiety that are difficult to move past. Scrolling past or turning the page on the stress-inducing headline isn’t an option. Instead, they get sucked into related news stories again and again that will probably be equally as devastating.
Stress from news can cause intense distress, persistent fear, and even exhaustion. But there are steps you can take to get it under control.
Here, we will describe headline stress disorder – from its humble beginnings to the monster it’s becoming – and how it affects mental and physical health. Then, we’ll explore some strategies to help cope with the issue.
Headline Stress Disorder: How Has This Happened?
To fully understand headline stress disorder (or news anxiety, or media anxiety), we first need to delve into how people receive information about world events. In the following sections, we explore the different factors that influence why more people than ever are experiencing news-induced stress.
Increased Exposure
Decades ago, if we wanted to know what was happening in the world, we would switch on the TV at 6 pm and watch the news. Often, it would be filled with horrible things that made us glad it was only 30 minutes long. Or perhaps we would read a newspaper, full of carefully curated atrocities that we could peruse at our leisure throughout the day.
But in the early 1990s, news started to be televised around the clock.1 This is when psychologists first started to talk about media stress and news overwhelm.[1]
The term “headline stress disorder” was first coined in 2016 by Dr. Steven Stosny. This was because, at the time, increasing numbers of people were reporting anxiety because of the intense media coverage of the presidential election.[2] However, it’s not (yet) a medically recognized condition.
The major change that happened between the 1990s and the 2010s was the widespread use of cell phones. Fast forward to 2025, and we now have news at our fingertips 24/7. We don’t have to buy a newspaper. We don’t even have to turn on the TV. Often, news stories pop up on websites or social media, even when we’re not searching for them.
Plus, the majority of us have our phones with us most of the time. And we check them a lot – recent estimates suggest around 200 times a day, in fact.[3] This means we’re exposed to constant information for most of the day.
Social Media
For many people, social media is the go-to when they turn on their phones. In fact, more than half of all people over 16 years old use social media for news.[1] But social media often shows more negative news stories and ones that evoke strong emotions, since they tend to get the best engagement metrics (things like shares and likes).[1][2]
Further, due to algorithms, once we engage with one form of negative news, similar stories tend to flood our feeds. And, unfortunately, this kind of overexposure to negative news stories can harm our mental health.
Global Events
We’ve been through a lot in the last five years, thanks largely to the pandemic. For some people, seeing a news headline that even hints at another imminent outbreak can lead to huge amounts of worry. Further, global conflicts and political unrest tend to dominate headlines, making them difficult to ignore.
Personal Vulnerabilities
People might be more likely to develop headline stress disorder if they already have a mental health condition. And these disorders, including depression, anxiety, and stress, are becoming increasingly common in teens and adults (aged 16 to 39 years). This was the case even before the pandemic hit.[4]
Reading negative news can worsen anxious or depressed feelings.[5] One survey of more than 2000 adults in spring 2020 showed that people who most frequently looked for information about COVID-19 were more likely to be emotionally distressed.[6]
Media Sensationalism
Dramatic, attention-grabbing headlines evoke certain emotions and encourage you to read on. They incite your curiosity. But they also manipulate your emotions; they can distort reality, making it seem more dangerous than it really is. This plays on personal vulnerabilities, can elicit stress, and lead to information overload.[7]
How Does News Anxiety Affect Mental Health?
Mental health and news consumption are intrinsically linked. Headline stress disorder can cause intense anxiety, impact relationships, and make you feel angry, sad, or despairing.[8] In this way, it can affect both mental and physical health.
Below, we take a look at the various ways media anxiety can affect our health.
Mental Health Impact
Unsurprisingly, headline stress disorder can affect your mental health. It can cause:[2][8]
- Anxiety and stress, which can become chronic if not addressed.
- Feelings of being overwhelmed.
- Doomscrolling (usually at night or during stress) and a feeling of wanting to continually monitor the news.
- Trouble concentrating and difficulty making decisions.
- Mood problems and feelings of irritability.
- Decreased well-being and reduced life satisfaction.
Physical Health Impact
Mental health has a clear effect on physical health, especially when stress is involved. It can lead to:[2][8]
- Sleep problems and tiredness.
- Aches and pains linked with stress.
- Gastrointestinal discomfort.
Further, if the link between anxiety and current events (and the resulting stress) is left unaddressed for a long time, it can lead to elevated blood pressure and cardiovascular issues.
Mission Connection is here to help you or your loved one take the next steps towards an improved mental well-being.
How to Manage News Anxiety
If you find yourself getting anxious while reading negative news, remember that feeling stressed and anxious is normal.[9] But when you start to notice how news affects mood and the ways it impacts your mental and physical state, it might be time to reflect and perhaps seek help.
Information overload and anxiety is not something you have to put up with long-term – there are steps you can take to manage it. Below are some techniques that might help you cope.
Set Boundaries – You’re in Control
Use the following tips to set boundaries:[1][2]
- Only check the news on your phone at certain times of day.
- Set a time limit on checking the news.
- Avoid the news before bed.
- Turn off notifications on news and social media.
Be Selective – Remember Your Time Is Precious
Choose how you spend your time by keeping the below in mind:[1][2]
- Aim to focus only on positive news stories (you can actually mute ones that cause you distress).
- Read factual news and avoid opinion pieces.
- Develop skills that enable you to critically evaluate sources of news and identify sensationalism.
Choose Your Response – It’s Up to You
These tips can help you remember that your response is within your control:[1]
- Focus on what you can control. For instance, choose a positive action or help a good cause. This could be donating to charity, volunteering your time to help, or writing to a member of Congress about a problem you’ve heard about.
- Take a break from the news for as long as you need – it won’t make things worse.
- Reflect on why you might be feeling the way you do. It could be indicative of a deeper issue that you need to resolve. Talking with friends and family about it could help.
Look After Yourself – Burning Out Won’t Change the Headlines
Try to remind yourself to make time for yourself in the following ways:[2][10][11]
- Prioritize self-care and well-being.
- Practice good sleep hygiene – go to bed and get up at the same time every day and minimize screen time (especially social media) before sleep.
- Make sure you eat healthily, hydrate, and exercise.
- Practice mindfulness and relaxation; this helps your body recognize that right now, you’re safe.
While each of these approaches can help protect your mental health, if news anxiety is starting to affect your daily life, they might not be enough by themselves.
In this case, professional support might be the best bet. For example, certain strategies, such as dialectical behavior therapy, teach you how to calm your body’s stress response.
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Find Support for News Anxiety
In this digital age, with information at our fingertips, it can feel like there is no “off switch”. If you’re finding it hard to switch off from the news and are overwhelmed by global events, you might need to seek professional assistance to take back control.
Mission Connection is here to help if you’re facing challenges with your mental health. We offer a variety of specialized evidence-based mental health therapies that can support the mind and body, helping you to feel calmer and reduce your stress levels.
If you’re unsure whether you’re dealing with a mental health condition, or just want to gain some insight, we offer a free mental health assessment. Once you receive the results, you can connect with a certified professional to discuss your results care options.
Our outpatient mental health programs are offered in person at our treatment center locations, virtually, or in a hybrid format. Our expert clinicians believe in providing you with outstanding care tailored to your needs.
Mission Connection accepts insurance and is in-network with most major providers. We provide support with benefit verification to make care as accessible as possible.
Reach out to our team today if you’re ready to start supporting your mental health. Relief often starts with a simple phone call. Call 866-833-1822 for a free, no obligation conversation about your treatment options.
