Understanding “Disaster Fatigue” and How To Fight It
I have lately found the news junkie in me becoming increasingly pessimistic.
Over the last few months, years really, the news has been interesting but increasingly morbid. Just recently, and still ongoing, the impact of the climate crisis has been demolishing coastal Australia in biblical proportions. Simultaneously, global superpowers have been inciting a third world war through political assassinations, missile attacks, and the illegitimate takedown of a Ukrainian civilian aircraft. Before all this, we were seeing the unprecedented destruction to the Amazon rainforest, a decade characterized by mass shootings, and an unapologetic president who escaped impeachment after countless xenophobic comments and actions. I have been an avid follower of global news for a long time, but even thinking about this last December is enough to upset me.
So, in dire need of positivity, I decided to review the decade’s top stories to remember the ‘good times.’ But instead of finding a steady stream of happiness, I was overwhelmed by the increasing number of stories describing a world full of uncertainties and hopelessness.
In a perfect world, any one of these stories would be enough to spark endless political demonstrations, philanthropic actions, and global discussion. Instead, I succumbed to a period of lethargy and melancholy, unable to give a second of attention to any story, as I continued to be buried underneath a barrage of bad news.
It may not have been evident at first, but with the addition of each new mass shooting, climate disaster, or presidential comment comes with it a spreading sense of fatigue alongside the inability to truly process all the actions surrounding the events. At a certain point, the news projected is so far beyond our scope of control that it leads to a feeling of creeping disregard following each new story.
Fearing that my increasing disregard of global tragedy was really a waning love of the news, I recently asked my friends and mentors how the relentlessness of disaster news made them feel. Although not an official survey, most agreed that it was easier to sympathize with a singularity rather than an array of tragedies. It was not until I spoke to Craig Johnson, a Professor of Political Science at the University of Guelph, that I learned these feelings describe a common cultural phenomenon called “disaster fatigue.”
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Put simply, “disaster fatigue” is the exhaustion and depression that is the result of an onslaught of bad news.
Put simply, disaster fatigue is the exhaustion and depression that is the result of an onslaught of bad news. Remedies can be simple, but are usually impractical. To reference Dr. Christina Mangurian in the New York Times, some of the best options for combating disaster fatigue include unplugging or remembering good news. Unfortunately, if you live in the 21st century, avoiding technology is unrealistic.
I would like to suggest an idea that has been helpful to me, despite its apparent contradictions to the above options. Much like those suffering from anxiety, I found the most helpful step is knowing that I am not alone in this battle, and neither are you. If the impending sense of dread steepens with each news flash, talk to your friends or family.
Next, instead of fearing bad news, I would encourage you to face it head on. Ignoring what is happening on a global level is not a practical coping mechanism. As unfortunate as it may seem, this is the new normal. The level of disaster news we are experiencing is unprecedented within our lifetime, and the frequency of occurrence is only increasing. We could get used to it, or we could do something about it.
Although some tragedies may garner more media attention than others, all deserve some public attention because an informed public is a powerful political force. Democratic political decisions are, in theory, driven by a public who elect representatives, so understanding and engagement with the news are important. As an example, look no further than the United States and the current discussion around gun control. The rate of mass gun violence in the United States is exponentially increasing, yet even as guns are still readily available in many states, progress has been made towards limiting or outlawing the availability of certain types of firearms because of public outcry and demonstration. Hopefully, the amount of noise made by American citizens will eventually be enough to stimulate stricter gun reform from the government. In the meantime, it’s because people stay educated and informed that any sort of discourse, let alone change, can occur.
Change is slow, even imperceptible at first, but just as there are people who work relentlessly to worsen the state of the world, we as the new generation must work harder to better it. This may not seem like much, but every discussion, post, comment, or share is a way of exercising your voice. So rather than succumbing to disaster fatigue, finding ways to channel that melancholy into activism is the most effective way to cope with it.
For those of you who aren’t ready to grab this bull by the horns, don’t worry, I understand. It takes courage and privilege to openly comment and reflect on global issues, and with such a large online community discouraging those who are outspoken, it’s okay to walk before running. My goal in these few paragraphs was to spread awareness to a feeling that many did not know was diagnosable. As the rate of disaster news skyrockets, we must adjust and continue to speak out about global injustices. To my fellow news junkies who’ve been feeling fatigued, I want you to know you’re not alone. This may be a dark moment in history, but embrace the hell and join me in being a part of the change.
A version of this article appeared in print in The Ontarion issue 188.2 on February 13, 2020.
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