Table of contents:
- Stress can change the way people handle bad news
- How does stress affect perceptions of receiving information?
- Tips for dealing with bad news when stressed
- 1. Accept the reality
- 2. Seek activities for a better world
- 3. Maintain physical health
Stress is one of the main problems that is often experienced by most people of all ages. From children to adults, they must have experienced prolonged stress. However, one study shows that stress can change the way people handle bad news. How could this be?
Stress can change the way people handle bad news
In the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak that is spreading around the world, it's no wonder the public is increasingly worried and alert when this pandemic will end. News in the media regarding the death rate and other bad news often makes you feel more anxious.
This world pandemic, which increases stress on some people, turns out to be able to change their perceptions when they understand and spread information, including bad news.
According to research published in Scientific Report shows a link between stress hormones and the way people receive risky information. In the study, the experts brought together psychologists from the DFG Cluster Excellency at the University of Konstanz, Germany.
Life during this stressful pandemic makes researchers want to see how the conscious mind understands the bad news. Therefore, a question arises, whether stress can change the way a person processes bad news.
The researchers also tried to find out the answer by asking participants to read articles about the dangers of certain chemicals. Then, they will report their opinion about the substance before and after reading the article and how to convey it to others.
Before starting, half of the group experienced acute stress. This acute stress includes difficulty speaking in public and the effects of mental health in public.
The results showed that processing and dealing with bad news in the midst of stress changed the way they shared that information. Participants who felt pressured were less affected by the articles and were quite selective when sharing information.
Meanwhile, participants who reported moderate stress levels showed higher anxiety and more worrying ways of sharing information. Therefore, the researchers later concluded that handling bad news under pressure and stress made people more conscientious, especially when sharing it.
How does stress affect perceptions of receiving information?
In fact, the reason stress can have a bearing on how bad news is handled is endocrine hormones. Generally, the endorkin stress hormone reaction can make a person underestimate the risk of a piece of information.
Meanwhile, not the least bit stress contributes to seeing things as high risk. Both of them certainly have dangerous effects.
Those who underestimate risky information can certainly make the person indifferent. Meanwhile, exaggerating information can cause prolonged anxiety and lead to dangerous behavior.
This study aims to see the comparative effect of pressure when someone reads negative news, especially around COVID-19. Not only applies to one person, but also how it affects others.
However, this study requires the involvement of more and more diverse participants in order to see if the effect is the same as for ordinary people.
Tips for dealing with bad news when stressed
Like it or not, bad news will always spread and you can hear it anywhere, be it social media or word of mouth. The need for news to get the latest information makes you want to or not want to read it.
So, what can be done to deal with bad news when under stress?
1. Accept the reality
One way to deal with bad news when under stress is to accept the facts. That is, there is a lot of news that is read that is completely out of your control.
Most people feel depressed because they feel they cannot control what they are dealing with. This feeling of being out of control can be vented in many positive ways. For example, developing problem-solving strategies and talking to friends can at least help you get back into reality.
2. Seek activities for a better world
After successfully accepting the reality, dealing with bad news when under stress can be done by looking for positive activities. It is not only a hobby that you enjoy, but also volunteering or giving full attention to family and friends in need.
It aims to help keep an eye on sad news and how you can contribute to helping them. That way, you can do meaningful things and make yourself more reliable.
3. Maintain physical health
During times of stress and stress, especially when dealing with bad news, it's important to stay physically healthy. Eating regularly, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep are part of the ways so that you don't get stressed easily.
If you are not well, it will be difficult to help and make sure other people are okay. In essence, you need to take care of yourself so that stress doesn't have too much impact on your physical and mental health.
While stress can make someone more conscientious about bad news, it doesn't mean you should always be stressed. Managing stress is also necessary so that the quality of life is better and is able to handle problems healthier.
