How Learning To Identify Factual Evidence v. Fear-mongering Can Reduce Anxiety
In this day and age, there is so much going on in the world with constant media coverage of everything. Whether it’s novices using their phones to capture shocking events, live media footage of world issues, or streams of political discussions, we are ever more connected to what is happening around us.
With so much social media consumption as part of our daily normal life, it can be hard to find the line between what is true, what is real, and what is simply fear-mongering or false information online. False information and fear-mongering can also heighten feelings of worry, fear, and anxiety.
So, let’s take a look at fear-mongering, what it is and how you can identify the difference between real factual evidence and fear-mongering reporting.
What Is Fear-Mongering?
Fear-mongering can be described as the action of deliberately arousing fear within the public, or stimulating alarm about a particular issue. It is also referred to as scaremongering as the purpose is to simply scare others into believing or thinking something.
Fear mongering is therefore a form of manipulation, as it is intended to cause fear by exaggeration, falsehoods, and rumors of impending danger or doom. It is the notion of intentionally trying to make people afraid of something that may not necessarily be a reasonable or a real threat.
The purpose of fear mongering is to use psychological warfare to influence a target population. It could be used to defame another person, enemy or company, via smear campaigns, lies, or exaggeration.
What Impact Can Fear-Mongering Have?
As fear-mongering can make others perceive the world as more dangerous and scary than it is, you may start developing irrational fears and worries when you don’t need to.
When you feel in a state of fear, you may become nervous about doing things, or fearful about going out into the world because of a sense of impending doom and danger, when this isn’t necessarily the case. This can exaggerate feelings of anxiety, stress, restlessness, tension, and you may experience more symptoms of anxiety like headaches, inability to focus, and difficulty sleeping.
Persistent feelings of fear can also affect our physical health. Fear can weaken the immune system, cause stomach issues, heart problems, and decreased fertility. Therefore, it is not just mental health being impacted.
How To Identify Factual Evidence v. Fear-mongering
Within our modern day society, there is a lot going on in the news. Whether it’s about global outbreaks of diseases, economic crashes, potential war risks, or mass panic, there is always something to see on the news that could cause mass panic and anxiety.
This is why it is vital that you are able to identify factual information from fear-mongering information. The best way to do this is to consider your sources. There’s a mass of information on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
The thing with social media is that anyone can go on there and say what they like through their own perspective. Videos can be cut and edited to show only what they want you to see, and posts can be wholly made up or twisted to suit some type of narrative.
If you see something, check if it is from a reliable source such as a professional, doctor, politician or reputable news outlet. Then, fact check it by researching other sources to see if the stories line up. This can help you see if there are recurring themes and any truth in the matter. You have to also research both sides of the story, and you can then make your own mind up.
Finally, if you are overwhelmed with fear and anxiety, reach out to us for advice and guidance, who can help you overcome your fears and identify truth from fear-mongering in anxiety treatment.