Psychologists Explain How To Manage Thoughts And Emotions When Filled With Negative Information

Illustration of men exposed to negative news (Photo: Freepik/mgrowth)

JAKARTA - The wave of public protests regarding the salaries and jumbo allowances of DPR members has recently heated up. The demonstration, which initially took place in front of the DPR/MPR building in Senayan, Jakarta, then spread to a number of other cities.

The situation escalated after an online motorcycle taxi driver, Affan Kurniawan, died as a result of being run over by a Brimob tactical vehicle. In Makassar, the number of fatalities due to the demonstration increased to four people.

Unfortunately, the public's conveyation of public aspirations ended in chaos, crippling public transportation, damaging public facilities, and causing casualties. In addition, a number of official houses were looted in the last week of August 2025.

The heavy news about this incident also raises new concerns, namely the impact on people's mental health.

Clinical psychologist from UGM, Pamela Andari Priyudha, M.Psi., emphasized that continuous exposure to bad news has the potential to trigger chronic psychological tensions.

When someone feels helpless, they can experience learned helplessness, namely conditions where they feel unable to change the situation even though there is actually an opportunity. This is very dangerous because it can lead to apathy, frustration, and collective depression," said Pamela, quoted from the official website of Gadjah Mada University.

Pamela reminded that the body that continues to be in a state of alertness due to negative news floods will increase anxiety. Although it is a natural alarm, if it continues on, it can become maladaptive and dangerous for mental health.

According to Pamela, one of the keys to making people more resilient in facing the swift flow of information is digital literacy.

According to him, many people are trapped in premature conclusions just by reading titles or comments without understanding the contents of the information as a whole. Social media also worsens the situation by spreading inaccurate information.

Pamela said there are groups of people who are more vulnerable, including parents and the elderly, teenagers who are active on social media, and individuals with low digital literacy. This is where the ability of emotional regulation is the key.

"I think it is important for individuals, educational institutions, and the social community to actively provide sustainable education about digital literacy and emotional management skills, in order to form a more resilient and psychologically prepared society in the face of information pressure in this fast-paced digital era," he said.

Pamela shared a number of practical strategies, including:

- Limiting the consumption of information that triggers anxiety.

- Relying on credible and diverse news sources.

- Avoid topic that triggers emotions too much.

- Increase the consumption of positive content.

"It is important to prioritize logic and be objective. Always find out from various sources, don't just rely on one point of view," he said.

Pamela also emphasized the importance of controlling oneself.

"We must be aware of the boundaries between things that we can control and that are beyond our control. Focusing on roles and responsibilities that can be carried out will help maintain enthusiasm and optimism," he said.

No less important, social support from those closest to you can help relieve anxiety.

"Sadari, maybe they need to be heard and understood without being given an assessment or non-judgmental on the unrest that arises due to the flood of negative news received," he said.

However, Pamela emphasized that everyone should also recognize their boundaries before helping others.

Before helping, we have to be aware of our mental condition first. If you don't think you're ready then connect with professionals such as psychologists, psychiatrists or counselors," he added.

Pamela assessed that higher education institutions play an important role in improving the digital literacy and mental health of the younger generation.

Schools and campuses should not only be an academic space, but also a forum for the formation of emotional and social characters.

In addition, the community can also be an important agent in creating a healthy information ecosystem.

Through collective work, communities can contribute to verifying the accuracy of information circulating, disseminating balanced content between positive and negative news, as well as fostering empathy and solidarity between community members. " he concluded