How stress affects perception and emotion

I came across a very insightful neuroscience article that has insights for us. As HSP we likely respond even more strongly to stressful times in this way. I know I do as I just went through 6 years of ongoing multiple ongoing crisis and it really altered how I perceived things during them. I had to work on finding my more normal ways of perceiving, focusing and reacting during those years but found myself back in them once things eased up and I healed.

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/how-your-mind-gets-better-at-processing-bad-news

Good article.
Since seemingly a majority of people are frequently glued to their phones and social media these days they don't get much of a break from stress-inducing stimuli and from advertisements based on fear. Explains how conspiracy theories, misinformation, and panic can proliferate so easily.
Seeking a balanced media diet, and breaks, especially for HSPs, is therefore all the more important!

Grasshopper wrote:Good article.
Since seemingly a majority of people are frequently glued to their phones and social media these days they don't get much of a break from stress-inducing stimuli and from advertisements based on fear. Explains how conspiracy theories, misinformation, and panic can proliferate so easily.
Seeking a balanced media diet, and breaks, especially for HSPs, is therefore all the more important!

I fully agree. It's a fine line between keeping informed and hypervigilence during times of crisis and it's so easy to cross it.

It's much easier to avoid the temptation when times are more routine.

Nice article. Thanks for sharing. I like the closing to the article that mentions hope and positive emotions are contagious too. If anyone runs across any good articles on hope, please share. I could use some good news or some ideas how to bring more hope into one's life.

Personally, I tend to avoid watching the news or programs that might have more action in them when I'm stressed. When I'm on high alert, I tend to try to avoid more bad news.

Found the information about social media being stressful as interesting. I do sometimes get very upset from certain types of posts. However, it can be relaxing. As the article mentioned, if you observe positive feeds such as pink sunsets, it can have a positive effect. I have Mastodon (social media similar to Twitter) set to show me pictures of the sky and space and cute pictures of dogs, cats and rabbits. You can even get a self-care tip of the day on there.

This might be hopeful during stressful times:
https://self-compassion.org/category/exercises/

Watching clouds has always been relaxing and helping to tune out bad news and noise for me. Facebook has this interesting group:
The Cloud Appreciation Society
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1464145827194143

Mastodon sounds interesting. Will check it out. Thanks!

Grasshopper wrote:Good article.
Since seemingly a majority of people are frequently glued to their phones and social media these days they don't get much of a break from stress-inducing stimuli and from advertisements based on fear. Explains how conspiracy theories, misinformation, and panic can proliferate so easily.
Seeking a balanced media diet, and breaks, especially for HSPs, is therefore all the more important!

Would quitting social media make people more happy? It depends, as this author argues:

https://durmonski.com/life-advice/benefits-of-staying-off-social-media/

Grasshopper wrote:
Mastodon sounds interesting. Will check it out. Thanks!

Some info on Mastodon and links to the posts I mentioned on cats, dogs and bunnies:
https://lmemsm.dreamwidth.org/21120.html

Thanks for the links you shared.

lm8 wrote:Nice article.  Thanks for sharing.  I like the closing to the article that mentions hope and positive emotions are contagious too.  If anyone runs across any good articles on hope, please share.  I could use some good news or some ideas how to bring more hope into one's life.

Personally, I tend to avoid watching the news or programs that might have more action in them when I'm stressed.  When I'm on high alert, I tend to try to avoid more bad news.

Found the information about social media being stressful as interesting.  I do sometimes get very upset from certain types of posts.  However, it can be relaxing.  As the article mentioned, if you observe positive feeds such as pink sunsets, it can have a positive effect.  I have Mastodon (social media similar to Twitter) set to show me pictures of the sky and space and cute pictures of dogs, cats and rabbits.  You can even get a self-care tip of the day on there.

I posted a few weeks ago an article on controversies that is actually a really feel good article; it had me smiling for days and it's so full of hope as an actual piece of the solution to some dark trends it's well worth reading.

Most social media I ignore except to keep a loose eye on trends but lately when trends blew up, like the attack on the state capital in Jan, I found myself needing to understand more so for a bit I paid more attention. It is a fine line indeed between necessary vigilance and hypervigilance in stressful times.

melodiccolor wrote:

I posted a few weeks ago an article on controversies that is actually a really feel good article;  it had me smiling for days and it's so full of hope as an actual piece of the solution to some dark trends it's well worth reading.

Most social media I ignore except to keep a loose eye on trends but lately when trends blew up, like the attack on the state capital in Jan, I found myself needing to understand more so for a bit I paid more attention.  It is a fine line indeed between necessary vigilance and hypervigilance in stressful times.

Can you give the link to article you are referencing?

Since the pandemic many of us spend a lot more time online which I find stresses me out a lot more often. I need to take more breaks and limit exposure.

I look at Facebook timeline now only about once a week for 15 minutes since it can be a bottomless pit.

Email can also be a bottomless pit. I need to pare down the number of emails I get everyday. I have too many interests that leads to too many email lists I'm on, many of which I don't even get to, only to delete them later unread as old news.

I need a break every hour. This free program helps by reminding me to take breaks!

http://iamfutureproof.com/tools/awareness/
[this is a non-https site but it is safe!]

Grasshopper wrote:
I need a break every hour. This free program helps by reminding me to take breaks!

Since I'm very interested in Free and Open Source software, I can recommend several programs that remind you to take breaks. Some, like Workrave, even have short stretching exercises. Have a list of Free and Open Source ergonomic software here:
https://lmemsm.dreamwidth.org/13704.html

It also includes links to red shift software (to help avoid blue light toward evening) and a nutritional program.

Grasshopper wrote:

melodiccolor wrote:

I posted a few weeks ago an article on controversies that is actually a really feel good article;  it had me smiling for days and it's so full of hope as an actual piece of the solution to some dark trends it's well worth reading.

Most social media I ignore except to keep a loose eye on trends but lately when trends blew up, like the attack on the state capital in Jan, I found myself needing to understand more so for a bit I paid more attention.  It is a fine line indeed between necessary vigilance and hypervigilance in stressful times.

Can you give the link to article you are referencing?

Here you go: https://funhsps.forumotion.com/t4400-the-conspiracy-to-undermine-ongoing-conspiracies You've read it.

One way I avoid overexposing myself to media is disconnecting with all of it the last 2 hours before bed, reading a real book instead.

Yes, real books are also a good break for me from online for several hours.
I remember in college media classes back in mid 1970s that only 50% of people read books back then. I wonder what the percentage is now?
Newspapers and magazines are fast becoming extinct but I enjoy reading them when available.

Grasshopper wrote:Yes, real books are also a good break for me from online for several hours.
I remember in college media classes back in mid 1970s that only 50% of people read books back then. I wonder what the percentage is now?
Newspapers and magazines are fast becoming extinct but I enjoy reading them when available.

Only about 50% That low? Wow! That, if accurate goes a long ways to explaining myopia of view in so many people.

lm8 wrote:

Grasshopper wrote:
Mastodon sounds interesting. Will check it out. Thanks!

Some info on Mastodon and links to the posts I mentioned on cats, dogs and bunnies:
https://lmemsm.dreamwidth.org/21120.html

Thanks for the links you shared.

Thanks! I got set up on Mastodon. A lot more manageable than Twitter which is another bottomless pit.
#Caturday postings are fabulous!

Grasshopper wrote:
Thanks! I got set up on Mastodon. A lot more manageable than Twitter which is another bottomless pit.
#Caturday postings are fabulous!

Great. I'm always trying to find good Free and Open Source options to share with others.

If you want to connect on Mastodon, my info is at:
https://scholar.social/web/@lmemsm

The caturday posts and the animal pictures are really cute. Enjoy the pictures from NASA too. Another useful thing about Mastodon, if you don't like someone's posts, you can filter them out and set it so they can't see your posts either.

I've connected as @Grasshopper@sfba.social
Enjoying the peace of a clean slate to start building meaningful curated connections.
sfba.social does not have many members yet so will be interesting to see how it grows. I'll be trying to do some HSP awareness/promotion as I've done on Twitter for years.
Thanks again for this recommendation!

Grasshopper wrote:I've connected as @Grasshopper@sfba.social
I'll be trying to do some HSP awareness/promotion as I've done on Twitter for years.
Thanks again for this recommendation!

You're welcome
Really looking forward to reading what you post about HSP awareness. I think they could use more discussion of that topic on Mastodon.

lm8 wrote:

Grasshopper wrote:
Thanks! I got set up on Mastodon. A lot more manageable than Twitter which is another bottomless pit.
#Caturday postings are fabulous!

Great.  I'm always trying to find good Free and Open Source options to share with others.

If you want to connect on Mastodon, my info is at:
https://scholar.social/web/@lmemsm

The caturday posts and the animal pictures are really cute.  Enjoy the pictures from NASA too.  Another useful thing about Mastodon, if you don't like someone's posts, you can filter them out and set it so they can't see your posts either.

Your Mastodon page seems to have disappeared!?

Grasshopper wrote:
Your Mastodon page seems to have disappeared!?

Don't have a Mastodon account any more.  I post a lot of software recommendations.  The instance owner didn't like the group that developed some of the programs I recommended.  Commercial social media definitely has issues, but the Fediverse has some as well.  With a distributed network anyone can run their own server and say what they want on their own system.  However, I don't want to host my own Mastodon server just to have a Mastodon account.  Unfortunately, that means whoever runs the server can moderate or censor however he/she wants.  

Luckily, I still have my own web site and can post whatever I feel is appropriate there.

Sorry to hear that didn't work out for you. We appreciate your postings here and the plug you gave to HSP Dimension on your site. Keep in touch. Onward...

Grasshopper wrote:Sorry to hear that didn't work out for you. We appreciate your postings here and the plug you gave to HSP Dimension on your site. Keep in touch. Onward...

Thanks. I've been attending an HSP group online and they wanted to put together a list of resources for HSPs. They don't have a web site to share it, so probably going to try to put together a resource list for my site. Will definitely include this forum as a great resource. If anyone has other resources to recommend, please let me know. I think I'll go start another thread to discuss that.