The psychological impact of a world in crisis | DW Documentary

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Natural disasters and wars, each seemingly more devastating than the last. Are we becoming desensitized to this constant stream of bad news? And could that actually be necessary to help us stay functional amid global conflict and the climate crisis?

Are we growing emotionally numb to relentless negative headlines? Or is this emotional distance essential to keeping our survival instincts intact?

The human organism is equipped to handle negative stimuli, explains neurophysiologist Ursula Koch. In Amsterdam, communication scientist Dominique Wirz studies how emotions are processed depending on the intensity and frequency of media consumption. Meanwhile, frontline workers at Doctors Without Borders often manage high-stress situations more effectively than passive "doomscrollers" overwhelmed by the news cycle.

How can we respond more constructively to distressing news? And why are members of the "Psychologists for Future” movement calling for strategies to help us cope with alarming climate reports?

In this documentary, filmmaker Sören Senn - a self-confessed bad news addict - investigates how his own media habits affect his mental state and explores how we might rethink the way we consume difficult news stories.

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