Do You Need to Take a "News Fast?"

I feel that I can honestly say that true animal lovers, by their very nature, are caring and empathetic people. After all, loving animals means taking care of those who cannot speak for themselves. Watching the news at the beginning of the Katrina disaster was a means of staying informed and learning what was going on. As the stories unfolded however, the news began to take a toll on me. I began to feel sad and overwhelmed by the enormity of it all. I don't think that I am alone in this.

First, it was the emotional human stories of struggle and loss followed (nearly one week later!) by the tragic stories of pets left behind. Some were left behind by choice and some where not, as countless owners were forced to abandon their beloved pets when they evacuated.

To optimally care for others and for animals, reduction of personal stress and good mental, emotional, and physical health are necessary. This week, the About.com for Thyroid Disease, Mary Shoman, writes about taking a "news fast", a break from the ongoing emotional news. This doesn't mean that you don't care, but a mental health break may indeed help you to better care for yourself, others, and animals in need.