Balancing Burnout: Staying Informed Without Spiraling into the Void

by Antonia@Unremarkable Me- (certified in Google University, specialising in "what the hell is my body doing now?")

There was a time when the news ended with something heartwarming—a duck rescued from a drain, a pensioner finishing a marathon, or a man in Wales achieving an outrageously massive Scotch egg. Now? It’s like every headline is a countdown to the end of the world, and social media has become a screaming void of outrage, misinformation, and trauma—occasionally interrupted by a cat in a pirate costume.

Staying informed has never felt more necessary, but also more soul-crushing. And for those of us with chronic illnesses, who are already fighting an uphill battle with our own bodies? It can feel like trying to swim across an ocean with a backpack full of bricks—each news story, medical horror tale, or neglected patient adding another stone.

We want to advocate for ourselves. We need to. But the emotional cost of constantly absorbing the stories of others—people who’ve been dismissed, harmed, or abandoned by the very systems that should protect them—can become overwhelming. I’ve lived this. I still do. There are days when research is a lifeline, and others when it’s a slow, spiraling unravel. Learning the truth is necessary—but so is surviving it.

The Information Overload Problem

Thanks to clickbait, algorithm-driven doomscrolling, and the 24-hour news cycle, we’re bombarded with information the second we wake up. What used to be a simple morning routine has turned into an existential crisis before breakfast. You grab your phone, check your notifications, and boom—five different catastrophes have unfolded overnight. Social media platforms, once a way to connect with friends, now feel like an endless stream of bad news, performative outrage, and brands pretending to be our mates. (No, Tesco, I do not need your "cheeky little Valentine's Day meal deal.")

For people living with chronic illness, being informed often feels like a necessary act of survival. We research. We advocate. We dive into forums, stories, and clinical papers looking for answers our doctors may have overlooked—or dismissed entirely. That kind of knowledge can be empowering, but it can also become too much.

Because here’s the thing no one tells you: learning just how widespread medical neglect and diagnostic gaslighting really is? It’s devastating. You start by looking for validation, for stories that mirror your own. But suddenly you’re reading post after post of people just like you, abandoned by the systems meant to help them. And the weight of that collective pain? It’s suffocating.

I know when I’m slipping into that space. I can feel it. The research spiral, the doom-digging, the too-late-night Reddit scrolls. I know when I need to take a day or two to reset—not because I don’t care, but because I care so much it’s starting to unravel me. It’s one thing to realise your experience was unacceptable. It’s another thing entirely to see it echoed in thousands of other lives, to understand that your story is part of a horrifyingly common pattern.

And sometimes, it makes me want to scream, “Are you f*#@%! kidding me?” into the void.

Picking Your Platforms Wisely

Not all social media platforms are created equal. Some are pure chaos, while others offer a more balanced experience. My choices? Bluesky, Pinterest, and Instagram.

• Bluesky is still growing, and that means fewer trolls and less algorithm-driven rage bait. It’s a great place for thoughtful conversations without being buried in an avalanche of bots and brand warfare.

• Pinterest is an oasis of calm. It’s about inspiration, creativity, and getting lost in aesthetically pleasing nonsense rather than existential dread. (Want to learn how to make soup in a medieval cauldron? Pinterest has your back.)

• Instagram is manageable if you curate your feed. Stick to meaningful content, avoid doom-laden news accounts, and embrace the dog videos. Always embrace the dog videos.

  
  

Setting Boundaries for Your Sanity

It’s ridiculously easy to get sucked into a bottomless pit of content. But setting a few simple boundaries can make a world of difference.

• Time Limits are Your Friend – Give yourself scheduled times to check the news rather than reacting to every headline as it pops up. Maybe twice a day—once in the morning, once in the evening. The world won’t implode if you don’t check Twitter at lunchtime.

• Turn Off Notifications – Most breaking news isn’t that urgent. Unless it directly affects your safety, it can wait until you’re ready to engage with it.

• Beware of Clickbait and Sensationalism – If a headline makes you feel like the world is about to explode, pause. Look for a reliable source before believing the worst.

• Follow Uplifting and Meaningful Content – Balance your feed with accounts that make you feel good—whether that’s nature photography, activism with a focus on solutions, or just really great food blogs.

• Take a Detox When Needed – If you’re feeling overwhelmed, step away for a day or two. It’s not avoiding reality; it’s giving yourself space to function without constant anxiety. Rest is part of resistance.

  
  

The Myth of ‘Always Being Informed’

A key thing to remember: you don’t need to know everything at all times. We weren’t designed to absorb the entire planet’s problems simultaneously. In the past, people got their news from a morning paper and maybe a 6 PM broadcast. That was enough. Now, we have a firehose of information blasting us 24/7, and it’s exhausting.

Being informed is important—especially when you’re advocating for your health, your rights, your survival. But there’s a fine line between awareness and overwhelm. Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is close the tabs, turn off your phone, and go sit in the sun (or under a weighted blanket, whichever hits better that day).

It’s okay to say, “Not today, Satan" . Today, I choose peace.”

If You’re Overwhelmed, You’re Not Alone

Here are a few supportive resources and ideas if you’re feeling like it’s all a bit much:

• The Mighty – A supportive community for people with chronic illness and disability. Not perfect, but sometimes you need to read a story from someone who just gets it.

• Chronic Illness Peer Support Groups – Search Facebook, Reddit, or local forums for condition-specific groups. Many host virtual meet-ups or safe vent spaces.

• Crisis Text Line – If you’re in the UK, text SHOUT to 85258 for free, 24/7 mental health support. (In the US, text HELLO to 741741.)

• Take a Digital Sabbath – Try 24 hours off social media. Let someone know you're okay and take the break. Journal, nap, paint something terrible—it all counts.

• Create a “Safe Feed” – A private social media list with only calming or joyful accounts: nature, art, good news, or comforting videos.

  
  

Reclaiming the Narrative

With Unremarkable Me, I want to build a space that balances honesty with hope. Chronic illness, advocacy, and healthcare reform are serious topics—but they don’t have to consume every corner of our emotional lives. We are allowed joy. We are allowed humor. We are allowed to log off.

If the world’s going to keep spinning into absurdity, the least we can do is share stories that remind us why it’s worth spinning at all. Tell the truth, yes—but tell it with heart, with community, and with just enough defiance to say: you haven’t broken me yet.

So, if you need me, I’ll be on Pinterest looking up dog videos and pictures of cozy cottages. Because tonight, the world can wait. And I’ve got better things to scroll.