It’s hard to imagine life without television.

From streaming online shows, binge-watching your favorite TV series to setting channels on cable and settling into some serious couch-potato time, TV has become an integral part of how we relax and escape from the pressures of daily life.

However, when it comes to high-stress times, such as during a global pandemic or a personal crisis, it may not always be the best idea to turn to TV for comfort.

Let’s explore the psychological and physical dangers of watching TV during stressful times in detail below.

The Psychological Dangers of TV During Stressful Times

While television may provide temporary relief during times of stress, it may also cause psychological damage in the long run. Here are some of the psychological dangers of watching TV during stressful times:.

1. Negativity Bias

Watching negative content on TV can negatively impact your mental health. News channels and social media trends often focus on negative news stories, what was once a few minutes of negative news has turned into hours of skewed negativity.

Constant exposure to such negative stories can trigger symptoms of depression, anxiety, and create a sense of hopelessness.

Hence, it is essential to be mindful of the content we consume on TV, especially during stressful times, choose positively focused shows or neutral ones that steer clear from negative content.

2. Escapism From Reality

While escapism is an effective coping mechanism, using TV as a tool to escape from reality can damage psychological health in the long run.

Escaping from reality might seem like a temporary solution, but it avoids dealing with problems, and it inevitably leads to lingering anxieties.

Escaping reality via TV can lead to emotional numbness and make it harder for people to deal with their struggles. This will ultimately harm mental health and makes it harder for individuals to overcome their challenges.

3. Addiction to TV Programming

Streaming platforms, DVRs, and easy access to TV programs allow individuals to indulge in TV programming endlessly. TV addiction becomes a problem when it eats into an individual’s daily routine, social interactions, and work productivity.

Incorporating some updated pastimes, such as reading books, learning new skills, or working out, instead of watching TV, could help break the cycle of addiction to TV programming.

The Physical Dangers of TV During Stressful Times

Physical health can be negatively affected by watching TV, especially during stressful times. The physical dangers of watching TV are:.

1. Poor Sleep Quality

Watching TV, especially right before sleep, can negatively impact sleep quality and quantity. The blue light emitted from TV screens has been shown to suppress the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep.

Poor sleep patterns can lead to fatigue, mood swings, and increased stress levels, which could be detrimental to mental and physical health. It is important to switch off the TV at least an hour before bed to ensure a sound sleep.

2. Sedentary Lifestyle

Watching TV is a sedentary activity, meaning it requires minimal activity and contributes to a sedentary lifestyle.

Sedentary lifestyles are known to cause various health issues, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and even premature death.

To counteract the sedentary effects of watching TV, it is essential to incorporate regular physical activities such as walking, cycling, jogging and yoga into your routine, amongst others.

3. Increased Screen Time

TV is not the only screen in our lives. We scroll our phones, work remotely on laptops, and go through our emails on tablets.

Watching TV excessively during stressful times can lead to increased screen time and promote various ill effects such as neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and bad posture. Not to mention the effect on eyesight and the constant fatigue and eye strain that accompanies constant screen usage.

Taking necessary breaks every hour, taking a walk, stretching, and limiting screen time can be useful methods to reduce the effect of excessive screen usage on physical health.

The Bottom Line

While watching TV is an excellent way to unwind, it is essential to be mindful of the content we consume and the amount of time we spend doing it.

During stressful times, individuals must find alternative ways of coping rather than turning exclusively to TV programming. Getting regular exercise, talking to someone, spending time outdoors, and engaging in creative pursuits such as painting or drawing can be helpful alternatives.

It is important to take care of both emotional and physical health during stressful times, and cutting down on TV consumption can be helpful for both.

By implementing necessary changes, individuals can enjoy TV as a form of relaxation and escapism, while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.