Disinformation, propaganda, and division could be the watchwords used to define the past decade of American politics and the 2024 election cycle in our history books. It was a bruising year, leaving many of us stressed, anxious, and wondering how to tell fact from fiction.

Our world right now feels chaotic, and that can take an enormous toll on our emotions and our mental health. Developing mental immunity and practicing self-regulation amidst chaos can help us reclaim our emotional sanity, no matter what the media headlines tell us.

“Lock up your libraries if you like; but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind” — Virginia Wolf

It may be almost a century old, but the psychological concept of mental immunity has never been more relevant than it is right now. In today’s era of misinformation, developing mental immunity can help keep our minds sharp and equip us to practice self-regulation when chaos threatens to claim our sanity.

Having strong mental immunity is a powerful asset when it comes to separating facts from disinformation. Here are some tips to help maintain emotional sanity when negative information swirls around us, threatening to plunge us into dysregulation and functional chaos:

DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS:

Critical thinking is one of those essential life skills that should be taught in school. It might sound incredibly academic and basic, but really, it’s just the ability to question commonly held assumptions, calmly evaluate the information presented, and consider the source’s reliability. Once able to do those three things, we can exercise reason, logic, and accountability to judge the validity and motivation of the presented information and make an informed judgment about its trustworthiness.

EMPLOY COMMON SENSE:

When faced with a constant barrage of information, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Tuning into common sense can help us to self-regulate our emotions and maintain our sanity in the face of chaos and confusion.

Give airtime to instincts. Instead of writing off that gut feeling, think about all the times we’ve been able to solve a problem by following our intuition. Give credit and credence to common sense. Maintain an open mind and confidence in problem-solving while recognizing that the simplest solution is usually the best.

BUILD MENTAL IMMUNITY:

Just as we might take supplements to bolster our body’s immune system, we also need to feed our brain’s immunity. By practicing self-regulation, we avoid being emotionally destabilized by external events such as news stories and social media posts. Recognize that not all mistakes and challenges need to have a negative outcome. They could be opportunities to challenge other perspectives or expand knowledge.

Sadly, misinformation, disinformation, and untruths are part of human nature.. Building mental immunity through self-regulation and emotional balance is the key to preserving freedom of thought and sanity amidst the chaos of modern life, regardless of external circumstances.

Like what you’re reading? Want more consciously prepared brain food?

Listen to this Harvesting Happiness episode: Freedom of Thought: Emotional Sanity Amidst Chaos with Andy Norman PhD or wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode is part of The Good Citizen’s Election Season Survival Guide to Restoring Common Sense and Sanity in a Crazy World — produced in collaboration with renowned, fair-minded subject matter experts who provide strategies that enhance critical thinking, increase civic engagement, and foster healthy pleasure to boost personal well-being and relationship satisfaction.

Take an even deeper dive with More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness on Substack and Medium.

GUEST BIO: Andy Norman, PhD, is the award-winning author of Mental Immunity: Infectious Ideas, Mind-Parasites, and the Search for a Better Way to Think. His research illuminates the evolutionary origins of human reasoning, the norms that make dialogue fruitful, and the workings of the mind’s immune system.

Andy champions the emerging science of mental immunity as the antidote to disinformation, propaganda, hate, and division. He founded the Cognitive Immunology Research Collaborative (CIRCE), a global think-tank leading the effort to inoculate humanity against cognitive contagions.

Disclaimer: This communication is for information only and does not constitute mental health treatment or indicate a therapeutic relationship. Individuals in need of treatment for mental health or psychological concerns should seek out services from appropriate mental healthcare professionals.