Really struggle with reading news

[Green6]

I really struggle with reading news. I just read a story about a poor child abused. Don't go looking if you haven't already seen it - that's not the purpose of the post. I just really struggle to think of innocent people especially children suffering and I can't forget things for days after reading.

I don't know if this is normal

Perhaps you should stop then. It really is possible.

Some of us are too sensitive (it’s not a bad thing) but if I were you, I would avoid reading anything negative. So much news is biased and sensationalist - don’t do it to yourself.
my friend used to send me horrific reels of what is happening in Palestine and I said not to as my imagination is vivid enough. I know how they are suffering already and I don’t need to see it visually to believe it.

Op, I also found it hard. Step back from the news. It's OK.

I did stop for a long time but then can't stay on top of world events, which I feel you do need some basic grasp of.

So sorry OP. Some of the news is grim, and things are now reported that were subject to more limitations previously (you never saw dead bodies on the BBC news, for example).

I recommend the serious news sites like FT, Wall St Journal or the Economist. This way you learn about the world, politics and economics (and it’s not just U.K.-focused) without the grim stuff that you don’t actually need to know to be well informed. While there are paywalls, some articles are free of charge and you can see all the headlines. Also these sites are mercifully free of articles about Katie Price and other rather depressing individuals.

So don't read it. You know it will upset you or make you anxious, so don't read past the headline.

A grasp of world news is completely unnecessary. It’s something humans have managed without perfectly well for 1000s of years. Many still do - monks and nuns for example.