Feeling overwhelmed by the emotional landscape of world politics? A recent study reveals how political issues evoke distinct bodily sensations compared to everyday emotional experiences. Understanding these differences can help you maintain composure while staying engaged in current events.

“Feeling more is probably beneficial for democracy,” states Manos Tsalis from Royal Holloway, University of London. “To manage your feelings effectively, it’s crucial first to recognize what you’re experiencing. Then, the aim is to respond thoughtfully instead of reacting impulsively.”

In the study, Tsalis and his team surveyed around 1,000 participants, asking them to complete body contour maps to identify locations and intensities of emotions like anger, disgust, and hope. They subsequently analyzed how these sensations manifested when participants confronted emotionally charged political terms like “terrorism” and “crime.”

The results formed a digital heat map illustrating how each emotion correlated with physical sensations, intensity levels, and connections prompting either action or feelings of detachment.

Previous studies have shown that emotions are universally experienced in similar ways across different cultures. For instance, depression typically denotes widespread physical deactivation, while anger is associated with heightened energy levels, particularly in the chest, head, and arms.

This new research largely aligns with earlier findings, though it emphasizes emotions linked to political experiences. “During episodes of political-related depression, individuals report heightened sensations throughout their torso and extremities,” notes Tsalis.

Interestingly, political disgust is perceived as a more energetic sensation throughout the upper body, contrasting with non-political disgust that predominantly resonates in the gut. “Political disgust bears similarities to anger,” adds Tsalis.

While the reasons behind these phenomena remain unclear, Tsalis hypothesizes that people may feel overwhelmed by significant political challenges, compelling them to seek collective efforts for change. “Our perception of agency in politics is uniquely different,” he explains. “Individual action often feels insufficient; effective change necessitates a collaborative approach.”

By gaining a deeper understanding of your emotions, you can potentially escape the cycle of destructive doom scrolling. According to Lisa Quad at Brighton and Sussex Medical School in the UK, “We tend to view ourselves as rational beings, but this overlooks the profound impact of our body’s sensations on our decisions and actions.”

Quad and her colleagues have demonstrated that training individuals to better recognize their heartbeats and related physical sensations can significantly alleviate emotional overwhelm, particularly in autistic individuals with anxiety. Being more attuned to your feelings, she suggests, allows you to navigate negative emotions effectively and encourages proactive rather than avoidant behaviors.