The government’s ‘Be Ready’ campaign asks households to prepare for three days of disruption. Sensible advice, but for some people a vague ‘what if’ can switch a background worry up to something very loud. A counsellor’s look at emergency preparedness anxiety: why unspecific warnings feel bigger, how to tell preparing from living on edge, what research says about feeling capable, and who finds this hardest.

In a year where the news feels relentless, many of us are carrying more emotional weight than we realise. Constant updates, global crises and personal pressures can leave our minds overstimulated and overwhelmed. This article explores how negativity affects our wellbeing — and offers gentle, practical ways to protect your mental health from negativity without disconnecting from the world.