CNN’s Alex Marquardt on His Mental Health After Jan. 6 at the Capitol

Consuming the news, both good and bad, can have an impact on your mental health. And when you’re personally witnessing the news as it happens, it can easily be overwhelming. For Alexander Marquardt, CNN’s Senior National Security Correspondent, balancing the stress of the news cycle is a constant task. During the latest Friday Sessions on Instagram, Men’s Health Advisory Board member Gregory Scott Brown, MD spoke with Marquardt to discuss his experience covering the insurrection at the Capitol.

When thousands of people stormed the Capitol on January 6, it hit home for Marquardt, being a resident of Washington, DC. As a journalist on the scene—because of how the media has been perceived recently—he says there were moments that have been difficult to overcome.

“To see the level of vitriol and hostility that was being directed at my team was what was most profoundly disturbing. There were some people who were just shouting at us, but there were clearly people who would have done us harm,” said Marquardt. “It was definitely the most hostile crowd I have ever been in…We were really rattled right off the bat, and we’re still coming to terms with that.”

Now over a month later, he says he’s found a way to process that trauma. Having an amount of time and distance from the situation has helped him process and recover.

“I didn’t necessarily do anything directly to deal with it. I didn’t go to therapy or get professional help, which I’m certainly not opposed to,” he explained. “There is a certain camaraderie among conflict reporters who you can share your thoughts with knowing that they’ve gone through similar things. Distance, time, and talking to others have helped me the most in terms of dealing with that.”

Distance from heavy news can be beneficial. But for those who still want to stay informed and keep up with the news without feeling like you have to be plugged in at all times, Marquardt suggests these two tips.

• Find the balance: Put boundaries in place for yourself. If you’re on your phone during the day or your job requires you to be tuned in, put it all away in the evenings or on the weekends. Turn off the TV, put down the phone, and limit checking your email. It can be difficult but finding other ways to keep your mind busy can help, like cooking, reading, or playing a game.

• Go outside: Getting into nature and feeling like you’re so far away from everything else, including social media, can be really healthy. Go for a run or walk, ride a bike, or just sit and relax at the park during those moments when you can step back from things.

A combination of setting those limits and being active can help ensure your brain isn’t on overload.

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