They post and repost lots of partisan content, argue with people on social media and generally are edgy and defensive. Individually, when we are stressed out and anxious, we shift into the “downstairs brain,” a term introduced by neuropsychiatrist Dan Siegel and psychotherapist Tina Payne Bryson. On social media, such individual experiences can have significant collective consequences, too. Research suggests that the more anxious and overwhelmed we are, the more likely we are to share false information on social media. What these strategies can do, however, is help people regain the perspective they lose when they shift into downstairs brain mode.

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