Anyone else getting proper unwell from the constant paranormal content?

I've been into the paranormal scene for about 8 years now, but lately I'm finding it absolutely draining. I'm scrolling through Quirk Reports at work, listening to podcasts about UFOs and government cover-ups, watching YouTube videos about haunted locations... and I'm genuinely feeling anxious and paranoid.

Like, I went for a walk in my local woods yesterday and I couldn't stop thinking about cryptids and weird creatures. Couldn't enjoy it. Everything felt threatening. And I'm sleeping terribly because I'm worried about home invasions by unknown entities or whatever.

Is anyone else experiencing this? I'm wondering if I need to take a break from the community, but I also don't want to lose interest in something that's been such a big part of my life. Thoughts?

100%. I went through this about two years ago and I had to seriously cut back on the content consumption. It's actually pretty common - there's a difference between having a genuine interest in paranormal phenomena and obsessively consuming scary content, and the latter can genuinely mess with your mental health. I'd suggest maybe setting some boundaries? Only read threads on weekends, or unsub from the scarier podcasts, something like that.

Nothing wrong with taking a step back. This community is great but it can become an echo chamber where everything is mysterious and threatening. The vast majority of the world is perfectly normal and safe. Spending less time here isn't abandoning the subject - it's just being balanced about it.

I'm genuinely feeling anxious and paranoid

That's actually a sign you should talk to someone professional about it. Anxiety isn't a character flaw and it responds well to therapy. There's nothing wrong with the paranormal community, but if it's triggering anxiety, your mental health comes first. You can be interested in this stuff without it consuming you.

The paranormal is genuinely out there, but you're right that constant exposure can be unhealthy. Try focusing on the investigative and scientific side of things rather than the scary stuff? Read about methodology, equipment reviews, that sort of thing. Keeps the interest alive without the fear response.