This week, the Heave staff was asked:

When reading the news gets so depressing that you can’t take it anymore, how do you choose to deal?

Cory Clifford

Sigh for an hour and then eat my feelings. Or watch Bob’s Burgers.

Johnny Coconate

I summon all my rage and sorrow and direct it into a powerful blast that destroys Earth. Then I sit in a pocket dimension and get scolded by Telsa. But this time, he just shakes his head. “You did the right thing. If they don’t wish to be saved, then they are damned. If they’re damned, they shouldn’t be surprised when bad things happen.” I nod in approval. My eyes flutter and I’m awake in a universe full of supervillians but no heroes, where the weak and stupid pray to be stepped on, and creativity is sin. This cannot be reality. Not when Pacific Rim makes so little money and people complain about a lack of originality from Hollywood but go and see Adam Sandler’s Washed Hasbeens 2? And I don’t even want to think about Florida. This must be a nightmare. Fuck this country, I’m going to Europe. Maybe then I’ll actually wake up.

Jonathan Mondragon

It usually ends in an extended powerviolence/grindcore listening session for catharsis.

Ben Kessell

If the Tipper Gores of the modern world are raging about it, I revel in it. I will go get gay married just to prove a point. In fact, I’ve been reading about the defense of marriage act AND the Zimmerman trial; will you marry me AND found a dangerous vigilante-type neighborhood watch with me? TAKE THAT FOX NEWS.

Trent Zuberi

I watch cartoons.

Meghan Bongartz

Honestly? I’ve more or less stopped reading the news for this exact reason. Depending on the nature of the depressing news, the best way to cope is usually to talk to people you know are like-minded to you to remind you that the world isn’t 100% the worst.

Dominick Suzanne-Mayer

While it’s probably not that smart to do this as somebody with an anxiety disorder, I start reading. And it’s not the good stuff, the stuff that heartens you. I go on stuff like Public Shaming and read about the worst people currently living. But it moves me. It keeps me motivated when things are bad and reminds me that there’s still work to be done to make the world a better place. For instance, as an American, I don’t believe in yelling about lighting out for other countries when shit goes wrong. I believe in working to make the place you’re in the one you want it to be.