Keep Your Family Safe from Horrific Images of News. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a stark reminder of the terrible suffering humans sometimes are willing to inflict upon others.
The seemingly endless stream of disturbing stories and images from Syria, Yemen, and Ukraine has become part of our daily lives in the last few years. Many of us check the news every morning to see the latest news about the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The inhumane acts of the Russian military in Ukraine were well-publicized, unlike other conflicts elsewhere. The media, Ukrainian citizens, and social media posts did a great job documenting videos and images of the war in Ukraine.
Many of us have seen images and videos of bodies, tortured civilians and burned cars, and even destroyed buildings many times. Sometimes, this exposure can even be accidental. For example, while scrolling through Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter posts, one might see a post that tells a painful and raw story about the suffering of Ukrainian citizens.
As a trauma psychiatrist, researcher, and first responder, I work with refugees, survivors, and victims of torture and human trafficking. My work involves hearing the painful stories of my patients. This can hurt my colleagues and me. These experiences and training have taught me how to avoid emotional trauma while staying informed and helping my patients.
How images of disaster can affect us
There is a lot of evidence that trauma does not affect only the victims but also other people who have been exposed to it in some other way. Humans are social and empathetic, which is why this happens. First responders, refugees, and journalists are often exposed to trauma indirectly and vicariously, even though they don’t experience it directly.
News is a great way to be exposed, especially if it’s visual and animated. Previous studies showed that the news of terrorist attacks like 9/11 could cause a variety of emotions, including depression and anxiety, in both children and adults.
Another danger of constant exposure to terrible images is desensitization and numbing. Some viewers may become too familiar with these images and start to view them as normal.
How to protect yourself
These are some tips to help you stay informed and minimize harm.
Limit exposure: I limit the amount of information I can collect from traumatized patients. However, I only ask them for a little. People can only take in information in limited ways. Also, it’s important to understand what’s going on and then stop. Avoid disaster voyeurism. You might not need the videos or images if the story is familiar. If the videos or images have been seen, it’s no problem to go back and revisit them.
Studies show that prolonged exposure to media coverage after a collective trauma can cause stress. You can check the news once a day for information, but you should not continue looking for coverage. The news cycle tends to provide little information beyond the basics.
Limit the emotion: While the media’s primary mission is to inform, the nature of the storytelling can lead to disastrous news being delivered in an emotionally charged manner. You can shield yourself from the emotional nature of radio or television news coverage by reading the news. Choose a journalist or anchor that presents the news in a fact-based, less emotional manner if you decide to tune in to radio or television.
Do not allow yourself to be enticed into scrolling through painful images from different angles for hours. Your emotional suffering won’t reduce the suffering of victims. This is because some people may feel that if they don’t continue following the exposure, they are being insensitive to or uninformed.
You can take regular breaks from watching the news. If you need to keep up with the latest, give yourself at least several hours of rest.
Avoid negative news and ignore it. Constant exposure to news about disasters will cause distortions in your perception.
– Be aware of your limits. Some people are more sensitive or vulnerable to being affected by what they hear and see.
– If you feel sadness, anxiety, or other negative emotions, remember that this is normal human behavior in response to suffering. Take a break from your worries by engaging in activities that fully absorb you and recharge your emotional batteries. That outlet for me is a high-intensity exercise.
Talk to others: Talking to your loved ones can help you to cope. Seek professional help if necessary.
How to protect children
These images and news can also be exposed to children . This could lead to negative effects. Children younger than 5 years old may believe that the same event is repeated over and over again.
Here are some ways to limit the impact on children.
Avoid expressing negative emotions that are too charged in front of children. They learn from adults how safe and dangerous the world is.
Limit the exposure of children based on age.
Talk to children about scary or distressing news in an age-appropriate manner. Use simple language to explain the situation.
Remind them that they are safe. Younger children might find it important to remind them that these tragic events do not happen where they live.
– Ask them questions. Instead, use them as an educational opportunity for your age.
– Seek professional assistance if necessary.
Helping others affected by these calamities can help reduce their negative effects on us. It helps me process my patients’ trauma and remind myself that my ultimate goal is to help them. Anger, sadness, anger, and frustration can all be channeled into helping victims and fundraising activities. You can make this a family activity to teach children how to be compassionate and help others.