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https://theconversation.com/violent-and-disturbing-war-images-from-the-mideast-can-stir-deep-emotions-a-ptsd-expert-explains-how-to-protect-yourself-and-your-kids-from-overexposure-216405>
"The past few years have been filled with a seemingly endless stream of painful
stories and images coming from across the globe, including the loss of more
than 3 million people to the COVID-19 pandemic and the widespread trauma
inflicted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Now, in late October 2023, the tragic loss of thousands of innocent civilian
lives in Israel and Palestine is dominating headlines and consuming the world’s
attention. With each passing day of the ongoing war in Gaza and the gruesome
news that it brings, many of us find ourselves checking the news the minute we
wake up and last thing before going to bed.
By now, most of us have seen unforgettable images and videos of dead bodies,
burned cars and destroyed blocks of buildings, repeatedly. This exposure is
often unintentional. For instance, as we are scrolling through Twitter,
Facebook or Instagram posts, we might come across a post conveying a very raw
and painful story about the suffering of citizens in Israel and Gaza. The
tension and unease has even leaked into the U.S. Jewish and Muslim communities.
And in mid-October, a Palestinian child in the U.S. was stabbed to death
because of his family heritage.
I am a trauma psychiatrist and researcher who works with refugees, first
responders and survivors of torture and human trafficking. In my work, I hear
detailed stories of suffering from my patients that are painful to be privy to
and that can have a negative impact on me and my colleagues.
Through these experiences and my training, I have learned ways to protect
myself from too much emotional impact while staying informed and helping my
patients. In my recent book, “Afraid: Understanding the Purpose of Fear and
Harnessing the Power of Anxiety,” I have explained in detail how media and
politics have heightened our anxieties and have outlined ways we can reduce the
impact."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
