With all the events going on in the world, especially the Hamas-Israel war, the kidnapping of hostages, the deaths of innocent civilians, the heartbreaking stories of children and parents, our mental health can take a toll. Such news about humanity always has a great impact on our emotions, as it reminds us how unfair life is for people experiencing war.
In many cases, we want to help, to do something, but we feel completely helpless. According to therapist Natalia Dayan, "we hear the stories of hundreds of people and these stories make us sad". She says: "In our digital age, people are bombarded with a lot of information from different fields and this also leads to information overload." Of course, it is very important for us to be informed, but also to take care of our mental health about the news we read and hear.
If you are one of those people who tear up when you see a video of a child in Gaza crying desperately, you should consider these tips:
Identify your emotions
When such tragedies take place in the media, it is inevitable that we ignore them, or avoid them. We, as humans, want to know what is happening around us and what others are experiencing anywhere in the world, even though this may have consequences. "Let yourself experience the sensations. They are normal," says psychologist Ashley Olivine, adding: "People should feel sad when they learn about sad events. Take the right time to process emotions as they surface."
It is suggested that you put down your phone for a few moments, meditate, go for a walk, or take a shower and ask yourself: "What am I experiencing?". By identifying the sensations, you understand the level of impact such news has on your mental health.
Carefully choose the sources from which you are informed
In such chaos, it is important to be informed from safe sources, to protect you from false information, but also to save serious and creepy images. You can read opinions, see people's reactions, various videos, but again, take care to be informed safely and accurately.
Set a specific time to be informed
Create a routine so that at a specific time of the day, you get the information you want. This will limit exposure to news that affects your mental health and you will still know what is happening in the world.
Talk to friends and family
Scrolling constantly on social networks, dear, unwittingly creates a certain isolation, which in many cases, disconnects you from reality and creates a stressful atmosphere. According to therapist Olivine, people don't have to deal with difficult news alone. Friends and family help you overcome stress, grief and focus on yourself, to realize how many blessings you have around you.
