Traumatic news about the Gaza war and its negative effects on mental health

New York: Although many people are distant from the war in Gaza, they are still aware of countless images of the conflict, news and protests around the world through TV, internet, newspapers and social media, and this familiarity has a negative impact on their mental health. It is making an impact.

According to media reports, the American Psychological Association issued a statement warning that exposure to violent and traumatic news can negatively impact our mental health. Psychological science tells us that fear, anxiety and traumatic stress have long-term effects on health and well-being, and those effects are felt by people around the world whose families and friends have been affected by war, the association said. There are people in the region and also those who are concerned about this conflict in any corner of the world.

Dr. Gail Saltz, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at New York Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical College, said that the sympathetic side of our nervous system is activated in response to images and news of wars, and it would do the same thing. And that is the ‘danger’ that makes you anxious and worried.

The doctor said that it is a proven fact that if you are worried for a long time, the sadness factor starts to increase in you which eventually leads to depression. The following steps can be taken to prevent this.

1) First and foremost, limit the amount of news and time you spend on social media. This does not mean that you should keep yourself ignorant of what is happening around you, but avoid going to social media or places on the Internet where there is no warning and only a stream of disturbing images and news.

2) It is also very important to explain to children what is happening in the world according to their age. Talk to your children and answer the questions they ask about the situation because you never know what they are thinking about certain things, which may be even scarier and worse than the reality.

3) What are the symptoms of mental stress, it is very important to be aware of them so that it can be dealt with early. All psychological conditions seem to be normal sensations at first but can become dangerous as they go on. When feeling depressed and stressed, seek professional help and engage in socializing and gatherings to find relief, even if only for a short time.