"Maintaining Mental Well-being Amidst Disturbing War Coverage"

Prolonged exposure to traumatic news and imagery can have a negative impact on mental health, causing trauma, depression, and anxiety. Psychiatrist Arash Javanbakht advises paying attention to your body's signals and taking breaks when feeling overwhelmed. Identifying with affected groups can make the imagery more distressing. Violent images can activate the fight-or-flight response, leading to heightened stress and anxiety. Instead of consuming distressing content, channel your energy into something positive, such as volunteering or donating. To protect your mental health, reduce exposure to upsetting news, get all sides of the story, redirect attention to lighthearted content, maintain routines, seek support, and keep things in perspective.