In current times, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to turn on the news and feel good about what you’re seeing. Our news stream is flooded with high-alert stories of social, political, and financial chaos. Add that to the usual crime and violence that’s often reported.
This type of news consumption can be hard to process for the average person, but even more so for those who are dealing with PTSD. Here’s a look at how current events can trigger PTSD symptoms.
Understanding PTSD and Trauma Responses
Trauma responses are normal responses after experiencing a traumatic event. It’s how your body prepares for what it’s going through. There are emotional, physical, cognitive, and biological reactions that can all occur.
Taking that one step further, PTSD may develop after trauma, causing a decline in your quality of life. While personal, it can be characterized by some common symptoms. These include intrusive memories, flashbacks, feelings of guilt or shame, detachment, negative beliefs, avoidance, irritability, and hypervigilance.
The current way our news is broadcast to us isn’t always friendly to those with PTSD.
The Current News Landscape
Social media and the age of technology have brought many favorable things. The way the news is presented isn’t always one of them. The human brain isn’t made to process news at the rate it’s coming to us.
We have a 24/7 news cycle in various formats that makes it possible, but also pressures you to stay informed. The news we consume often includes graphic visuals and audio clips to increase the emotional impact. This is further amplified by social media platforms spreading viral content, heavily opinionated posts, and misinformation.
Additionally, with the broad reach of social media and the sheer number of people involved in the conversation, news and current events can feel very close to home. Everything is more personal.
How the News Triggers PTSD
Current events and the news can trigger PTSD in multiple ways.
Visual and Auditory Triggers
Visual and audio clips released in the news can be very similar to those that you experienced in your personal trauma. These clips also tend to spread like wildfire across various news platforms, making them very visible.
Certain sounds can activate your fight-or-flight response system. Video clips can cause flashbacks. Being repeatedly exposed to news loops can make it hard to calm your trauma responses.
Cognitive Triggers
When current events start to feel threatening, such as situations happening within your community or affecting your loved ones, it can trigger a sense of unease within you. You may experience catastrophic thoughts, feel guilt or shame, and enter a negative mindset. The crisis mentality of the news can further fuel harmful thought patterns.
Triggering Content
Current news can be triggering from multiple different angles.
Violence coverage: war, shootings, domestic violence, and assault
Natural disasters: wildfires, hurricanes, pandemic or medical emergencies, and structural issues
Political and social causes: protests, civil unrest, political extremism, hate crimes, and discrimination
The Psychological Impact
The news is all around us, and is not going anywhere anytime soon. Once your PTSD symptoms become triggered, they can have a varying effect. The immediate stress response can lead to panic attacks, anxiety, physiological symptoms, and sleep troubles. Long-term, it can fuel additional depression disorders, substance use, and social withdrawal.
Mental Health Considerations
PTSD can occur on a spectrum with varying severity. It increases the likelihood of developing additional symptoms and possible mental health disorders.
Trauma-focused therapy is a great option to tap into the root of your symptoms, develop healthy coping strategies, and find a path to healing. Living in a situation where turning on a television or scrolling through social media causes you significant distress doesn’t have to be your reality.
If you’re struggling with your PTSD symptoms and are looking for PTSD therapy, contact us today for a free consultation.
