As I review the New York Times and see a picture on the front page of dead bodies wrapped in cloth, all from chemical weapons and then think about my work in trauma, I often contemplate various forms of trauma exposure. While some people live trauma: police officers, enlisted military personnel, firefighters, paramedics; abused children, women, elderly, dependent adults, and even men on some occasions; emergency room personnel; victims of crimes too heinous to mention; people in third world countries where war and oppression are part of the daily routine, how are people here – the land of the free, home of the brave – being so exposed to trauma? And what is the impact of that exposure?
First, it is worth mentioning what a daily dose of trauma can look like just by watching TV. I can recall, in just one hour of watching the news, hearing the following: “drive-by shooting where 2 innocent children were gunned down,” “fatal stabbing involving an 80 year woman, who was the victim’s grandson,” “head-on collision killing 4 teenagers,” and then there are the more “petty” crimes like burglary, assault, and vandalism. Many, if not most, of the incidents mentioned include a visual display of the crime scene. If there isn’t actual footage of the victims themselves, there will be some depiction of the carnage or aftermath of that incident. Add to that the graphic verbal description by reporters to those scenes, the exposure is high. Trauma imprints via the 5 senses: sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. Our media gives us sight and sound when normally we would have no exposure or only have information.
As I do my work with those suffering from acute stress reactions and post-traumatic stress responses to trauma, it is worth mentioning some diagnostic criteria for trauma as it relates to exposure. Diagnostic criteria of PTSD and/or Acute Stress Disorder relating to exposure to trauma contains one or more of the following: experiencing, witnessing, or being confronted with an event involving actual/threatened death or serious injury; person’s response involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror; symptoms include such things as numbing, detachment, avoidance, derealization, depersonalization, dissociative amnesia. (partial list)
So what is my point? My point is this: the Media thrives on the negative, graphic, sensationalized telling of the violence in the world. It is what gets ratings. But the exposure the viewer inadvertently gets can lead to negative symptoms, including a negative world view and fear. It is up to you, the viewer, to protect yourself from the detrimental effects of the media. Turn your TV off. Get your news from sources that don’t only report on violence in the world. And finally, make sure you are seeking out healthy experiences that bring you joy and leave you feeling happy and hopeful. Keep a healthy balance in your life by including experiences that make you feel good.
In an age of rapid evolution of technology and internet access, the user or viewer has to stay alert to self-care and self-protection. In so doing, it becomes possible to avoid acute stress / post traumatic stress reactions.
First, it is worth mentioning what a daily dose of trauma can look like just by watching TV. I can recall, in just one hour of watching the news, hearing the following: “drive-by shooting where 2 innocent children were gunned down,” “fatal stabbing involving an 80 year woman, who was the victim’s grandson,” “head-on collision killing 4 teenagers,” and then there are the more “petty” crimes like burglary, assault, and vandalism. Many, if not most, of the incidents mentioned include a visual display of the crime scene. If there isn’t actual footage of the victims themselves, there will be some depiction of the carnage or aftermath of that incident. Add to that the graphic verbal description by reporters to those scenes, the exposure is high. Trauma imprints via the 5 senses: sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. Our media gives us sight and sound when normally we would have no exposure or only have information.
As I do my work with those suffering from acute stress reactions and post-traumatic stress responses to trauma, it is worth mentioning some diagnostic criteria for trauma as it relates to exposure. Diagnostic criteria of PTSD and/or Acute Stress Disorder relating to exposure to trauma contains one or more of the following: experiencing, witnessing, or being confronted with an event involving actual/threatened death or serious injury; person’s response involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror; symptoms include such things as numbing, detachment, avoidance, derealization, depersonalization, dissociative amnesia. (partial list)
So what is my point? My point is this: the Media thrives on the negative, graphic, sensationalized telling of the violence in the world. It is what gets ratings. But the exposure the viewer inadvertently gets can lead to negative symptoms, including a negative world view and fear. It is up to you, the viewer, to protect yourself from the detrimental effects of the media. Turn your TV off. Get your news from sources that don’t only report on violence in the world. And finally, make sure you are seeking out healthy experiences that bring you joy and leave you feeling happy and hopeful. Keep a healthy balance in your life by including experiences that make you feel good.
In an age of rapid evolution of technology and internet access, the user or viewer has to stay alert to self-care and self-protection. In so doing, it becomes possible to avoid acute stress / post traumatic stress reactions.
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