It is important for us to read the news and know what is happening in the world. However, when news and images of war, territorial destruction, and the deaths of many people start to fill the media, it can cause fear and anxiety. Reading about developments in war news can trigger stress and anxiety, a condition referred to as war anxiety.
What is War Anxiety?
War anxiety is also known by other terms, such as nuclear anxiety or headline hysteria. This anxiety is a common reaction when people see images and news related to conflict. Reading news about the consequences of war, such as the number of deaths in affected areas, people who are homeless, or the lack of food aid, can affect a person's mental health. Psychologist Dr. Steven Stosny defines headline hysteria as a heightened emotional response to relentless news from the media.
In a globalized era with rapid information dissemination, news about the latest international issues can easily spread to various parts of the world. Headline hysteria can occur when you keep reading news updates until you feel stressed and anxious, for example, when you read news about the COVID-19 outbreak at the beginning of the outbreak. If it is related to war anxiety, reading endless information about war can cause anxiety, worry, fear, fatigue, and other emotions due to exposure to news about war both on television and social media.
Read more: Cara Menjelaskan Perang dan Dampaknya pada Anak
The Impacts of War Anxiety
Reading news updates about the war, such as the death toll and damage, can evoke negative emotions in you. You may not realize that this has an impact on your day-to-day mental and physical health.
Constant anxiety or stress can cause physical symptoms such as:
- Heart palpitations
- Heavy feeling in the chest
- Stomach/abdominal discomfort
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Difficulty sleeping/sleeplessness
- Nightmares
- Triggering excessive fear (paranoia)
Some people can also have quite serious panic attacks. There are also people who start to go numb. If it continues, it can lead to physical or mental problems such as anxiety disorders, depression or increased blood pressure.
Read more: Cara Menenangkan Diri saat Mengalami Gangguan Kecemasan
How to Deal with War Anxiety
It is important to keep up to date with news coverage of war and current events. However, if the news you are reading is affecting your physical and emotional well-being, you should begin to limit your viewing or listening to war news until you are feeling better.
Here are some things you can do to avoid war anxiety problems:
Mute the triggering content
If you get a lot of news from social media, it's a good idea to mute some keywords or war-related topics that may trigger anxiety or stress.
Restrict time spent reading war news
In addition to muting keywords, you can also limit your time reading war news. Getting accurate and up-to-date information is important, but reading too much news can also increase the risk of being exposed to fake news or misinformation and create a sense of overwhelm or anxiety.
Be honest with yourself and understand how much you can digest news about the war.The limit of when news consumption can become too much for you is a question you can figure out.
Do a healthy routine
To reduce exposure to news that can disturb your emotions, do self-care treatments such as increasing physical activity outside, playing in nature, exercise regularly, eat good and nutritious food, and ensuring adequate rest. You can also do breathing exercises, meditation, or yoga to calm your mind.
Reading news about war can evoke negative emotions in you. If exposure to this news is disturbing enough, you can see a psychologist or psychiatrist.
If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.
Looking for more tips and information regarding health, first aid, and home remedies? Click here!
Fleming, L. (2022). How to Cope With Stress and Anxiety Caused by the War in Ukraine. Available from: https://www.verywellmind.com/anxiety-about-ukraine-and-the-threat-of-war-5221204
Sreenivas, S. (2022). How to Handle War Anxiety. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/how-to-handle-war-anxiety
Oxford Health. Worrying about war in Ukraine: Anxiety and wellbeing advice for you and your family. Available from: https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/news/taking-simple-steps-to-ease-worries-and-support-others/
Dong, M., & Zheng, J. (2020). Letter to the editor: Headline stress disorder caused by Netnews during the outbreak of COVID-19. Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy, 23(2), 259–260. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13055
Collier, S. (2022). War Anxiety: How to Cope. Available from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/war-anxiety-how-to-cope-202205232748
