The News; Are You Triggered? And Can You Cope With It?

[2quilt]

All y'all who don't watch TV can get the big news (Tsunamis, volcano eruptions, if southern california drops into the ocean, etc.) from me and Shecat. We will keep y'all informed.:thumbs-up

 

[Leda]

I have periods when I don´t watch the news, stay away from newpapers - and I have a friend that "screens" books for me. I´m in one of those periods rigth now, but this too shall pass ;-)

 

[Tinyflame]

I've heard it described as a "media fast". I've done it on and off (as necessary) for about 10 years.

Some times I just can't take it.

 

[dust]

News and newspapers used to trigger me, but am pretty good now. There was a program on TV recently about survival - just giving 'tips' on how to maximise your survival chances in a hotel fire etc. I could not watch it as it made my heart and mind race. Part of me thinks I could not face the consequences of surviving yet another event.

I avoid graphic descriptions of events in the news - I'm into the politics, but not the trauma porn.



dust

 

[Claire]

I watch it when I am well and only in small doses. I read a paper in the same way. I avoid it when there's a disaster. I personally think its damaging to be watching it all the time. Its so manipulated and twisted too. I can see right through the crap. It frustrates the hell out of me the power the media has. They create half of the stories, upset people and then go and interview them for 'their reactions'. Take the way the recession has been reported as just one example. I know they didn't create the whole thing but they have definitely fuelled it and continue to do so.

They are also allowed to show so much more now days. They used to have more respect. They now show blood, dead bodies etc on the front of papers as well as on the tv. I'm glad I dont have children when I see that sort of thing all over the front cover of a national paper, at floor level in the sweet shop. Porn has to go top shelf but this is ok? I think that's wrong.

 

[fin]

Thankyou everyone that has replied to this thread.
I used to be able to watch the news and kind of did it responsibly, but at the same time I was just ploughing on through life. PTSD or not, I did a lot of stuff that I felt would help me to keep going and just not stop no matter what. It is kind of odd to think I actaully managed the PTSD into my life.

That is up until I lost total and crashed way down. I think since then especially now, I can see I am opening up so much I think it is making me much more vulnerable to things outside of myself. And that keeping that part of me safe right now, maybe needs to be a priority. Other wise I dont think I will be able to work on anything else anymore.

I just found like in the instance of my apology for song lyrics, I did feel guilty because if I had watched the news I would have known and not written them. Although I dont think at the time of my writing them it had either started/happened or been reported on. Because nothing was said about it by my support worker here, and when I had tried to find out on the net it seemed that it had happened after rather than before. But maybe you get my drift. I put the news on the other night and was confronted with 2 lots of shootings and then the news channel went on to discuss domestic violence stats and ....ok sorry I lost it there for a minute and cant remember what it was I wanted to say at all now....something ...ok ..no..
aquaintance rape....I know I didnt spell that right ok...I just had to just get it out and then as you can see I am now distancing myself from thinking about it...And again I am an OK sorry I jusyt need to post struggling again more

 

[reallydown]

Excellent thread fin!

I am very ambivalent when it comes to news. I have always been a news junkie--I even studied political science. I need to know what's going on in the world and yet I don't want to know. I get overwhelmed by everything that's wrong with this world and coverage of wars triggers the heck out of me. I try to avoid the news but any of the following scenarios make it very difficult. A) Other family memebers watch it; B) It's everywhere...papers, radio, TV...the Internet C) My curiosity gets the better of me...

I have not yet been able to find that balance...Getting enough info to know what's going on without having to freak out every single time. It also doesn't help that I am very interested in international relations and human rights etc. This was part of my problem at school as well. Some of my classes, as interestign as they were, were also very triggering...And yet, I couldn't stay away.

 

[fin]

I understand this reallydown completely

 

[Tinyflame]

Hey, -wait a minute, when I think about it, I'm a "CNN Junkie", usually. -So I guess it's the "typed print" that triggers me; what I hear I seem to process differently.

Wow. I never ever thought there could be a difference.
Thanks fin! I learned something about myself I never even know- it explains a lot, actually.

 

[ga yankee]

I won't get into the power of the media isssue or anything else beyond the fact- it's a proven fact that watching television images of graphic stories is extremely harmful. After 9/11 and Katrina, there was a massive influx of people attending counseling who had nothing to do with either story. They just watched it on tv. Children are the most at risk and parents really need to be aware of what is on in the house...not just the same room as the kids.

I was in the news biz for 18 years. I am here now because of it. I do not watch the news, read about the news and carefully pick what I do expose myself to. I was in the field covering the stories so images are a very powerful trigger for me. If it bothers you, triggers you or just makes you feel uncomfortable...then don't watch. It doesn't make you ignorant about current events. On any given newscast there is not a single thing you really need to know. Even if there's a peanut butter recall they'll have signs at the grocery store! Do what makes you feel comfortable.

 

[fin]

Thankyou yankee, I understand about the power of the media, and it can be a frightening thing. I removed the tv for a long time from my home when my son was growing up, for reasons of economy. But even when we had it in the house I was careful with it. Our lives did not revolve around a television I thank god I knew to do that.

I have it now for company a background noise mostly, and I am very selective with what I watch. But I know I cannot avoid the news completely.

And I also know it is because I am so very bad and low at the moment that it is so very painful to me at the moment.

Thankyou yankie, I am so very sorry for what you have experienced. I hope also that what you have done in your work will have enlightened some that needed to be enlightened. Because I do believe that what you and others like you do; is in some ways educating many. I am so sorry you have been so badly affected by it. I am hoping you know and can gather comfort in the fact that people like you can help bring change, and in many situations change is in dire need.

Thankyou yankee I hope you can find peace also
~fin

 

[heather q]

I rarely watch the news any more but I like the tv on all the time for background noise, the one and only button on the remote that has to work is 'mute' I can handle most of the visual effects by not looking, but the noise is what can set me off, loud adverts and action shows cause me problems. Sometimes it's a difficult choice, nothing to watch, but loads of channels of unwatchable programmes, at the same time I have to have it on, to keep myself plugged in, i.e., I cannot sleep without the tv on.

I use the discovery programme to study trauma issues to desensitize myself and that works well although it took a lot of effort to be able to do that.

I also can't read newspaper 'type' it triggers me, so if a book is written in "Time's Print' I don't buy it, and to read emails sent in the same print I have to change it to a print I can use.

Another thing at work, people seem to feel the need to read the news out loud, I don't ever want to hear that again, it's very disruptive for me.

Heather