Taking care of your mental health while tragedy dominates headlines

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Tragic events around the world and locally can take a toll on mental health, especially when they dominate the headlines.  

Local experts say it’s important to manage stress and anxiety during these difficult times.  

"It's important for people to know that even if they're not directly impacted by a tragic event, that there can still be significant mental health reactions from whatever they've heard or experienced. We call this vicarious trauma, or secondary trauma, where an individual experiences emotional distress through exposure to other people's suffering. So sometimes, people may feel a sense of uncertainty about their own safety or become preoccupied with the devastation that they've experienced," Director of Adult Clinical Services at Oaklawn Kayona Pates said.

Pates says when people go through these situations, they often feel shocked, angry or scared.

She says it's common for people to feel helpless, while others might experience guilt, especially if they feel powerless or lucky not to be directly impacted by the tragedy. 

While anxiety and stress are natural reactions, she explains that they can start to affect your overall well-being and daily functioning.  

Some signs can include calling off work, canceling plans with friends, deciding not to go to church, or isolating yourself. When this happens, she says it's best to seek professional help.

"It's important to take care of yourself, and sometimes we feel overwhelmed with everything that's going on, and we feel like we don't even have time for ourselves. But it is important that we recognize that if we keep pouring out and not refueling, then that's what's going to lead to burnout, and we're not going to be able to take care of ourselves or anyone else for that matter," said Pates.