The News of Today!
I am sure by now all have seen the widely shared video and pictures of the violent death of a black man in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the knees of a police officer. Whether you intentionally sought out the video or just can’t escape it because the airwaves and social media are flooded with the replay. What was your response…anger, fear, outrage? I would guess it was intense, to say the least, regardless of the mix of emotions and circumstances.
Maybe after seeing the video once the image continues to replay in your mind. What’s worse? The images of George Floyd dying on the ground may go so far as to change the way you view the world. The sight of them dragging his dead body on the ground after he was obviously nonresponsive. The sight actually doubling the negative stressors, especially considering the fact that we are still not out of the woods from Corona Virus…now this!
What is in your control?
Your response to the police video can and will be influenced by how you encountered the images, willfully, or involuntary. Furthermore, your perspective and the viewpoint of those close to you about the context of the images. Perhaps the incident has triggered the long-held outrage against injustices inflicted on others that could eventually hit closer to home if not addressed.
Some of us may experience an enticement to keep looking at the video because it is the news of the day. Yet, we all loathe what this all signifies; the demonstration of unethical and criminal actions, death, disenfranchised, grief, and cities burned to the ground.
What To Expect
While small in number, data supports people having long term traumatic effects simply from something visualized, and this is an event that goes much deeper to an outright attack on personal values.
At a minimum, expect to have some lingering acute stress (the video of the man on the ground with a knee to the neck will evoke this!). Feelings of distress should not persist beyond your normal manner of coping with an environmental stressor.
When emotionally disturbing images are viewed, a person’s response is largely based on the actual and perceived impact of what is shown. I often ask clients, “how did you get the video?†“what immediately comes to mind about your life experience when you see the pictures?†Or “does this change how you see the world?†I always hope the response is, “I located the video on my own. The images are good or bad. And, this does not impact my worldview.†Either way, the moments we are experiencing now are so important, what you view can trigger negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
Long term effects are rare, but not unheard of. Looking at a video of someone being restrained and eventually dying is tough. How you relate to the incident in the key indicator of what course of action you should take from there. How you got the video, to begin with, becomes less important when it initiates a good conversation about the state of our communities and the country.
What To do
You should not sit in silence about social problems that we all need to be aware of. The ongoing news coverage will certainly fuel a stream of powerful images and emotions that are readily available to all. Be informed, choose wisely, and, most importantly, talk about our thoughts with someone who can be a voice of reason.
Reach out to your counselor or therapist. Trust that we are aware of what is going on in society. We maintain practices to provide professional services that aim to heal, reduce the stigma of mental health, and advocate for those in need. Far above anything else, we work to eliminate inequality and barriers by examining policies, systems, and programs that maintain the status quo.
At The River Wellness, we have a qualified health care provider to answer your personal questions safely, privately, and VIRTUALLY.
Contact us today,
1-888-402-0840
