Avoiding Secondary Traumatic Stress: Devastation in Ukraine

I cannot express the deep sense of helplessness and upset I feel when watching videos, coming across photos, or reading articles regarding the war in Ukraine. If you are anything like me, I struggle to disconnect the human experience from the image in front of me.

There is this unusual sense of obligation that I should subject myself to the happenings across the world. A feeling that so much distress is occurring, it is unfair for me to be sitting in safety, so guilt surfaces in moments of quiet.

How ludicrous is that mentality, though? Shame for having less troublesome problems than those losing freedoms, homes, and lives.

Here is where the topic of Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) comes into play. I recognize and acknowledge the mental health consequences of witnessing pain, regardless of how many miles away. I want to mention this because if you are feeling a similar internal pressure to keep up with the news, maybe this post will help protect you in some way.

What is STS?

Some of you may already know, but it is possible to get symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) through witnessing or hearing about someone’s firsthand trauma. This can be information from a loved one, seeing something occur in front of you or even just…