The Trauma of Terrorism

It’s World Mental Health Day. Right now the world is hurting as we are exposed to the images, reporting and personal stories around what is occurring in Israel and the Gaza Strip. One key element of terrorism is the use of violence and other aggressive acts to instill fear among a population. The heinous acts occurring abroad may not be happening where we are at this moment, but the fear can spread like wildfire, causing an infectious sense of heartache and helplessness.

As a mental health professional and victim of terrorism, I recognize the ripple effect of trauma in the people around me, including clients and students. Even when the topic of discussion isn’t about the current state of horrific affairs, the shared awareness is in the room.

In the field of Social Work, we are often exposed to others’ trauma experiences, and therefore trained to recognize and respond to the signs of vicarious trauma:

The emotional residue of exposure to traumatic stories and experiences of others through work; witnessing fear, pain, and terror that others have experienced; a pre-occupation with horrific stories told to the professional (American Counseling Association, 2016)

Vicarious trauma is not specific to Social Workers or Therapists. We are all human and will have a certain amount of empathy for others, whether close to us or far away. Drowning in the multiple sources of media available to us will often amplify feelings of empathic distress.

If you happen to be experiencing an uncomfortable preoccupation with disturbing information/content and subsequent thoughts, please know there is support available and ways to build your muscle of resilience and self-care. One place to start is calling 988, the national Disaster Distress Helpline, or contact me.