Is anyone's mental health affected by simply reading about the horrors of October 7th

[mids2019]

I keep reading details in the Daily Mail and I know journalists have been given a video of the atrocities but it is absolutely harrowing. I understand large broadcasters can not go into detail as the events were to shocking for a general audience and in reality I think even written descriptions are worse than any thing I have read or watched.

Has anyone felt some outlet to express disgust is helpful (as some sort of therapy)?

Not sure about where to go to express disgust but if I see or read horrible stories or sad stories/news I try and steer clear of news outlets/social media etc. Or search different stuff so my threads Fill up with nicer things. Fill your time with happy news, comedies, books

@Hungrycaterpillarsmummy

Thanks. I just clicked on the wrong thing really. I guess just doing normal stuff will help.

I guess it just helps to know others are nauseated strangely .

I will keep to BBC from now on.

I have to say it affected me for a good two weeks afterwards. It shook me to the core, like the twin towers back in 2001.
I've had to stay off news sites and Twitter and that's helped. I stopped reading the DM years ago as they revel in the gory details to a disgusting degree.

Im more affected by the news pictures coming out of gaza, not because it worse but because the sheer numbers are unimaginable. The horror there is unimaginable. I feel guilty sitting in my nice cozy house and sleeping in my bed whilst thousands are dying and lying injured. And that's just the little children.

I don’t read it. It’s horrific and it’s always men. It makes me angry that they think it will solve anything.
It’s why I love horror films but hate stupid gore films like Saw. You can bet some evil saddo has inflicted similar on someone somewhere.

What happened on October 7th was horrific but I am also horrified by the deaths of civilians in Gaza and Israel cutting civilians off from water, fuel, food and medicine. I don't know how you can empathise with one community and not the other.

You should avoid reading the DailyFail which, as @Hellers beautifully put it, "revel in the gory details to a disgusting degree", besides the fact that their "journalism" -if you can call it that- leaves a lot to be desired.

Look up "Atrocity Propaganda".

I think the bet way to tackle things like this is simply to not take your life for granted. Focus on what you want from the life that has been given to you, then do what is needed to achieve it. The small stuff doesn't matter. Acknowledge when you're making excuses. Don't waste what others do not have.

Many are time and money poor. But if you are not, see where you can make a difference.

This is not ‘mental health’. This is ‘normal human feelings and reaction caused by exposure to news of atrocities’.

Very good reminder

Yes, horrendously effected. I found myself sobbing at stories from
both sides and I’ve stopped reading now. I don’t think it’s helpful to know the gory details

The accounts from the 7th October massacre are the worst I’ve ever read, and I’ve been trying to avoid them. I can’t get some of the images out of my head.

This. And what you have to do is something. Volunteer with children, teach English to refugees, dog walk for an elderly neighbour, give to the UNICEF, MSF and other charities. Literally anything you can do to make the world better.

The only way to combat the darkness is to light a candle.

I haven’t had much exposure but what I’ve read on here has stuck with me

So depraved and horrific

No, because I don’t read the detail. The headlines are enough for you to know what’s going on. Don’t get sucked in.

I don't read the DM but the accounts I've read of 7th October elsewhere are the worst things I have read

Depraved doesn't even cut it

It's utterly horrific. I saw some of the videos on Twitter on the actual day (nowhere near the worst) and they were dreadful but I find listening to the accounts of survivors and those whose families are now hostage more emotionally upsetting. The stuff about the children is the worst. The bombing is absolutely terrible but what kind of person kills a child face to face, much less tortures one first?

No my mental health is not affected

But I felt very upset with what I saw
Moved to tears over the weekend watching tik tok videos
Feel anger and yes, disgust

But I'm 'ok' ...

My mh is ok but I feel bad saying that as people are really suffering

This.

I don't care how much Israel 'has the right to defend itself' or Hamas are 'using human shields'. They are knowing and purposefully killing thousands and innocent men, women and children under the guise of aiming to get to the few.

I feel for the poor families and victims of October 7th, but I am disgusted by the Israeli government, as much as I am disgusted by Hamas.

Yes. I've had nightmares about some of it and there are images and descriptions I regret seeing. I can't get over how people could do those things to innocent strangers and I find it upsetting when people try to justify it. Yes, Palestinians have genuine grievances, but nothing justifies one human being doing those appalling things to another.

When I feel upset I have to remind myself how much worse it is for everyone actually living in Israel. That the world needs to know what happened and what Hamas is capable of. And turn off my computer for a while.

How much worse it is for those living in Israel?!! People in Gaza have been deprived of food, water, fuel and medicine and are bombed daily. This is collective punishment.

I'm not sure if I would use the term mental health (not saying you shouldn't) but it has affected me very deeply.

No more than the other 30+ wars going on around the world right now even though this is the only anyone gives a shit about.

It's quite wrong imo to make it about you and your mental health and taking away from those actually affected by the conflict.