How do I stop thinking about these horrible things *talk of child abuse*

[sprite25]

I don't know if this is the right place to post but just feel I need to get this out of my head. Just for clarification I have never been abused or (to my knowledge) known anyone who has been abused. I don't know why but certain things will trigger off stuff in my head, threads on here, something on social media or the news, adverts for the NSPCC etc. If it's about child abuse or children getting hurt/killed it seems to get stuck in my head, alot of the time I can stop the thoughts and put it out of my head but other times it will just snowball into me just thinking of all the awful things that happen to children in this world (one of the worst that seems to haunt me is what happened to James Bulger). I've always been a bit this way but it seems to be worse now that I have my own kids, I imagine them when they are upset or hurt and I am there to comfort them but the pain and fear that those other children must of felt brings me to tears (am crying just writing this now). I know there is nothing I can do to change the past but I feel like I want to go back and protect all the children from all that suffering. I don't know why I'm writing this but like I said I just felt like I wanted to get it out there as I've never said anything to anyone in real life, sorry if its just me rambling

I have this, I totally understand!! I was quite unwell mentally a couple of years ago where I had this so badly I really couldn't cope. I had to delete to the news app from my phone as any stories involving children would make me so depressed. I couldn't these things then detach and move on. I started anti depressants and this problem stopped.

I know how you feel. I used to be quite badly affected to the point of anxiety attacks. I took a decisive step back from the news, I flip the channel when they announce news about children suffering, I don't click on any such links. I feel guilty about avoiding it but I also feel I have to for the sake of my sanity. So now I only occasionally get these anxiety attacks. It also helps to think that as horrible life is for so many children, objectively and statistically speaking things are better than they ever were before throughout history. We have systems of child protection now, flawed as they might be, and more awareness about what constitutes abuse and neglect than ever before. It makes me feel hopeful that we're inching towards a future where all children will be protected and crimes against them rare or eradicated... like a Star Trek future.

I also donate to charities fighting against child abuse and trafficking. The trick is not to donate your surplus but to give up enough so you have to deny yourself something. Only then you don't feel like you should be doing more.

I'm like this too OP. I dwell on things like this for a long time, if I do forget and then remember again I will feel guilty for for letting myself forget for a long period of time. If I see reports of child abuse etc, I have to watch them and feel guilty if I think about turning it off.
James Bulger has always stuck with me. Everytime I see his name it will leave me thinking about him for the rest of the day. Its really upsetting.

There were a couple of awful cases while I was pregnant, Baby P was one, and that Fritz case, I just couldn't get over those. I think the media exposes us to more than we are able to cope with.