MEDIA
RELEASE
DEALING
WITH THE STRESS OF WAR
Fear and anxiety about the future; difficulties in concentrating; headaches
or stomach problems; feelings of powerless; anger and irritability;
persistent fatigue and increased use of alcohol or drugs are just
some of the side effects people can suffer when exposed to prolonged
stress of witnessing war through the media it was claimed today
by the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement.
The intense media coverage of the war in Iraq, along with the distressing
daily images of the injured, military assaults, interviews and live
combat has compounded the stress people experienced on September 11th
and after the Bali bombings which is now embedded in the Australian
way of life.
Christopher Hall, a psychologist and Director of the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement in Melbourne said that “Nobody is unaffected by war
and the longer the war continues the greater the impact on the community".
People can experience trauma indirectly by watching a war or disaster
unfold on television or imagining a horrible event.
"When prolonged, this stress can impair our mental and physical well-being
and make it harder to cope with everyday tasks”.
The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement provide eight tips on helping adults cope in a
time of war:
1.
|
You
can’t control the war but you can exercise control over
some things. Maintain a routine as much as possible. We often
feel better when we are given a chance to “do something” such
as sending a donation to a relief organization.
|
2.
|
Stay connected
with others. Talk with family and friends about your stress and
fears.
|
3.
|
Take care
of your physical health. Get plenty of rest. Reduce stress by
engaging in some regular exercise — walking, playing sport
or gardening can all help reduce stress. Eat properly.
|
4.
|
Avoid drugs
and alcohol. These deplete your energy and cloud your perception
of events and people.
|
5.
|
Make time
for relaxation and reduce or eliminate activities that cause
you stress. Watch a movie, take a long bath, call a friend or
go fishing.
|
6.
|
Limit exposure
to television and print media images of the war as it can fuel
fears and insecurities. With the availability of 24-hour news
channels and the Internet the images, and speculation can impact
upon our sense of well-being.
|
7.
|
Be optimistic
about the challenges ahead. Try to maintain a positive outlook.
Stay in touch with your spirituality if you find it comforting.
|
8.
|
Seek professional
help if your problem is more serious. This could be especially
important for people who live with depression, substance misuse
or anxiety.
|
| Place of
release: |
Melbourne |
| Date: |
Friday April
4th 2003 |
For further information
contact:
Christopher Hall
Director
Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement
Telephone
(03) 9545 6377 or mobile 0419 381 377 or AH (03) 9754 4402
Facsimile (03) 9545 6399
E-mail c.hall@grief.org.au.
