How can we better control the impact of the war in Ukraine on our mental health? “There is no miracle cure, but there are effective tools”, observes David Gourion, liberal psychiatrist, author of the book Anti stress (Marabout). Most are classic stress management tools, others are common sense recommendations.
“The first thing is to limit our screen time – television, 24-hour news channels, social networks – which confronts us with violent images, recommends Coraline Hingray, psychiatrist at the regional university hospital center of Nancy. It is better to favor the written press, which shows more hindsight on events. » Better also “space out the consultation of news, without being an ostrich”, adds Professor Eric Bui, psychiatrist at Caen University Hospital.
“Compared to those who get their news mainly from television, I have a much less emotional outlook”, testifies Philippe Engammare, 59, who responded to a call for testimonials launched by The world. With TV news, “the images of destruction, the comments of tearful people… inevitably act on our psyche: it is anxiety-provoking”. In contrast, “reading articles, going to glean information from several sources prevents, at least partially, the emotion from reducing the capacities of reflection”, he writes.
“Feeling of helplessness
The second type of possible levers of action consists in “find ways to act to get out of helplessness”, recommends Coraline Hingray, co-author of the book The Trauma: How to get out of it? (De Boeck Superior, 2020). Faced with the distress of the Ukrainian people, we are often in empathy. The idea is therefore to rely on this empathy to act. Participation in a collection, reception of migrants…: “Any form of commitment is welcome, with an altruistic but also more selfish aim, explains the psychiatrist, because the action significantly reduces stress. »
“I have a terrible feeling of helplessness, of nothingness, of inertia which invades me, confides Karyne Lamouille, 52 years old. The impression of living in a dystopia that has hit our daily lives since 2020.” She wonders: “How can we best help? I plan to register on a list to host a Ukrainian in my home. »
The third type of response, against stress, refers to the metaphor of the personal “safe” that we all hold. This safe is filled with coins: resources drawn from the rewarding elements of our lives (love of our loved ones, various successes, favorite hobbies, etc.). But this safe becomes empty as our expenses increase, due to the constraints and stressors in our lives. “So the idea is to replenish our vault with all possible resources,” highlights Coraline Hingray. Surrounding ourselves with our loved ones, taking care of them, chatting with caring friends, multiplying the hobbies and sports activities that we love, taking care of ourselves…
You have 44.51% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.