Facebook, VKontakte, Odnoklassniki have become real battlefields. Of course, the battles are only verbal, but anger, despair, hatred, depression, and even tears that we cannot control, take a lot of strength. Psychotherapist Svetlana Roiz offers a few basic safety rules that will help preserve mental health.
1. You should be very attentive to reposts and any other information. The task of provocateurs is to emotionally engage. One who is completely captured by emotions is not capable of rational constructive action. When people are scared, they are controllable.
2. When our own stability and trust in information is not enough, each of us will find several “support” people in social networks. We can compare our opinions with them (remembering that they are also people and can be subjective).
3. It is important to protect yourself from outbreaks of aggression. A wave of fear may be followed by stupor and/or aggressive reactions. Moreover, outbursts of aggression can be caused by their own children, jokes that were innocent yesterday, posts and comments on social networks … anything can become a trigger. We will not link our reaction to information about political news.
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4. In order to regain control, we constantly scroll through the news feed. This turns into a neurotic action and leads to “intoxication”. It’s better to pause.
5. Direct forces into concrete actions. Those who act, panic less. There is enough work for everyone now. Those who are inaccessible to “external” actions can concentrate on the internal state – write, pray, meditate, create databases of those who need help …
6. Try to protect yourself from gloating and curses against the “opposite side”. Compassion, awareness, willingness to see grow from inner strength. Aggression, meanness, the desire to humiliate – out of fear and vulnerability.
7. Remember: when support is lost inside, for a quick balance you need to lean on something outside – a wall, the back of a chair. Make sure your feet are in full contact with the floor. You can put your hand on the lower abdomen (belly – life). And take a few breaths.
8. Shows of kindness and attentiveness are especially important and valuable now. It gives a sense of security, strengthens ties, relieves anxiety. The more difficult the time, the more heat it is important for us to radiate – to say hello on the street, to show simple attention to fellow travelers, to give way in transport …