War pause but visual overload prompts calls to health experts
Kolkata: A ceasefire came into effect at the borders on Saturday evening, but pictures of death and destruction on either side of the Indo-Pak border since the Pahalgam massacre have already taken a toll on the mental well-being of many.
They have triggered stress, tension, and nervous breakdowns among a section of Kolkatans who are prone to anxiety, including some who witnessed previous wars. Some city doctors said they received distress calls from family members of people who suffered sudden palpitations, sweating, and chest discomfort after watching the ongoing conflict on TV. Medics have advised them to stay away from TV coverage of Operation Sindoor and its aftermath, which could be distressing.While it might be thrilling for some to watch videos of Pakistani drones screaming across the night sky and Indian missiles destroying them, for the rest, they are grim reminders of past wars that bring back painful memories, said psychologist Soumya Mukherjee. For the elderly, especially those with memories of hardships during past wars, watching coverage of conflicts on TV can be deeply distressing, added Mukherjee. "It may trigger old traumas, heighten anxiety, disturb sleep, and create a constant sense of fear," she said.An internal medicine consultant said he attended to two elderly patients who suffered panic attacks after the Pahalgam massacre. "The visuals beamed repeatedly left them stressed and anxious. As the conflict escalated on Thursday night and visuals of air strikes were all over the media, there was a repeat panic attack for one of my patients. He experienced palpitations, and his blood pressure shot up. It brought back memories of the 1971 war when there was considerable tension in Kolkata," said the doctor, who advised the person to avoid watching TV.Even for others, binge-watching war visuals may take a toll on mental health, felt Mukherjee. "Destruction and conflict videos give you an immediate kick but leave a negative impact on mind," she said. Rather than just the war visuals, it is a general sense of anxiety and uncertainty that war triggers are landing many in a state of panic, said psychiatrist Jairanjan Ram. "Many of us have seen worse and more distressing visuals of war during the Gulf War, from Gaza and various other sites of conflict over the years. For those with painful memories of war, it is still distressing. Also, since India is involved, there is now a sense of worry about what's going to happen next," said Ram.He added that even if you switch off TV, information will filter through various other sources that can't be blocked. "We must learn to live with this anxiety and accept it as normal till the conflict lasts," he added. " Constant exposure to scenes of violence increases feelings of fear, helplessness and insecurity. This anxiety and sadness may isolate them from others. This is especially true for the elderly," said Mukherjee.Kolkata: A ceasefire came into effect at the borders on Saturday evening, but pictures of death and destruction on either side of the Indo-Pak border since the Pahalgam massacre have already taken a toll on the mental well-being of many. They have triggered stress, tension, and nervous breakdowns among a section of Kolkatans who are prone to anxiety, including some who witnessed previous wars. Some city doctors said they received distress calls from family members of people who suffered sudden palpitations, sweating, and chest discomfort after watching the ongoing conflict on TV. Medics have advised them to stay away from TV coverage of Operation Sindoor and its aftermath, which could be distressing.While it might be thrilling for some to watch videos of Pakistani drones screaming across the night sky and Indian missiles destroying them, for the rest, they are grim reminders of past wars that bring back painful memories, said psychologist Soumya Mukherjee. For the elderly, especially those with memories of hardships during past wars, watching coverage of conflicts on TV can be deeply distressing, added Mukherjee. "It may trigger old traumas, heighten anxiety, disturb sleep, and create a constant sense of fear," she said.An internal medicine consultant said he attended to two elderly patients who suffered panic attacks after the Pahalgam massacre. "The visuals beamed repeatedly left them stressed and anxious. As the conflict escalated on Thursday night and visuals of air strikes were all over the media, there was a repeat panic attack for one of my patients. He experienced palpitations, and his blood pressure shot up. It brought back memories of the 1971 war when there was considerable tension in Kolkata," said the doctor, who advised the person to avoid watching TV.Even for others, binge-watching war visuals may take a toll on mental health, felt Mukherjee. "Destruction and conflict videos give you an immediate kick but leave a negative impact on mind," she said. Rather than just the war visuals, it is a general sense of anxiety and uncertainty that war triggers are landing many in a state of panic, said psychiatrist Jairanjan Ram. "Many of us have seen worse and more distressing visuals of war during the Gulf War, from Gaza and various other sites of conflict over the years. For those with painful memories of war, it is still distressing. Also, since India is involved, there is now a sense of worry about what's going to happen next," said Ram.He added that even if you switch off TV, information will filter through various other sources that can't be blocked. "We must learn to live with this anxiety and accept it as normal till the conflict lasts," he added. " Constant exposure to scenes of violence increases feelings of fear, helplessness and insecurity. This anxiety and sadness may isolate them from others. This is especially true for the elderly," said Mukherjee.
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