Latest news with #vicarious
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Doomscrolling, fear and dread: Away from frontlines, India-Pak tensions take toll on mental health
Pakistan was nothing but a name for seven-year-old Hazel till earlier this week. Now she grows suspicious with every knock on the door and breaks down at the thought of impending doom. #Operation Sindoor India responds to Pak's ceasefire violation; All that happened India-Pakistan ceasefire reactions: Who said what Punjab's hopes for normalcy dimmed by fresh violations "It all started when her school had an awareness session and then she heard things from her friends in the class. Now she wants me to be careful before opening the door. She says 'Pakistan will attack us' and everyone will die," said Annu Mathew , who is having a difficult time explaining to her daughter that she is in no direct danger in Kerala's Trivandrum. Young Hazel is not the only one Hundreds of miles away in Delhi, 36-year-old Mahendra Awasthi said he can't sleep. If the child is troubled by conversations around her, the young man finds himself doomscrolling endlessly through social media, unsure of what to believe and what to not. This continues even after Pakistan and India agreed to step off the escalatory ladder of war on Saturday evening and US President Donald Trump said the two countries had reached a ceasefire. The relief quickly gave way to renewed anxiety when reports came in of Pakistan violating that understanding with sounds of explosions and blackouts in many border areas. Live Events Everybody was on edge It began on the intervening night of May 6-7 when India carried out Operation Sindoor against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir in retaliation for the attack in Pahalgam. In the following days, the two countries engaged in armed operations in major cities along the border. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories All this has a long-term impact on mental health. The escalating military tension between the two nations, a deluge of information, and the inability to sift through fake and real news can significantly affect the psychological well-being of individuals, said mental health experts. According to clinical psychologist Shweta Sharma, the constant chatter of potential war can trigger a "vicarious trauma" response in people, even for those far from conflict zones. "Relentless 24/7 media coverage, social media exposure, and emotionally charged content that can overwhelm the brain's stress regulation mechanisms. War-related fears often stem from unpredictability - how far will this go, who will be affected, and what will be the long-term consequences?," Sharma told PTI. It's nerve wracking for people like Awasthi. Drowning in the multitude of voices on social media and news channels, in an indistinguishable mix of news and misinformation, Awasthi said he is filled with a constant sense of dread to an extent he can hear his heart beat faster at times. "I don't want to scroll social media but I keep feeling I will miss out on some essential news. What if Delhi is next on target, what should I do to keep my family safe, will we wake up tomorrow?" he said, without trying to hide the panic in his voice. For people watching from safer regions, seeing the suffering of civilians or soldiers can lead to guilt and helplessness. "Young minds are highly impressionable. War talk can instill fear, reinforce stereotypes, and disrupt their sense of security," explained Sharma. It is important to stay aware at such times, but it is also imperative to choose credible sources and take breaks from continuous coverage. And when it comes to children, Sharma said, it is advisable to explain the situation in age-appropriate ways. "Reassure them of safety and encourage open conversations rather than letting them absorb misinformation online," she said. Mathew has come up with a plan to reassure her daughter. She takes Hazel to the balcony and points at the clear skyline and asks her if she can spot any of the explosions or shootings that she is afraid of. "When she sees that none of the fears in her imagination are real, she calms down," Mathew said. The trauma can take on different shades. Worried almost sick at the thought of impending war, Jaipur-based Aniket Singh (name changed) started preparing for an emergency after the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, which left 26 dead and led to the government launching Operation Sindoor. He stocked up rations for three months, a bunch of fully-charged power banks, flashlights, ample cash, and essential medicines. And is still feeling "extremely anxious" and "at a loss". "I feel something big is coming and I am not at all prepared to take care of myself and my family. I feel what I am doing may not be enough when it comes down to it. I can't really help feeling this way," he said. While it is one thing to be anxious about the unknown as the threat of war looms overhead, being prepared for any untoward outcome can also cause anxiety. Senior family therapist Maitri Chand said paying heed to sirens, blackout drills, and stocking up essentials might give a sense of preparedness for people and also induce anxiety at the same time. "It's a tightrope to walk on where we have to find our own balance. It is difficult to stay calm and collected, especially when most people around you are coming from a frenzied space that is induced by anxiety and fear," Chand said. In such circumstances, people must anchor themselves with "reaffirming positive thoughts" that they will come out of it and be able to take care of their loved ones when the time comes. Chand advised people to engage in meditation, even for a few minutes through the day, believe in a belief system, not necessarily a religious one, and help others with their fears and anxieties. "The thing about fear and anxiety is that other people around us can catch it from us very quickly. So meditation becomes very vital for you to sit in quiet silence, where you are able to reassure yourself. "Focussing on some kind of belief system also helps. Belief in something bigger, greater than yourself. And if you can help somebody feel better, if you can help someone lower their anxiety or fear that will be very helpful," she said.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bookshelf: What we're reading in April
Since most day-to-day operations in journalism are far from glamorous, it's fun to dig into stories where reporters are leading more exciting lives. Enter Jake Adelstein and "Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan." Described as "newspaper noir," this memoir charts Adelstein's journey from cub reporter to an investigative journalist with a price on his head. The native Missourian moved to Japan to study Japanese literature and ended up landing a job as the first non-Japanese staff writer at the Yomiuri Shimbun, one of Japan's leading newspapers. As part of the insular Tokyo Metropolitan Police Press Club, he covered the crime beat with stories ranging from extortion and financial wrongdoing to human trafficking and murder. His investigations also lead him to the yakuza, and it is the story about a particular crime boss that leads to his biggest story and the threat to his life. The book's title may seem familiar since it was turned into a Max original series in 2022, which lasted two seasons. Of course, this is a books column so before you dig into the show, pick up the book and enjoy a vicarious adventure into reporting. Readers looking for even more danger can turn to "The Night of Baba Yaga" by Japanese author Akira Otani. Publisher Soho Crime may have put it best in its description of the book as "'Kill Bill' meets 'The Handmaiden' meets 'Thelma and Louise.'" This is Otani's first book available in English, masterfully handled by International Booker–shortlisted translator Sam Bett. You can't help but be drawn in from the opening line: "The white sedan, reeking of blood and cigarettes, shot west into the setting sun." The book centers on an unlikely duo: a fierce mixed-race fighter and the sheltered daughter of a crime boss whom she protects. After a run-in with a group of "white shirts" (henchmen), Yoriko Shindo is told she can live only if she becomes the bodyguard and driver for Shoko Naiki. Facing violence and death from all sides, the two inspire in each other the dream of living freely beyond the rule of the yakuza. Because we're all readers here in this column, I feel comfortable confiding that, despite my best efforts, my efforts to keep up with the growing list of suggested books is falling short. In this case, it's great to throw a few slim volumes into the mix. A new addition is Ling Ma's "Bliss Montage." Ma's debut novel was the 2018 "Severance," a prescient pre-pandemic tale about the societal aftermath following a deadly fever outbreak. The writer followed this up with a number of short stories, some first published in The Atlantic, The New Yorker and Playboy (where she was briefly a copy editor). Many of those stories made their way into "Montage," which takes readers on a variety of journeys, from the mysterious office of a college professor to a Los Angeles home that a woman shares with her 100 ex-boyfriends and her husband, who only speaks in dollar signs. Each one conjures a unique place with engaging prose that keeps your interest. And with some stories only 10 or 20 pages, the collection of short stories offers plenty of options depending on the time you have to read.
