After Bondi: How to cope with traumatic news

The news about the Bondi shooting last week shook Australia to its core. For those of us who recall Port Arthur, 9/11 or the Black Summer Bushfires, the sense of grief, pain and disbelief is similar. People who are connected to the event – whether they live near Bondi, are apart of the Jewish or Muslin communities, or know someone impacted by it, they are facing a holiday season that looks vastly different to what they ever expected.

Some years ago, we published this piece about how to process traumatic news. In the face of crises, natural disaster and terrorism attacks, it still remains as important as ever. In the wake of the evil we witnessed at Bondi, give yourself a chance to process what you have seen and heard. These moments change us as a country and as individuals, and by choosing to do this mindfully we can grow, heal and create a safer future.

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Often when we watch the news, it feels like a constant barrage of heart break, negativity and evil is being thrown at us. It is important that we are informed and know what is going on in the world, but what do we do when it all becomes too much? There is a fine line between awareness and feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders. Many of us will feel a ball of anxiety sitting in our chest, may find it harder to sleep, and can replay scenes and headlines through our head long after the event has passed.

It is important that you know it is okay to feel like this. You don’t have to be directly impacted by traumatic news or a crisis to feel the effects of it, and we will frequently see our loved ones respond to these reports in a way that is damaging to their physical and mental health.

In this illustrated guide prepared by Lucy Fahey of ABC News, we are shown how traumatic news affects us. In fact, over 6 hours of news coverage a day has been shown to significantly impact people. It can change our mindsets, make us feel isolated, and can impact our normal, everyday activities. By highlighting the basic steps we can take to care for children and ourselves when traumatic news airs, we can implement the coping strategies we need to care for our wellbeing.