Foran graduate Maria Korman has a lot of relatives in Israel such as her aunt, uncle and lots of cousins and nephews.
“I know they are in a safe spot right now but at any moment that could change. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I talk to my immediate family, because they share my worries, but I don’t really feel better. No amount of talking will make the problem go away,” says Korman.
Everyday people can see more and more details about the war in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas, which started on October 7, 2023. There are not many people who want to deal with war and other kinds of murders, but at the same time it’s so important to educate oneself about what is happening in the world. It is necessary to be informed about the war and be able to see the picture objectively. The question is “how” to get informed about this kind of news without damage to one’s mental health.
One of the big points of stable mental health is staying calm even in very stressful situations, which mostly is a skill that all of us can get. On the internet there are a lot of strategies and advice that can help.
That’s what Mr. Jeffrey Raucci, Foran health teacher states:
“My two biggest suggestions are having a strong support system and breathing techniques. Whether it be at home with family, friends, and loved ones, or at school with social workers, teachers, advisors, or coaches, it’s important to find people who care about you and want the best for you. When stressful things happen in your life, they should be people who you feel you can go to and talk things through, vent to, and not feel like you’re burdening them.”
Sharing your thoughts with someone could be very helpful in this situation. It’s always better to know who we can talk to and get support from. Raucci highlights two strategies how to stay calm at the moment when it needs:
“5 finger breathing and box breathing are 2 techniques that I have found to be very powerful in keeping my stress and anxiety at bay.”
Here is a box breathing technique you can use to calm down:
- Inhaling for 4 seconds
- Hold on the breath for 4 seconds
- Breath out for 4 seconds
- Repeat if you feel like you need
Then how to be informed but without damage to mental health? Guidance Counselor Aubry Dove shares that she is an empathetic person and finds it easily affects her mental health to consume too much bad news. Dove pointed out how important it is to find the right amount of news and news sources that help her stay informed and not let it drag her down. She also recommends people to have a balance of good news, recommending @goodnewsdog on Instagram, where there are always some uplifting stories.
There still could be so much news that can anger someone. All injustice and death of many people and children. Some find it difficult to overcome negative feelings while reading news, but Raucci suggests a way to solve this problem:
“I think it’s a powerful skill for students to be able to process their feelings before making a decision. While reading negative news that angers them, it’s important to sit in that moment, see how they feel, why they feel that way, and look towards using that anger in a productive way rather than a destructive way.”
If students are struggling with wartime mental issues/anxiety etc. They are not alone! There always has to be any trusted adult whether it is your couch or a school guidance counselor. No one has to be one to one with their problems.
