Feeling the Heat: Rising War Anxiety in Modern-Day Germany
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Growing Anxiety Over Potential Conflict Surfaces in Germany among Therapists - Therapist Warns of Growing Anxiety Over Potential Conflicts in Germany
As global conflicts simmer in Ukraine and the Middle East, war anxiety continues to loom large in present-day Germany, marking eight decades since the end of World War II. Psychotherapist and the Federal Chairperson of the Association of Contract Psychotherapists, Mathias Heinicke, has noticed a steady uptick in war-related anxieties within the population.
Heinicke points out that the closer a conflict is geographically, the more prevalent the fear of war becomes. In his line of work, he's observed an increasing number of patients expressing war-related concerns and worries about the future, with the Ukraine conflict playing a significant role in their anxieties.
Besides geography, other factors such as news, images, and social media also fuel war fears. "The disturbing images we encounter, such as bodies lying on the ground, destroyed homes, and shelled children's hospitals, are exceptionally anxiety-inducing," Heinicke opines.
In contrast to the days when one could simply turn off the radio or television, today's digital age means constant exposure to fresh updates, news, images, and videos via smartphones. Social media platforms, particularly those that share information unfiltered and without reflection, shed light on the potential impact of such channels on our war fears, destruction, and anxiety about the future.
War anxiety isn't a defined psychological term, but its symptoms - including tension and nervousness, persistent thoughts and rumination, panic attacks, headaches, irregular heart rhythms, or irritability - are all too familiar.
Heinicke recommends that those vulnerable to war anxiety should consider filtering their own media to screen out potentially distressing content. "I don't need to watch everything that theoretically could be accessible," he advises. In other words, set those boundaries and selectively opt out of content that might spark unnecessary worry.
- Psychotherapist Mathias Heinicke, the Federal Chairperson of the Association of Contract Psychotherapists, has noticed an increase in war-related anxieties among the German population.
- He suggests that the geographical proximity of conflicts plays a significant role in fueling war fears, observing an increasing number of patients expressing concerns about current conflicts, particularly in Ukraine.
- Beyond geography, the digital age and constant exposure to news, images, and social media contribute to the anxiety, as the disturbing content can be particularly anxiety-inducing.
- Social media platforms, particularly those that share unfiltered and uncensored content, have the potential to increase our war fears, destruction, and anxiety about the future.
- War anxiety may not be a defined psychological term, but its symptoms - including tension, persistent thoughts, panic attacks, headaches, irregular heart rhythms, or irritability - are all too familiar.
- To manage war anxiety, Heinicke advises individuals to filter their media and set personal boundaries, opting out of content that might needlessly stir up worry.
- In general, Heinicke suggests making thoughtful decisions about the media we consume, recognizing the potential impact it can have on our mental health and wellness, especially during times of conflict.
