The War is Taking a Psychological Toll on All of Us

The world is watching a profound crisis of human suffering.  The Israel-Hamas war is unleashing a deep, collective emotional response.  Many are now living in legitimate physical threat, loss of life, loss of family and home.  The rest of us are cycling through horror, rage, fear,  sadness and disbelief.  The stories and images are outside of what many can process, not to mention the additional existential crises of the meaning and end result from all of this.

The war is taking a psychological toll on all of us.

The American Psychological Association has put out a warning to monitor consumption of violent news and media to protect mental health.   Part of their statement reads:

Psychological science tells us that fear, anxiety and traumatic stress have long-term effects on health and well-being. These impacts are also being felt by people around the world who have families and friends in the region, as well as those concerned about the effects of war everywhere.

The psychology community stands in solidarity with all who are working to protect and safeguard human life during this conflict. Psychologists are experts in the science of human behavior. Problems cannot be solved without understanding their root cause. Prevention of violent conflict is imperative for a world in which mental health and well-being are the norm, and to achieve peaceful, sustainable societies. We call for peace, dialogue and conflict resolution as a pathway…