WHAT SURROUNDS US, PROFOUNDS US

TRIGGER WARNING – RAPE, BRUTALITY, INJUSTICE, OUTRAGE

Our surrounding consists of various elements. Such elements are us, the whole construct, and the customs and pattern of execution of society. We, the people are the real basic foundation of the environment and society.

People from different and all walks make a rigid structure called society. The prevailing structure does surely have an unaccountable number of loopholes. Structures that are run by wholesome organized governments and power bodies yet still lack some basic norms of humanity. Here in this system, people feel affected by someone’s validation or existence, which is quite an obvious thing to happen in the human sphere.

So, in that way certain happening or incidents happening around us, with the people with whom we’re common on the note of humanity really affect us to the core.

When was the last time you’ve found yourself most impacted by the news about any incident? I’d say every day as on the daily basis we intentionally or unintentionally encounter things that affect us in a way that consumes our basic time to give a thought or more about it.

Recently, the Hathras Gangrape Case is the case which has affected me, affected in a way to overthink about it. In the following case, the 20-year-old victim is been brutally assaulted and was tortured up to death and slit her tongue. A week after no proper medical facilitation, the victim is dead. And this news has triggered me to the spine.

Everyone has got their own triggers; this is one of them. This heinous incident reminds me of Nirbhaya Case, 2012 which was this brutal too. I remember myself at that time being so disturbed about the Nirbhaya Case, it led to multiple breakdowns too. I’m having flashbacks of vulnerabilities. For a consistent moment, I think it has impacted a lot of people.

News of such incidents has the potential to trigger stress, irritation, anxiety, depression, sense of being unsafe, and fear. People who have been through assault or recovering from severe trauma, such news can mess it up for them or could worsen up the situation for them.

A sense of belief in humanity and mankind fades with such news. Most people claim an opinion over the situation and socialize about it among their circle and some do believe in sharing one’s opinion on social media platforms. Such sharing and circulation are a firm beginning of the impact of disturbing news on us. The circulation of news does create awareness but on the very same side, it does also make things quite complex for people.

Media circulation and news do impact and shape our beliefs, cognition, and learning patterns. The good news such as achievements tends to be quite informative and positive while on the other hand, bad news does create a sense of inferiority.

‘what we see and have been through, shapes us with the passage of time’

Why do news and media circulations do affect us this much? In my opinion, I think news revolving around crime and negative instances does affect us in a more severe manner.

Considering the current scenario, the crime rate is usually high and no one wishes to imagine oneself in a vast situation and following so people end up taking more strict precautions in order to devoid such situations.

Also, people who empathize more with the victim’s situation got more affected. People who’re outspoken about their take on social issues do find it really valid and more of a duty to raise an unbiased opinion in the support of the most vulnerable aspect.

The passive example of such cause and effect area is public outrage or marches in support or against any interest. People who got involved in such public activities tend to be more empathetic towards the people who’re more vulnerable.

People usually hold a prejudiced approach for predators and for the people who support guilty predators. And in this, the opinions differ from the variation of opinions.

It isn’t easy to cope with the impact of news and headlines which do affect us actively or passively. But I’m going to refer some of the ease out tricks or ideas to get a grip over oneself under certain circumstances:

Meditation and yoga always help to get control over oneself. It will also help you to deal with the triggers. If not meditation and yoga, heavy breathing is the least time-consuming relaxation practice to do under negative circumstances.
Journalizing your opinions is the most recommended venting out the activity. It eases out our thoughts over something which bothers us. But sometimes journalizing doesn’t help us that much as for instance we hope for feedback, then one should look for social media handles to express oneself. The social media expressions should be like which shouldn’t offend or hurt others sentiments.
Consuming selective media platforms and setting rules for oneself over media consumption also helps under certain circumstances. As if a person keeps on witnessing the same news everywhere which bothers them, then it may go to affect them harshly.
People who feel toxic after witnessing some kind of news but the curiosity of knowing the whole picture drives them so they should try to avoid access to such news and prefer to discuss it with family and friends.
People who own a variant opinion from you, we often try to influence them but try not to do so as it is socially toxic and can also seem quite manipulative. Discussion and influencing/manipulation are different things. One should respect others’ opinions either it is active or passive.

Concluding my blog, I’d like to address that our access to media and news do affect us unintentionally, but it is all on us to get a grip and go ahead with things after all it is a long ride which shouldn’t be centred around things which bothers us.