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Fallout: Too Much Media And Social Media Posts about ISIS [Daesh] And Other Terrorist Attacks Causing PTS?

By Becky Padilla
Published on: 07:19 PST, Jul 16, 2016

Sure, we need to know what’s going on in the world, but is the ad nauseum information streaming one tragedy after another, hour after hour, on every media and social media outlet, causing PTS fallout? We know the Daesh (ISIS) calls for terrorist attacks—constantly. There’s no way for us to avoid being told. But does it have to be the only thing we are told?

Too Much or Just Enough

Syria. Paris. Yemen. Tunisia. Brussels. Turkey. Egypt. San Bernardino, California. Orlando, Florida. One terrorist attack after another. Peaceful protests that turn into cowardly slaughter in Dallas, Texas. Black Lives Matter getting out of hand. Zika Virus. Anything having to do with the Daesh (Islamic State). Another terrorist attack in Nice, France. An attempted coup in Turkey. The U.S. presidential campaign (and government, in general). The anniversary of 9/11 quickly approaching.

We are inundated with too much information. And it is negative information. On every news outlet, social media feed, tweet, app, snap, post, insta-whatever. On television, radio, phone, computer, i-something. It never stops. It’s all around. And that’s just the reporting of the information of what events transpired. The fact that so many horrible, sad, harmful, divisive, deadly events are happening is bad enough.

It’s no wonder there are occasional pictures of cute, fluffy kittens in our social media feeds that say “there’s so much bad stuff going on out there, so here’s something cute instead.”

It’s because we need it.

Post-Traumatic Stress

“Post” means after. “Traumatic” means something that causes trauma, whether physically or psychologically. “Stress” is a response by the body to a specific fear or pain that “disturbs or interferes with the normal physiological equilibrium of an organism.” Put it all together, what does it spell? Not a cheer at a football game, that’s for sure.

PTS results from at least one “shocking, scary, or dangerous event.” This can range anywhere from horrific war action to a loved one dying suddenly and unexpectedly to a car crash to anything that affects a specific person in that way. Not everyone reacts the same way to every shock, nor do they process it or heal from it in the same manner or timeframe.

Some may be affected by PTS immediately, some within three months, some within years of an event. Some may show signs like avoidance—not wanting to go out or be in public areas or around others that remind them of the event. Some may be tense, have difficulty sleeping, or have angry outbursts. Some may have bad dreams or flashbacks. Some may try to deal with it themselves by self-medicating or exhibiting self-destructive behaviors—alcohol, drugs, dangerous activities, risky behaviors.

Information Causing PTS?

So, back to the question: could the over-reporting of tragic information on every media and social media outlet be causing PTS?

No—and yes, says Mary McNaughton-Cassill, a professor at the University of Texas–San Antonio, who studies the “the connection between media consumption and stress.” She points out that causation is tricky, but a person will not suffer from PTS, anxiety, or depression unless they were predisposed to it in the first place, no matter what is blasted over the airwaves.

People who do suffer from those, however, might seek out bad news to match their “moods” or feelings. Also, we must remember that as we sit on our couches in Tennessee or Texas or Turkey, the only view we have of the rest of the world is through our screens, big or small. Whatever news outlet we click on, whatever cable show is airing, whatever tweet pops up in our feed, whatever post makes it to our timeline, whatever chat topic—well, you get the picture—that is the snapshot of information we have to go on, and it will always be an incomplete picture.

A problem comes when the picture we get is “news of every civilian death in Gaza or every Islamic State military advance streamed to you in real time.” No wonder we all think the world is going to hell, because that’s what those reporting want us to think because that’s all they’re reporting, because sensationalism sells. However, we must remember not to rush to judgment or jump to conclusions based on incomplete information. It will only cause further damage, both to ourselves and others.

A Solution

The best way to deal with the influx? Disconnect. Just turn off the electronics. Be conscious of, and monitor, the flow of information coming to you, and get away from it for awhile if it’s becoming too much. It sounds simple, yet for some it isn’t. But it can be done. If you feel yourself becoming overly stressed with information from your media and social media outlets, change or stop the flow of information.

Another thing McNaughton-Cassill suggests is understanding the what and why of your triggers. “The more you understand your own reaction to the news, the easier it will be to shape your news-consumption habits in an adaptive way.”

Stay informed, but don’t let too much media and social media information about ISIS (Daesh) or other terrorist attacks make you feel as if you are headed toward PTS-like feelings. If you or someone you know may actually be suffering from PTS, please call somebody and get a support system in place. It can help immeasurably.

[Photo by Chris Ratcliffe/Getty Images]

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