The Boston Marathon Bombings: You Don’t Have to Watch the Media Coverage

Regarding the bombings at the Boston Marathon in the United States

It’s so important to remember that we don’t have to follow the news if
it upsets us.  We can read about it next week- or ask others for an
update.

A 24 hour CNN stream of the aftermath of this event is detrimental if you are not doing well. 

If you are upset right now,  I highly suggest staying off the internet
and turning off the TV. That is what I do.  Anxiety, especially OCD,
paranoia, fear, depression and worry about the future can be triggered. I
always remind myself that I can learn about a world event and then let it
go. If donations are needed, I always find it helps to support an
organization like the Red Cross.

There is a disaster relief donation button on the Red Cross website here.

Does anyone have other donation ideas where we can help, but don’t have to get overwhelmed by the situation?  I will follow my own advice- even though it’s so ingrained in us to follow a story minute by minute.

If you are in Boston, how are you? Julie

4/16/13   It’s the second day.  I stuck to my own advice, though it was hard and didn’t watch any coverage. I knew I wanted to have an update this morning, so I went to CNN. I wanted to see if there were any news on how it happened.  Instead, I read a personal story of a 78 year old runner who is the one in the picture where he has fallen down and the cops are running towards the blast. I then saw some very upsetting pictures and I had to stop.  I had the info I wanted. There was no news on why this happened.

I trust my bipolar reaction more than my personal reaction. I can handle the news- bipolar often can’t.

Go easy on yourself.  Turning it off doesn’t mean you don’t care.  julie