When Tragedy Strikes Public Figures
This week the world has been sharing their sadness about the untimely death of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna Bryant and seven other passengers who died in a private helicopter ride en-route to basketball practice. When tragedy strikes public figures many of us personalize the situation. We connect that person to our lives or the lives of those close to us. We try look for common ground. “I went to the same high school, or we enjoyed the same hobby etc.” Often times the celebrity/public figure is untouchable in our mind. We don’t think that they are susceptible to tragedy the same way a non famous person would be.
In our current climate where we have access to news and information around the clock its important that we take the time to slow down and pay attention to what we need. Listening/watching the same loop on media outlets could be adding to your anxiety. Your levels of stress might increase, or you may be extra sad because you can’t get away from the information as its available everywhere. Additionally, you may notice that public events like this hit close to home as they remind you of a personal tragedy or unresolved matters in your life that you would like to address. Here are some things you can do to care of yourself in the meantime:
Limit your media intake. That’s right turn the t.v. off and resist the urge to get on social media. Give yourself time to process your own feelings around what’s happening. Give yourself the freedom to have a day off without feeling compelled to watch the news for the latest updates.
Connect with real people around you. Call a friend ask them if they would like to meetup for coffee. Reach out to that family member or friend that has been on your mind but you have not made time to call or stop by to see them.
Schedule an appointment with a mental health professional. Don’t feel ashamed. You can talk with a therapist about whatever is affecting you right now in this moment. A therapist will help you process your feelings and come up with a plan to move you forward. You may be surprised how helpful talking to a trained professional is.
