Violent and disturbing war images from the Mideast can stir deep emotions − a PTSD expert explains how to protect yourself and your kids from overexposure

Images of devastation, like the one shown here following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip, can take a heavy mental toll. AP Photo/Mohammed Dahman

The past few years have been filled with a seemingly endless stream of painful stories and images coming from across the globe, including the loss of more than 3 million people to the COVID-19 pandemic and the widespread trauma inflicted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Now, in late October 2023, the tragic loss of thousands of innocent civilian lives in Israel and Palestine is dominating headlines and consuming the world’s attention. With each passing day of the ongoing war in Gaza and the gruesome news that it brings, many of us find ourselves checking the news the minute we wake up and last thing before going to bed.