I can say that freelancers are particularly vulnerable. If news companies are not yet addressing this properly for staff reporters, you can just imagine how little support freelancers receive.

I also think it is very very important to point out that the first attention to PTSD or victimization of reporters came from mental health professionals who did not and still do not have a firm understanding of the sources for acute stress for reporters. They immediately grasped that reporters exposed to violence or war could become traumatized, but fail yet to acknowledge that journalists targeted in retaliation for their work -- having their careers targeted or otherwise -- face serious stress. Because of this lack of inclusion in the early discussions on trauma to journalists, those dealing with this still felt isolated and ignored and still do.

In the US, Europe, Australia and other relatively free-press nations, it is even more ignored, as if the government or other story sources in these nations are not capable of and do not target reporters when they do.

I have encountered this here in the US and received almost no support at all and almost nothing in the literature about trauma to journalists. For instance a group that caters to the reporters covering war and their stress is going to make a journalist targeted by US governent officials for her work feel left out.

There needs to be an exansion in understanding, more inclusion and serious aknowledgment that the two most common, main sources of serious stress in the professional lives of journalists are 1. exposure to trauma, such as violence, war, crime, epidemics, natural disasters and so on; and 2. Targeting and retaliation for their work.

The former has received enormous attention in recent years-- long overdue-- but the latter has received little. It can be more severe. Having covered treumatic events, I have had some effects, but it was nothing compared to the threats to my work by those who have targeted me to get me off stories. Long term smear campaigns, pressure on publishers to remove me, constant intimidation suggesting arrest, or bad outcomes if I continue and so on. That is stress.

It gets little to no press coverage. But it is insidious. It preys on any weakness to fear or favor in reporting by publishers. It seeks to put a wedge between the reporter and her support systems.

An arrest of a reporter at the Republican Convention here in the states, or a World Bank protest, or a reporter being stopped at an International border is likely to get more coverage and more sympathy than a journlist enduring months and months of seemingly endless intimidation, threats of arrest, seriously damaging defamation and so on.

Colleagues are at some fault here, quite a bit actually --- a surprisingly large number cast a wary eye towards reporters snagged in a targeting effort and sometimes simply drink the Koolade without bothering to check the facts at all, precisely when the targeted reporters most need careful review by colleagues.

I believe the employers of those journalists should take responsibility for the mental damages caused to journalists who are exposed to this kind of trauma .casino online

after covering a government sponsored genocide and seeing over 10,000 people butchered and kids rendered orphan and all this being justified, i slipped into depression. There was one particular moment when I was walking and It was a religious place so i had to be barefeet and there I saw something touching me. Fingers of some child butchered by the fanatics. This image became terribly haunting. I lost sleep. Gained terrible weight Over 20 kilograms in a year. slipped into depression and generally lost interest in life. family life suffered too. Later on, I took on to yoga. Meditative techniques and chan ting of Sanskrit shlokas is gradually helping me. Pity that corporates and news paper barons fight for justice and put lives of news persons in danger but it is actually injustice that they do not invest in their reporters' mental health. at least in my part of the world D Gujarat, INDIA>

It took me a year since I realized I had what you call here PTSD. After the shock I got during reporting about the war in my country, I became completely isolated. I could wake up and start looking for my mobile phone all the time at night when there was a thunder storm or a strong sound of airplane. I was getting crazy till more than year being like this I got a dog and my friend came to live with me for about a month. Then I realized I had problems with communication and started looking for ways out. I can say I am still recovering by rethinking the war and the last year, and planning my future.

for those that are about to take up such assignments, try as much as possible not to allow such happenings affect your emotions by keeping an emotional distance from the happenings you encounter as you do your daily job. tell yourself that it is not your fault that such negative happenings occur and do your best to help the situation by highlighting the problem through effective story-telling of the issue. E. A Omordia

Speaking from experience as a person who has suffered post traumatic stress, I would strongly recommend mental health therapy. It helped me and I believe it would help anyone in such condition to a great extent. Bukola

I think we also need to recognize that often those suffering from PTSD and other trauma-associated stress often don't realize what's happening. As such, it is important that those journalists who may be reporting on difficult issues or in conflict situations should be provided with information on how to self-evaluate at least on a basic level. If someone doesn't know they're suffering from trauma then they can't seek help.

Michelle Betz Media Development Consultant

If I got mental trauma, I'll read classic novels such as War&Peace, Gone with the Wind, and also love stories. Then I'll watch movies such as Dr.Zhivago, My Fair Lady and other Marlyn Monroe's. Then I'll play Micheal Jackson's. But I cannot advice P.T.S.D. patients like me because they almost nearly all victims are ignorant and villagers. They are Nargis victims. So I share them appropriate medical treatment, warm words of encouragement. I've been many times to Nargis-hit area together YMCA,Yangon. I saw many ill patients at that areas. I try for them as much as I can.

21 Things You Can Do While You're Living Through a CrisisShare by Dr. Mark Lerner, President, Institute for Traumatic Stress

1. Take immediate action to ensure your physical safety and the safety of others. If possible, remove yourself from the event/scene in order to avoid further traumatic exposure.

2. Address your acute medical needs. If you’re having difficulty breathing, experiencing chest pains or palpitations, seek immediate medical attention.

3. Find a safe place that offers shelter, water, food and sanitation.

4. Become aware of how the event is affecting you (your feelings, thoughts, actions and your physical and spiritual reactions).

5. Know that your reactions are normal responses to an abnormal event. You are not “losing it” or “going crazy.” It’s okay not to be okay, right now.

6. Speak with your physician or healthcare provider and make him/her aware of what has happened to you.

7. Be aware of how you’re holding-up when there are children around you. Children will take their cues from the adults around them.

8. Try to obtain information. Knowing the facts about what has happened will help you to keep functioning.

9. If possible, surround yourself with family and loved ones. Realize that the event is likely affecting them, too.

10. Tell your story. And allow yourself to feel. It’s okay not to be okay during a traumatic experience.

11. You may experience a desire to withdraw and isolate, causing a strain on significant others. Resist the urge to shut down and retreat into your own world.

12. Traumatic stress may compromise your ability to think clearly. If you find it difficult to concentrate when someone is speaking to you, focus on the specific words they are saying and work to actively listen. Slow down the conversation and try repeating what you have just heard.

13. Don’t make important decisions when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Allow trusted family members or friends to assist you with necessary decision-making.

14. If stress is causing you to react physically, use controlled breathing techniques to stabilize yourself. Take a slow deep breath by inhaling through your nose, hold your breath for five seconds and then exhale through your mouth. Upon exhalation, think the words “relax,” “let go,” or “I’m handling this.” Repeat this process several times.

15. Realize that repetitive thinking and sleep difficulties are normal reactions. Don’t fight the sleep difficulty. Try the following: eliminate caffeine for four hours prior to your bedtime, create the best sleep environment you can, consider taking a few moments before turning out the lights to write down your thoughts, thus “emptying” your mind.

16. Give yourself permission to rest, relax and engage in non-threatening activity. Read, listen to music, or consider taking a warm bath.

17. Physical exercise may help to dissipate the stress energy that has been generated by your experience. Take a walk, ride a bike, or swim.

18. Create a journal. Writing about your experience may help to expose yourself to painful thoughts and feelings and, ultimately, enable you to assimilate your experience.

19. If you find that your experience is too powerful, allow yourself the advantage of professional and/or spiritual guidance, support and education.

20. Try to maintain your schedule. Traumatic events will disrupt the sense of normalcy. We are all creatures of habit. By maintaining our routines, we can maintain a sense of control at a time when circumstances may lead us to feel a loss of control.

21. Crises present opportunities. Cultivate a mission and purpose. Seize the energy from your experience and use it to propel you to set realistic goals, make decision and take action.

http://www.InstituteforTraumaticStress.org