As scenes of war in Gaza continue to flood social media, mental health experts warn that repeated exposure to graphic and violent images can trigger secondary trauma.

People may experience feelings of anxiety, guilt and emotional burnout, said Dr. Arash Javanbakht, a trauma psychiatrist, but they do not have to suffer. In an interview, he provided tips on how to cope and when to step away from the screen.

Javanbakht is the founding director of the Stress, Trauma, and Anxiety Research Clinic (STARC) at the Wayne State University School of Medicine and author of the book "Afraid: Understanding the Purpose of Fear and Harnessing the Power of Anxiety."

Limit screen time

Javanbakht warned against overconsumption of graphic content, calling it “disaster pornography.” He suggested limiting on

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