[Jensitive22]

That image, on the news, of the lifeless body of the Syrian toddler lying on the beach, breaks my heart and it makes me furious! Furious at the terrorist groups driving theses people from their homes, furious at the heartless, cold-blooded individuals that are Attempting to profit from their plight and putting them in even worse danger, furious with the bureaucratic red tape that is victimizing them further as they desperately wait to get to a European country willing to give them refuge. It's horrible!! It fills me with sorrow and it fills me with rage.

When I was younger, in my early 20's and as a young mother, I first began to feel things so strongly. I literally cried for days after watching the news story of a shooting at a McDonald's in California in 1984. They showed a picture of a little boy lying dead beside his bike, shot before he could get away. I was horrified and grieved for that boy. We were living with my Father-in-law, a doctor, and he threatened to sedate me if I didn't stop carrying on about it. I knew right then that I needed to get some control over my emotions. But, I have to ask this: is it really so wrong to feel so deeply about the sufferings of fellow human beings, or is the real wrong, our ability to be hardened to the sufferings of others so as not to be moved to action on their behalf?

[Jensitive22]

I don't know what the answers are. People are people. They are capable of acts of love, compassion and bravery that inspire and take your breath away, and they are also capable of such evil and depravity that can rob you of hope. Sometimes I have to look to animals to help me calm down. After I wrote the first thread, I turned away from the news and went on line to the National Zoo Panda Cam. It soothes my heart to watch the mother panda love on her infant cub. She rarely puts him down and is always licking him and adjusting her body so he can nurse comfortably. Watching them together brings some healing.

[~Christina]

I have to be mindful of how much " news horror" I let myself watch, listen and read about.. It's not that I don't care, I care too much and it effects my ability to function in my life.

I am involved in many causes, but I can't allow them to drag me down to where I am a weeping mess. That is no way for me to live and be there for family and friends.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I too have to be careful how much I take in. Sometimes I just cant handle knowing the atrocities going on in this world. Its not that I don't care...its just too much for me to process.

[raspberrytorte]

I don't need to see pictures of dead kids. It's floating around facebook right now. I don't need to see that! It's sad just reading about it. I'm way sensitive about the news pictures I sometimes see.

[Jensitive22]

You are all right, of course. Logically I know this. But there is this part of me... I don't know, maybe it's a part of the disorder, but there is this part of me that feels like I need to stay engaged with it, to bear witness somehow, so that my heart stays tender and doesn't harden. In the past, I would pray, I would pray in intercession. I would feel peace afterwards. I did some praying today. If there are any other believers out there on this forum, please pray for the refugees and also for peace, here in our nation, and abroad.

[BipolaRNurse]

I remember the San Ysidro shootings well. I lived not far from there at the time and was just devastated. I also reacted badly to the Challenger explosion and 9/11, even though I didn't know a soul involved in any of those events. I think it's because I'm one of those "highly sensitive people". A lot of us BPs are.

[wiretwister]

It's called being human to feel for other's pain .....

[Hashi/bipolar mom]

I can totally relate to this. I have to limit how much I watch of the news or read. I don't think it hardens us if we don't watch it. We are just very sensitive people. I've always been able to walk into a room and feel the vibe and what people are feeling. Sometimes it nice other time I hate it.

[Victoria'smom]

I no longer watch news because of stories they cover. The world is full of wonderful people. To give time/energy to the horrible ones makes things that much worse.