Current:Home > ScamsVideos like the Tyre Nichols footage can be traumatic. An expert shares ways to cope-InfoLens
Videos like the Tyre Nichols footage can be traumatic. An expert shares ways to cope
View Date:2024-12-23 15:01:12
Video footage of the moments leading up to Tyre Nichols' death, for which five Memphis police officers have been charged, is expected to be released later Friday.
Monnica Williams, a clinical psychologist and expert on race-based trauma, said videos containing violence and death are incredibly stressful and should be viewed sparingly.
"Seeing things that happen like this to other people from your community broadly can have some traumatizing effects, especially if you're part of a stigmatized of minoritized group that's often dealing with trauma like this," Williams told NPR.
Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, was beaten severely after being pulled over on suspicion of reckless driving on Jan. 7. He died in a hospital three days later.
Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis said the recordings, which include body cam, dash cam and other surveillance footage, will be made public out of transparency sometime after 7 p.m. ET Friday. But she warned that the incident was "heinous, reckless and inhumane."
Here are some helpful reminders on how to cope.
Remember, you don't have to watch the video to stay informed about the case
Williams' main advice is to not watch the footage if you can.
"This is really the message I want people to have: Don't watch them," she said. "If you want to watch it, you should ask yourself, why do I want to watch this?"
She understands some people may be obligated to see it, depending on their job or connection to the case, but for the vast majority of people, violent videos tend to do more harm than good.
Williams added that there are other ways to stay informed on the case without seeing graphic videos or images, which tend to have a stronger effect on the brain than simply reading an article about it.
"These videos are not good for your mental health and they don't make us a better society," Williams said.
Before the footage is released, check in with yourself
In anticipation of the video and descriptions around it, Williams urges people to pause to assess how much information they can handle.
"Anxious or stressed or nervous? These might be good signs that you want to take it easy and maybe you don't need to watch it," she said.
Williams also recommends digesting the news and content in moderation depending on how they are feeling.
"People can wait until they feel ready. They don't have to do it right now," she said. "Or they can decide that they only want a small amount of information about what happened."
Signs of stress and trauma can show up immediately or in a few weeks
People can experience forms of post-traumatic stress disorder from watching distressing videos, Williams said. Those symptoms include trouble sleeping, having images replaying in your mind, or feeling jumpy, restless or moody.
Sometimes, those symptoms do not show up until later.
Williams pointed to a 2018 study in The Lancet about police killings and their spillover effects on the mental health of Black Americans. Research showed that Black people continued to be affected by a fatal encounter between police and an unarmed Black person months after first hearing about it.
Feeling numb can also be a sign of trauma and it should be taken as seriously as other symptoms, Williams added.
Lean on people you can trust and who can relate to how you're feeling
One of the best ways to deal with this kind of trauma is to talk to other people.
"Have conversations with people who get it and who are going to be a source of support and comfort," Williams said.
It is also important to "rebalance your sense of equilibrium," by taking time out of the office, going on a walk or a drive and spending time away from the news cycle and social media, she added.
veryGood! (1)
Related
- Wildfires burn on both coasts. Is climate change to blame?
- No testimony from Florida white woman accused of manslaughter in fatal shooting of Black neighbor
- PHOTO COLLECTION: AP Top Photos of the Day Thursday August 15, 2024
- NASA Shares Update on Astronauts Stuck Indefinitely in Space
- DWTS' Gleb Savchenko Shares Why He Ended Brooks Nader Romance Through Text Message
- Ex-YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki dies a year after stepping down. Who is the current CEO?
- Britney Spears' Ex Sam Asghari Reveals Special Girl in His Life—But It's Not What You Think
- 'Jackpot!' star John Cena loves rappers, good coffee and a fine tailored suit
- Man gets a life sentence in the shotgun death of a New Mexico police officer
- Rare mammoth tusk found in Mississippi is a first-of-its-kind discovery
Ranking
- The Stanley x LoveShackFancy Collaboration That Sold Out in Minutes Is Back for Part 2—Don’t Miss Out!
- Get 70% Off Kate Spade, 70% Off Coach, 40% Off Banana Republic, 40% Off Disney & Today's Top Deals
- Demi Lovato opens up about how 'daddy issues' led her to chase child stardom, success
- Zelenskyy says Ukrainian troops have taken full control of the Russian town of Sudzha
- Minnesota county to pay $3.4M to end lawsuit over detainee’s death
- US shoppers sharply boosted spending at retailers in July despite higher prices
- Get 10 free boneless wings with your order at Buffalo Wild Wings: How to get the deal
- Montana Supreme Court rules minors don’t need parental permission for abortion
Recommendation
-
A wayward sea turtle wound up in the Netherlands. A rescue brought it thousands of miles back home
-
As school bus burned, driver's heroic actions helped save Colorado kids, authorities say
-
Bills LB Matt Milano out indefinitely with torn biceps
-
Andrew Shue's Sister Elisabeth Shares Rare Update on His Life Amid Marilee Fiebig Romance
-
Song Jae-lim, Moon Embracing the Sun Actor, Dead at 39
-
Kansas City Chiefs player offers to cover $1.5M in stolen chicken wings to free woman
-
Alabama lawyer accused of sexually assaulting handcuffed inmate, lawsuit says
-
Proposal to allow local police to make arrests near Arizona border with Mexico will appear on ballot