Over the past couple of weeks, people have been talking about the tragic loss of the 9 people who lost lives in the recent helicopter crash. It completely took over the world of sports and you could hardly look at your social media feeds without seeing something about this heartbreaking loss.
One of the overwhelming themes was that this one just felt different, a sentiment that has been shared by multiple patients I have visited with since that time. For some, it was because a beloved sports icon, who seemed invincible, was on board. For others, it was the fact that there were children on board. Then there were those who were struck by the thought of the loved ones left behind to mourn a husband, wife, parent, sibling or child.
While we all know that death is certain (and uncertain), we still tend to think of it as something that will happen when we are much older and have lived a long, full life. We don’t allow ourselves to think about the fact that any of us could die before we get home at the end of the day and we don’t think about the fact that our loved ones could face that same fate. But when tragedy hits, it causes us to face our own mortality and the effect that has on us can either have a positive or negative impact on our mental health.
On the positive side, some people come out of tragedy with a new level of motivation to accomplish their goals, because they see it as a challenge to make the most out of whatever time is left. This can help people get out of ruts they have sometimes been in for long periods of time and feel better about themselves.
Others can use news like this to mend broken relationships. Out of tragedy, they realize that whatever they are arguing about seems very small when you think of lives lost and the fact that unexpected death closes the door for reconciliation forever.
For others, tragedies like this cause them to take better care of themselves. Even if the initial tragedy has nothing to do with physical health, there are still those who decide to work on their health goals because they are reminded that life is precious and that whatever time they have left, they want to be healthy and functioning to the top of their ability. When you are paying attention to your diet and exercising, you can’t help but have improved mental health.
On the other side, there are those who come out of tragedy with a decline in their overall mental health. Some who fall on this side of thinking can become paralyzed with anxiety and fear to the point that they find it difficult to enjoy life. This can lead to isolation and weakening of relationships that were once strong. Others see themselves as powerless and think that there is no point in pursuing their goals because life can end so quickly and without warning.
This lack of motivation and negative thinking can lead to a decline in mood. Then there are people who, instead of caring more for their bodies, decide that there is no point and are more careless with their decisions. This behavior could have dire consequences that negatively affect both physical and mental health.
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No matter the magnitude of the tragedy, facing your own mortality is normal. While none of us can prevent it from happening, we all have control over how we respond. If you aren’t happy with your response, working with a mental health professional can be instrumental in preventing these feelings from becoming long term issues and improve your overall functioning.
Dr. Nicole Washington is a board-certified psychiatrist, speaker, author and host of The C-Suite Confidant, a biweekly podcast covering topics pertinent to mental wellness for the high performer. She enjoys discussing and providing education on all things mental wellness in hopes of decreasing the stigma associated with mental health issues.
