Russia invading Ukraine has the entire world in distress, so it's understandable that you might be anxious and overwhelmed too.

If you have been feeling anxious and overwhelmed by the Ukraine-Russian conflict even though you have no direct relation to the crisis, you are not the only one.

Psychotherapist Lucy Beresford says that's an expected reaction regardless of whether you have a directly influenced by it or not.

She said "People tend to feel much better when they are in control of life. Situations, like the pandemic, and now the war in Ukraine can trigger feelings of anxiety, fear, and overwhelm,”

People are already running low on self-preservation reserves as a result of this pandemic, plus having access to all this news through social media and the inability to actually do anything triggers the sense of helplessness causing anxiety, fear and mental distress. We've all caught ourselves thinking "When will these unprecedented times end?"

So if you're wondering why you're feeling more anxious about the news of this war than you have in the past, the most common explanation is that it has to do with your mind and body still trying to recover from the trauma caused by the pandemic.

What can you do to preserve your mental health amongst all the news of the Russian-Ukraine conflict?

FILTER YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA. The amount of noise, insensitivity and racial profiling that has flooded everyone's feeds since Russia attacked Ukraine are beyond ridiculous so try avoiding this kind of content. If you see TikToks about it - mark it as uninterested, avoid posts with hashtags like #ww3. However, if you do want to still follow the updates about what is happening make sure you are accessing this information from reputable sources, here are some of them:

The Kyiv Independent (Twitter: @KyivIndependent) - A leading voice on the front lines, they are covering the full timeline of ongoing events since the beginning and highlighting those affected by the violent attack. It’s an English-language publication that is providing real-time reports on how the invasion and conflict are impacting citizens, the economy, and Ukrainian foreign politics.
The New Voice of Ukraine: They cover news in English, Ukrainian, and Russian — the New Voice of Ukraine is releasing real-time news on the war and they are also a good informative analyses on the situation that detail how the situation led to this point, and is continuously publishing op-eds by Ukranian scholars and experts that help to give a view of tone of the situation.
Kyiv Post (Twitter: @KyivPost) is a non-independent media outlet, and it is important that those following state-funded outlets are aware that they are affiliated with the state. They are affiliated with the state so they are directly delivering breaking news directly from government and national offices, releasing statements from ministry officials, military leads, and other dignitaries.
CNN Reporter Dale Dan is a great source to find sources, especially on Twitter's providing a list of verified journalists reporting the best information about the invasion.
Olga Tokariuk is a verified independent journalist working in Kyiv, sending frequent tweets on the latest information while also capturing the harsh reality of the humanity of living in Kyiv.

How can I help Ukrainians during these attacks?

If you are feeling a sense of helplessness and want to support Ukrainians during this crisis, here are some ways you can help:

1. Donate:

1. Nova Ukraine

Ukraine-based nonprofit, provides citizens with everything from baby food and hygiene products, to clothes and household supplies. Donate here.

2. The Red Cross

The Australian Red Cross is aiming to deliver humanitarian aid. Funds will go to Red Cross teams on the ground, specialist aid workers to assist local teams, emergency relief assistance like shelter and water, and longer-term recovery support. They are also helping people restore contact with family members separated by the crisis.

The Ukrainian Red Cross also is taking donations from abroad to mobilise volunteers and provide resources and support to victims.

3. CARE International

The group is responding to the crisis by providing Ukrainians in need with food, hygiene kits, psychosocial support services, access to water, and access to cash. Donate here.

4. Army SOS

Army SOS uses donated funds to support Ukrainian soldiers in various ways. Its website and Facebook page explain the Army SOS Citizen's Initiative manages purchases of necessary ammunition, shields, intercommunication and reconnaissance facilities, uniforms and food supply.

2. Show your support

1. Show up to rallies and awareness events

The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations is hosting various events to raise awareness regarding the invasion, there have already been a few rallies but the organisers say that there will be more events coming soon.

2. Sign petitions

Some of the petitions you can sign include:

This petition is to urgently call on to agree to an emergency law that would grant temporary protection to those forced to flee Ukraine
40 Ukrainian civil society organizations have come together with six urgent appeals for the world with the Kyiv Declaration, and you can take action to help them get heard. They are requesting safe spaces to be provided for civilians, sanctions on Russian banks, support for local humanitarian responses, freezing the assets and revoking the visas of Putin and his cronies, defensive military assistance, and provision of equipment to track war crimes and ensure that all those responsible are one day brought to justice.

What To Do If You're Feeling Anxious About Ukraine