By Ebere Agozie
Mr Lanre Arogundade, the Executive Secretary, International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos says Journalists covering dangerous assignments must undergo training on how to be security conscious, stay safe and manage stress and trauma.
Arogundade said this during a one-day webinar on `safety, security and management of trauma in covering dangerous assignments.
The training was organized by the IPC, in conjunction with the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) and was aimed at helping journalists build their technical and journalistic skills on the essentials of safety in investigative reporting, digital security and management of post-traumatic stress disorder.
He said that it was meant to enable journalists manage difficult safety challenges faced while carrying out their work.
“It will also help journalists to be able to practice with increased confidence and manage dangerous situations effectively’’.
Dr Uzo Israel of the Department of Psychology, Unilag and Consultant Clinical Psychologist said that fear triggers over 1,400 physical and chemical stress reactions and activates more than 30 different hormones and neurotransmitters.
“When the body faces any trigger that leads to a stress response, certain physical processes take place: the body reacts in a primitive sense to what it perceives as impending danger in the “fight-or-flight” response.
“Blood from the skin, organs, and extremities is directed to the brain and larger muscles in preparation to fight the impending danger or flee from it.
“In addition the senses, especially vision and hearing, are heightened, glucose and fatty acids are released into the blood stream for energy, and the immune and digestive systems all shut down to provide one with the necessary energy to fight the stressor. There is therefore heightened arousal”.
Israel highlighted some of the consequences of stress to include sever decline in physical health or mental health,
feelings of anxiety, overall irritability, insecurity, nervousness, social withdrawal and loss of appetite.
Others are insomnia, panic attacks, depression, exhaustion, high or low blood pressure, skin eruptions or rashes, lack of sexual desire (sexual dysfunction), migraine, heart problems among others.
She also noted that Interpreting an event in a negative way is a risk factor for a host of mental health problems.
“Therefore, health psychology will help us understand how psychological factors such as attitudes, beliefs, thoughts, moods, and emotions and overall quality of life can impact a person’s health.
“Research indicates that optimism correlates with a lower likelihood of developing certain diseases while helplessness and pessimism, on the other hand, are associated with depression, stress, weakened immune systems, and increased rates of minor and major ailments”.
She therefore suggested the use of relaxation techniques in managing stress, owing to its counteracting effects since stress usually induces high emotional and physiological arousal.
“Take a lower and deeper respiration and good sleep, moreover, relaxation techniques have no side effects, are inexpensive and are easy to learn and adopt.
“It is self-management and can be used anytime and anywhere, and the results are immediate and can last long.
“Research has also shown that relaxation exercises are as effective as using tranquilizers in stress management. This is why it is not recommended to use relaxation when one is on treatment with anxiolytic drugs or when depressed”, she advised.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that other presenters at the webinar included Mr Fisayo Soyombo, Writer, Editor and Investigative Journalist.
