4 March 2026
1 month

Coping with current events in the Middle East: Understanding your own reaction

Kaitlyn Ivory

Distance doesn’t protect your nervous system from the events unfolding in the Middle East. Whether you’re worrying about loved ones in affected areas or feeling sadness and anxiety watching events unfold, or living with uncertainty about the future, your body may respond as if the threat is immediate. Trauma can be primary (direct exposure) or secondary (witnessing from afar), and both trigger the same physiological responses: feeling caught off-guard, powerless, or emotionally flooded.

Trauma typically involves four elements: the situation was unexpected, you were unprepared for its emotional impact, you feel a lack of control, and powerlessness over the outcome. Understanding that these reactions are normal responses to abnormal events, rather than personal failings, is the first step toward stabilization.

Stabilize yourself: Address your immediate needs (eat, hydrate, rest) before attempting to comfort others. You cannot pour from an empty cup.

For immediate grounding techniques and a deeper understanding of trauma responses, access the on-demand webinar, Staying Safe and Resilient in Times of Crisis (English, Hebrew, Arabic).

Immediate support: You’re not alone

Support doesn’t keep business hours, and neither does trauma. Whether anxiety hits at 3 AM or grief surfaces during your workday, you don’t have to wait to get help. Immediate, professional support is available right now, no matter where you are in the world.

For WPO clients, employees, and families:

Workplace Options provides 24/7/365 emotional support through telephone, video, and crisis counseling.

Three ways to access support right now: