10/06/2026
With the recent events and unrest in our communities, many of us are feeling a heightened sense of uncertainty, anxiety and distress. For many individuals across Northern Ireland, current tensions do not exist in isolation. Media images, sirens, and community disruption can deeply resonate with past experiences, triggering historical trauma, grief, a sense of anxiety and fear. If you or your child is feeling overwhelmed, please know that your reaction is a natural response to stressful circumstances.
Peace is not just the absence of conflict; it is the presence of safety, connection, and emotional well-being within ourselves, our families and our neighbourhoods. Whilst we might all have our own opinions and moral stance, during times like these, taking proactive steps to protect your own peace and emotional well-being is important.
How to care for your inner peace right now:
--Take a break from social media: Continuous scrolling or watching footage of unrest can add to anxiety and distress. Try limiting your social media and news intake.
-Focus on the immediate present: When anxiety increases, gently bring your focus back to your immediate surroundings, acknowledging what you can see, hear, touch, smell and take a gentle breath.
-Give your body a break: Unrest triggers a "fight-or-flight" response. Gentle movement, gentle breathing and if you can go out in nature (safely) this will help you to calm and just be in the present moment.
-Keep routines predictable and language simple: For children (and adults), sticking to regular daily routines like mealtimes and bedtimes signals a sense of safety and predictability when everything else feels unsettled. Use simple, reassuring language. Children don't need to know the details. What they do need to know: "You are safe, I am here, and we are together".
Peace from us to you,
Heart Therapy NI team
