Profession: war correspondent

“I’ll go look at the bodies,” “Do you know how beautiful an explosion?”, “I want to go to war! Everything here is boring and gray,” I hear from my colleagues. Those who have experienced tragedy are usually affected in some way by it. War correspondents are no exception. My questions are answered by Anthony Feinstein, professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto and author of Journalists under Fear: The psychological hazards of covering war.

We thank MIA America TODAY for the photos provided.

– Tell us how you got started. Who was your first patient??

– She was a woman. She came to my clinic 14 years ago. I found her case very interesting, and it was after talking to her that I decided to study posttraumatic syndrome in military correspondents. She worked in Africa for a long time, her cameraman was killed in front of her eyes. Her psychological condition was getting worse and worse, so she started drinking alcohol to relax. She was very much afraid that the management would find out about her problems and fire her. When she came into my office, she couldn’t speak. After the treatment, speech began to return. My patient has gotten better. Subsequently, she decided to retire from war journalism.

– Why do people want to go to war, risk their lives?? What was the underlying motivation??

– There’s a certain group of people who need risk, who can’t live without adventure. It is not only determined by psychological and social factors. Are you familiar with the word monoamine oxidase, or MAO for short??

– I think it’s something from biology..

– That’s right. This is an enzyme that breaks down neurotransmitters adrenaline, norepinephrine, dopamine and others . Numerous studies have shown that the lower the MAO level, the greater the propensity to take risks. To work as a war reporter for many years, you have to have certain biological. Otherwise, your body can’t handle it: it’s too dangerous.

– So if I go to war for the first time, can you tell me what my chances are??

– I will be able to tell if you have a predisposition to this profession. But I can’t predict if you’re going to be okay or not, how susceptible you are to PTSD. It’s all much more complicated than that.

– What percentage of journalists suffer from PTSD??

– About 25 percent, and that’s more than the military.

– And how is it different from normal stress??

– There are three groups of symptoms. The first is intrusive traumatic memories, nightmares. The second one is the problem of interpersonal communication, isolation from society. The third is associated with physical manifestations: headaches, memory disorders, inability to concentrate. If you suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, you should have all three groups of symptoms. And last more than a month.

– What may be the consequences?

– There can be very serious problems at work and in relationships. Drug addiction, alcoholism. We try not to talk about it, but there’s a possibility of suicide. Journalists suffering from post-traumatic syndrome need treatment. After therapy you can go back to work and go back to conflict zones. When it comes to personal life, the divorce rate is quite high. One reporter recounted how he went into a frenzy after his wife called. She called him and told him she had a huge problem: her washing machine had broken down. There are other problems in his reality. According to my research, the strongest unions are those where both partners are journalists.

– Are there gender differences? Who is more prone to frustration: women or men??

– Women are more prone to depression. There are cases where post-traumatic syndromes occur after childbirth. One of my patients became plagued by nightmarish memories after she had her baby. Before that, she had been to “hot spots” many times and did not suffer from any mental disorders. Women also have a higher incidence of alcoholism.

– Are there differences between writers, photographers and cameramen?

– Remember Capa’s famous statement: “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you weren’t close enough.”? Photographers come closest, and post-traumatic stress disorder is more common among them.

– When you work with photographers, you look at their photos? Is there any relation between the image and the psychological state??

– Interesting question! No, I’ve never done that. All war photographers shoot terrible things. Many of their pictures will never be published, and we will never see them.

– Does post-traumatic stress disorder depend on the country in which the journalist works??

– I don’t know. And I don’t think anyone knows. No such studies have been done. But most reporters think Chechnya is the most dangerous region.

– Have you ever worked with journalists from Islamic countries?

– No. But once I was asked to conduct a joint seminar for Israeli and Palestinian journalists. And here’s the interesting thing: all the Israeli reporters knew very well about PTSD and its consequences, while their Palestinian colleagues heard about it from me for the first time. Men didn’t want to hear anything and said they weren’t interested and didn’t need it. The women, on the other hand, were curious.

– Regarding employers: can they help journalists and how?

– Don’t underestimate the role of editors. They have to be very attentive to journalists who work in hot spots. I don’t think they can be therapists. But if they notice changes in the journalist’s psychological state, they may suggest seeking help. Unfortunately, often editors do not pay attention and do not want to listen. A journalist shouldn’t be afraid of punishment, shouldn’t be afraid of being fired – she should have complete trust in her editor. I really like CNN’s approach. They are quite serious about psychological help.

– It’s part of the insurance?

– No, it’s not part of the health insurance. I can tell you about my experience. NNN invites me to give lectures and seminars. When a journalist goes to a conflict zone, he already knows about me and can always call me and talk to me. Or I call him. When he comes back, I can fly to him. I’m available anytime. This is how CNN works. They can’t put a guard on every journalist to ensure their physical safety. But they can always guarantee him psychological help. I also conduct seminars for editors and managers. Education is very important, you have to educate the leadership. It is much harder for freelancers, and in matters of physical security, too.

– Do you also work with relatives and friends of journalists??

– Several years ago I worked with the New York Times. They have a wonderful practice: they inform the families of journalists working in conflict zones about what is going on, where their husband, brother or father is at the moment. This way relatives are not forgotten, they are aware of everything that is going on. A woman wrote me: “A war reporter’s wife should not be selfish. Two selfish people in the family is too much.

– On your website.com a journalist can determine his psychological state. What it takes to do that?

– You have to text me and I’ll send you the password. Then you have to answer a series of questions. This is completely confidential. No one but me will have access to this information. The answers will determine if everything is okay or if help from a therapist is needed.

– If the journalist doesn’t want to get help and his condition is getting worse, are there any ways his relatives can influence and help??

– This profession has developed a macho culture. It’s not customary to talk about personal feelings. But people have to want to get better themselves. I can’t come in and say, “Hey buddy, you gotta do it, you gotta listen to me!”. This is not how therapy works. The main thing is to take the first step yourself.