The attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on July 13 sent shock waves through the nation. Mental health experts discussed the impact and offered coping tips.
The attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on Saturday, July 13, sent shock waves throughout America, affecting both public figures and private citizens alike.
For the people who witnessed the evil act — whether they were in attendance at the Pennsylvania rally or watching the incident from their homes — such violence can have significant mental and emotional repercussions, experts say.
Fox News Digital spoke with two mental health professionals about how the attack — which left one man dead and three injured, including the former president — can have a widespread psychological impact.
Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist and author based in New York City, said that for the rally attendees, the reaction was likely one of shock and fear.
„In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, there may have been confusion and intense anxiety“, he told Fox News Digital.
„Attendees may also experience a post-traumatic stress response at some point, which includes acute stress reactions, nightmares and heightened arousal in response to stimuli that reminds them of the event.“
In some cases, everyday noises that resemble the popping sound of the gunfire at the event could cause fear and anxiety, Alpert said.
Dr. Zachary Ginder, a psychologist and founder of Pine Siskin Consulting in Riverside, California, shared similar predictions.
„Regardless of party affiliation, violent acts against public figures can significantly impact our collective psyche and lead to feelings of uncertainty, stress and anxiety“, he told Fox News Digital.
„Specifically, they challenge our sense of social order, control, trust, safety and security.“
These events can even dramatically shift a person’s world view, Ginder noted.
