It is located in the back of Prince Harry’s mind.
Lurking. Languish. Lying asleep. How could he not?
He will always live in fear that he and his wife, Duchess Meghan, will face the same fate as his mother, Princess Diana, who died in a car crash after paparazzi chased her limousine in 1997.
So when Harry and Meghan say they too were recently involved in a car chase in NYC, everyone stopped and wondered. Was this the moment? Was “history repeating itself,” as Harry worried in an interview with Oprah Winfrey several years ago?
We don’t know many of the details about Tuesday night’s incident, nor do we know how Harry and Meghan might be affected by the future.
“Experiencing trauma is one thing; experiencing your worst fear is another,” says Miranda Nadeau, a licensed psychologist. “When you believe your worst fear is coming true, the anguish and overwhelm can be on another level, more intense than even the trauma. Seeing our worst fear come true can destroy our sense of security and stability.”
Mental health professionals also just say thought your worst fear come true is traumatic, and therapy and mindfulness can help you cope with situations like these.
The fears of Prince Harry, Meghan, cars and paparazzi
Harry has been very open about his mental health and the trauma he has faced following his mother’s death. He has also been actively vocal against the tabloids for attacking him and Meghan in the press. But dealing with what may seem like a threat to your safety is another endeavor.
“When faced with a perceived threat, as in Harry and Meghan’s experience, our brains activate the amygdala, which plays a significant role in processing fear and activating the body’s stress response,” says Nadeau. “Research on the psychological consequences of traumatic events suggests that an evaluation of an event as one’s ‘worst fear’ leads to even higher levels of distress and more severe anxiety and depression than a trauma that was not one’s worst fear.”
Such trauma can lead to intense worry in everyday life.
“Whether a person has experienced a traumatic event firsthand or indirectly, they may struggle with anxiety, stress, and intrusive thoughts about it happening again,” says Chase Cassine, a licensed clinical social worker. “Because the trauma they witnessed or experienced serves as living proof that the worst-case scenario can happen and could potentially be a sign that the traumatic event could happen again.”
“A Sense of Impending Doom”
Staring at your worst fear in particular can send shivers down your spine. “It can lead to a deep sense of helplessness, hopelessness and loss of control,” says Nadeau. “You may also experience a sense of impending doom, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, and even physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, or shaking. These reactions are part of the body’s natural fight-or-flight response to perceived danger.”
No two people will react the same way to trauma. “Some people may be avoiding fear, which may leave them indoors, away from cars or heavy traffic, and away from the public,” says Shavonne Moore-Lobban, a licensed psychologist. Others may face fear in an attempt to gain control.
“Sometimes, some people find the concentration and strength they need to act on them and successfully deal with a precarious situation; think of a time when you faced a crisis with calm, courage and precision,” says Cecille Ahrens, an assistant authorized social clinic. “It’s a complex chemical process, however since our nature is to try to ‘survive’ a dangerous environment, we will do what we believe we must do to protect ourselves.”
Trauma and the role therapy can play in healing
Therapy may be the right answer for some people who want to overcome their trauma. While we may not know what will happen in the future, we can prepare our minds and bodies to process whatever comes our way.
“The goal is to help the person be able to ‘unpack’ emotionally and psychologically, feel emotions in a manageable way, and put the event into a perspective that is personally meaningful to the person and supportive of their recovery and recovery,” Ahrens adds.
Nadeau notes that there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and that self-care is also a viable option, “like mindfulness meditation and restorative yoga, or engaging and activating practices, like physical movement and hobbies that bring you joy.” “.
Harry himself has previously discussed using EMDR to cope with flying to London (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), a popular tool therapists use to help patients cope with trauma.
Talking about feelings is an important first step; trauma will not heal overnight.
“Healing and moving forward after your worst fear has been realized takes time and patience,” says Nadeau. “It’s essential to be compassionate with yourself throughout the process and allow yourself to grieve, heal, and rebuild at your own pace.”
More on Prince Harry, Duchess Meghan
The backstoryPrince Harry and Duchess Meghan say they were involved in a ‘near-catastrophic’ car chase with paparazzi
What to know:What really happened during the car chase between Prince Harry and Meghan?
Interesting:Security experts dispute details of Harry and Meghan’s ‘chaotic’ chase with paparazzi
In case of interest:Prince Harry said it was triggered by flying to London and uses EMDR to cope. What is that?
#worst #fear #true