Mr Kalbitzer, after two years of a pandemic, Russian President Vladimir Putin has now started a war a few 100 kilometers from us.

What does that do to us?

Julia Anton

Editor in the society department at FAZ.NET

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The problem is that due to the corona pandemic and the time with Donald Trump as US President, we are in a constant mode of fear on the one hand and in a mode of quick anger on the other.

It has become a ritual for many of us to grab our cell phone or tablet and check the latest news immediately after getting up and during every break.

It is basically a natural, human reflex to check one's environment for dangers in order to be able to prepare or protect oneself if necessary.

But now a situation has arisen in which we have an augmented reality.

The vast majority of us here in Germany live relatively safely all the time, but with the overlay of frightening news, we are in a basic state of hyper-excitement.

At the same time, unlike the people in Ukraine, we are not yet experiencing any immediate threat in relation to the war.

There are two wars that are currently being waged: Firstly, the terrible war in Ukraine, which is being waged with military weapons.

On the other hand, a war for information and the sovereignty of interpretation.

In Russia, because of the propaganda, many people don't even know what's actually happening in Ukraine.

In Germany, too, we lost many people to alternative news during the corona pandemic.

They live in a parallel world and no longer believe many facts.

We have to realize that this is the debate that is taking place here.

But we also need to look at the positive in response to this crisis: namely, that people are fighting for justice and freedom again.

What else will help us to overcome this crisis?

Because we've been in this crisis mode for so long, it's hard for us to switch off.

That's why it's often a good solution to get angry about the fear and say: "I'm fed up now, I don't want to let the fear rule me anymore, I want to take an active part in life again and socialize with people." When the last corona-related restrictions fall in just under three weeks, you should use these opportunities.

It's also okay to decide: I'll only read the news once a day now and ask specific questions - but afterwards I'll take part in life here, right around me.

Anger over fear can help with this.

We need to use our feelings: fear is there to wake us up, to protect and take care of ourselves.

Anger helps us distance ourselves from things

that harm us.

This also includes excessive media consumption or social networks, where things can quickly escalate.

To many, this sounds like a moral dilemma: take care of yourself and enjoy yourself while having images of tanks and war refugees in your head.

You have to find a good balance there.

Anyone who no longer enjoys anything at all is quickly exhausted and depressed - and then is no longer of any help.

That's why you need a balance between being withdrawn, relaxed and with friends, and using your resources to keep pushing and gathering information to make an appropriate decision.

Precisely because this crisis is sometimes so abstract for us, it is important to create a place of retreat.

For example, you could say: At home with my family, I no longer read the news, my thoughts are with the people who are with me.

At other times, I look for specific places where I can get involved: for example with an aid organization or with me in the community.