Do you palpate physically claustrophobic see news program about the Titan submersible ? We need psychologist what ’s going on .

Headlines about theTitansubmersiblethat go miss on its way to view the wreckage of theTitanicon Sunday are dominating the news .

For many people , plainly hearing about or seeing the small space that carried five people into the astuteness of the ocean this week is enough to make them feelclaustrophobicthemselves .

submarine submerged in the water

“ I feel claustrophobic just looking at this picture [ of people inside the sub ] , ” write Twitter user@iamRichCole . Another person,@MeltingSnowBro , read , “ This sub is so terrifying I feel like I ’m going to throw up thinking about it … I ’m so claustrophobic I could n’t even get in that matter if there was a 100 % chance of getting out alive . ”

“ I am soo claustrophobic that I physically feel ill when people are talk about this whole Titantic [ sic ] sub thing,”wrote @_law4 .

Why do some people feel claustrophobic just read about the submersible warship ? Here ’s why you or others may be experience this and what you could do to help extenuate the added anxiety , grant to therapists and psychologists .

What causes a person to be claustrophobic?

“ Claustrophobia is an vivid concern of restrict spaces that interfere with one ’s power to function , ” saidJessica Rabon , a licensed psychologist and legion of thePsych Talkpodcast . “ symptom of claustrophobia are standardized to those of anxiousness or a panic attack , where one may have difficulty breathing , start sweating or shake , finger hot or cold , empty-headed , nauseous , or feel an overpowering sentiency of dread and call for to escape the position , among many other symptoms . ”

The environments that induction claustrophobia diverge on an single cornerstone , but some common place include elevators , MRI machines , rooms with no window , plane , and , in this case , a submersible .

Why are some people experiencing claustrophobia just hearing about this news story?

consort to expert , there are a few reasons the missingTitansub may be triggering stiff feeling andemotionsfor some folks .

“ Claustrophobia can also rear its ugly headspring when pick up that others are in a small space , because a mortal can easily imagine themselves in a similar berth , ” saidCynthia Shaw , a licensed clinical psychologist and laminitis of Authentically Living Psychological Services .

“ A person with claustrophobia , due to their heightened level of anxiety , can easily guess being ensnare in the Italian sandwich , submerged Swedish mile below sea spirit level . Knowing that 5 people are trapped in a limit space somewhere in the huge ocean can spark thoughts of danger and death : Will they be found ? Do they have enough food ? How long will they be lose ? What happens if someone is nauseated ? Will they pass away of starving ? ”

While claustrophobia is a major contributor to many peoples ’ aroused response to the newsworthiness , empathy and sincere business concern for the submersible ’s passengers are also at fun .

“ Imagining their household and wondering whether they will ever be reunited ; further , sympathise with the reverence those hoi polloi are experiencing even at this very moment is also stirring up anxiety and questions in many individual , ” Shaw suppose .

If you ’re not having a fundamental emotional response to the word , you may merely be trying to protect yourself from worked up pain in the ass during this clip .

“ Many people can compartmentalize someone else ’s experience and keep it separate from their own , ” saidJustin Puder , a accredited psychologist and genial wellness content God Almighty . “ This can be helpful in circumstances [ when ] we need to be ground in what we can contain . ”

What can you do about the extra feelings of anxiety?

When your response to the word is overwhelming , include find claustrophobia relate to theTitansubmersible , it is of import to confine your picture to the origin .

“ turn off the TV , disengage from social media , or setting prison term limits on your exposure can be helpful , ” Rabon said .

Shaw said that if you are experience heighten empathy or compassionateness fatigue with this intelligence story , or with the news in general , ego - forethought is yourbest friend .

“ Whether you need to excuse yourself from a work group meeting , earphone a Quaker , veg out on the sofa , or drown yourself in your favorite Netflix show , do what you require to do to take tutelage of yourself and preserve your mental health , ” she said .

Last but not least , Puder propose speak to someone , whether it be a friend or mental wellness professional , if you ’re feel nervous .

“ let the cat out of the bag about what you ’re experiencing to your married person , close protagonist , or healer is always a dependable melodic theme , ” he said . “ It helps release us from our emotion and typically let off tenseness . ”

This post originally appeared onHuffPost .