When something senseless happens, like the attack at Bondi Beach, it rattles us in a very specific way. Even if you’re thousands of miles away, it can feel close. Familiar. A place meant for sunshine, ease, and ordinary joy suddenly becomes a reminder that the world can turn without warning. That kind of shock doesn’t stay neatly inside the news cycle. It seeps into our nervous systems.
For a lot of people, the first reaction is disbelief. Then comes sadness. Anger. Fear. Sometimes all of it at once. You might notice yourself scrolling more than usual, looking for answers that don’t really exist. Or maybe you feel oddly numb, guilty for going about your day when others didn’t get that chance. All of those responses are normal. They’re human.
Events like this can quietly chip away at our sense of safety. You may catch yourself scanning crowds differently, feeling tense in places that once felt carefree. Beaches, malls, concerts, your brain starts running “what if” scenarios. That’s not weakness. That’s your mind trying to protect you after being reminded how fragile things can be.
It’s also common for older wounds to resurface. If you’ve lived through trauma, loss, or violence before, something like this can reopen doors you thought were closed. You might feel on edge without fully understanding why. That’s a signal to slow down and be gentle with yourself, not to power through.
One of the healthiest things you can do after a tragedy is talk about it, but with intention. Share how you’re feeling with someone you trust. Not to speculate or replay details, but to name the impact. “That really shook me.” “I’m feeling anxious.” Saying it out loud helps your nervous system realize you’re not alone with it.
It also helps to limit how much you take in. Staying informed is reasonable; doom-scrolling is not. Repeated exposure to violent imagery and headlines can keep your body stuck in fight-or-flight. Give yourself permission to step away. The world doesn’t need you to witness everything to care deeply.
In moments like this, grounding matters. Simple things count: a walk, music you love, time with people who feel safe, routines that remind you life still has rhythm. These aren’t distractions, they’re stabilizers.
Finally, it’s okay to grieve even if you didn’t know the victims. Grief isn’t about proximity; it’s about empathy. A senseless attack reminds us how interconnected we are, how quickly ordinary moments can turn, and how much we rely on one another to make sense of it all.
If you’re struggling more than you expected, reaching out for professional support is not an overreaction, it’s a wise response. Taking care of your mental health after a tragedy isn’t selfish. It’s how we stay soft in a world that sometimes feels unbearably hard.
Mental health struggles often show up quietly. It could be irritability, withdrawal, a change in sleep or drinking habits. If you notice something seems off with a friend or co-worker, don’t brush it off. Ask. Listen. And if needed, suggest they check out a resource like Mental Health and Addictions Nova Scotia. It’s free, anonymous, and available 24/7.
Mental health isn’t just a personal issue. It’s a community one. And around here, we’ve always looked out for each other.
At 107.9 Go Rock, we’re encouraging everyone to keep those chats going, and to make space for what really matters.
