INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Whether you’re personally involved in tragic events, such as the California wildfires, or you see it on the news, your mental health can be affected from the trauma.

Dr. Henderson, a clinical psychologist at Indiana University, joined Daybreak to share how your mental health can be affected by tragedies.

Those who experience the fires could suffer anxiety, depression, and can develop PTSD, Henderson said.

But the stress can translate into physical effects, “Carrying a lot of tension throughout different parts of our body, difficulty sleeping, we might notice changes in our appetite. We also may notice that we want to turn to other substances to try to help us cope with our pain,” she said.

Children will suffer from tragic events too, Henderson said, so make sure to answer any questions or concerns they may have. “… as best as we can, reassure them about their present safety and what we’re trying to do to help them be safe,” she said.

Look out for symptoms so you can take action as soon as possible. Henderson always recommends reaching out to those around you.

“Is there someone I can designate as like my news person to say, ‘I know events have gone on, can you just give me a brief summary? I don’t feel comfortable right now fully watching the news,’” Henderson said.

To learn more from Dr. Henderson, watch the video above.