Am I the only one with a growing sense of dread and anxiety? ****UPDATE****

[Coventina]

Last edited Fri Mar 11, 2022, 05:02 PM - Edit history (1)

I'm finding it hard to focus.

I'm working on several long-term projects at work, and I have almost zero motivation.

I keep finding myself thinking, "Does any of this matter? What if the world blows up tomorrow? Why am I wasting my time trying to plan for two summers from now?" (Or any of the other time-frames my projects are dealing with).

First COVID threw every plan into the dumpster, and we still aren't out of the woods (imho) with that, and now Russia, China, and now I read that India has "accidentally" bombed Pakistan.

We could all be dead before sundown.

I'm also deeply anxious as my husband is leaving the country next week, and all the things that could happen to prevent him from returning.

How are all of you coping?

I'm in a bad spot right now.

**************************

I just wanted to thank ALL of you who replied!
I feel better, just from all the support and understanding that you have expressed.
I won't say that I've suddenly become super-productive, but I've made a start on my work, at least.
I LOVE YOU!!

[MineralMan]

1. These appear to be precarious times.

You're not alone in your worries.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

2. I find the knowledge that we are all dying incredibly liberating and clarifying.

[bif]

3. Back when I used to drink

I'd numb myself every evening. But these days, I have to cope on my own. I have a bit of hope for the future. I just look at how the Russians invaded Afghanistan. And here we are, years later. We survived! I think Putin will come to his senses once he figures out the whole world including half his country is against him.

[Torchlight]

4. I'm there too.

I think my household will use this weekend to do a news-blackout and retreat into nothing but mindless serial dramas and period pieces on the tube; something I find myself doing more and more over the past four years or so.

By Monday though, an entirely brand new set of international crises will emerge, and all the stress I have today will be replaced by newer, better and shinier stress.

[CrispyQ]

9. "...newer, better and shinier stress."

[CrispyQ]

5. Coping is hard when it's so obvious we're on a downward trajectory.

Two thoughts run through my head over & over again throughout the day. "Why can't we all just get along?" and "We should be fighting climate change, not each other."

It's not looking good for humanity.

[onecaliberal]

6. You have company.

[LuvLoogie]

7. Breathe. Take a walk. Have faith. Go to lunch with a friend.

The example of your kindness is an aide to peace. Pull back from the chaos for a bit until you are reenergized. Zoom/Google Meet/Facetime with your husband while he leaves the country.

You are not alone.

[subterranean]

8. No, you're not the only one.

I too am having trouble feeling confident about the future. All we can do is make the best of the things we can control.

[NutmegYankee]

11. I myself try to remember the true meaning of 2 Thessalonians 3.

While misused by jerks, the writing was to a specific sect of early Christians, who had abandoned many aspects of their regular lives because they believed the apocalypse was imminent.

All you can do is live day by day, and not ponder if the apocalypse is upon us. Make your plans.

[fightforfreedom]

12. I hear you, but I do this instead.

I get angry, I fight back against the dread and the anxiety. I think about the people of Ukraine and what they are going through. What we are facing here in America is a joke compared to what they are facing.

[NCDem47]

13. I'm 52 and thought nuclear holocaust and was behind us

Child of the 70s and 80s when the fear of mushrooms clouds was constantly hanging over us. With the fall of the Berlin Wall and Iron Curtain, I thought maybe we could all coexist. Heck, I've even been to Moscow and St. Petersburg and enjoyed it.

Now, just all this authoritariansim and fascism---both domestically and internationally---has me rethinking if we're going to make it through okay. I fear for the future of our children. I so badly want to tune out the news, but that doesn't make things go away.

[Kaleva]

14. Focused on adapting to climate change which will fuck most everyone up soon enough

[Boomerproud]

15. No. You are not alone. I went to lunch with a coworker/friend

the other day. She's very religious and when we talked about Ukraine she said something I've never heard her say "Where's God?". I ended up comforting her as best I could.

[BlackSkimmer]

16. My mother and father both grew up in Wales and England during WWII.

Dad lived through the Blitz in London. How my grandparents kept on keeping on with small children and teens during that horror never failed to impress me. I still have a large wooden table the children hid underneath during raids.

I used to ask mom how they weren’t scared all the time. She said they just kept living their daily lives. She always used to feel sorry for those living in the decimated German and Japanese cities after the war.

I’m glad for the perspective they gave me. It still amazes me, even now, what people can endure.

[WarGamer]

17. The world won't blow up tomorrow...

As long as the rational people, like our President, keep the warmongers at bay.

[multigraincracker]

18. See if your insurance

covers mental health check ups.

I have my appointment coming up.

[barbaraann]

19. I don't worry for myself. I worry constantly for my grandchildren.

One of these days, they are going to find out that life isn't all unicorns, rainbows, and trips to the beach.

[Initech]

20. No I too feel like something really bad is coming.

[SallyHemmings]

21. You're not alone

I had just said to the hubby we got through tfg's administration, the pandemic, sort of, now this...

It's a lot to consume.

I'm hugging my grandbabies a little tighter.

Sending you hugs,

[cilla4progress]

22. Terribly,

just terribly. I'm so sorry - wish I could offer succor, but only true empathy.

I can only think it was inevitable, given the weapons of mass death nations around the world have amassed for the past 70 years.

I only hope some small piece of our beautiful world, our beautiful gaia, persists.

[Tree Lady]

23. Just read a article about a survey done

80% of the people were completely stressed by last two years and now watching the war.

It was about drinking, eating, what its doing to our mental and physical health.

And I thought no duh!!

Makes me think of employers trying to force these 80% back to physical offices where they will have to deal with office politics, spending more time and money on commute, and sitter stress.

I see a bigger mess coming. Forcing people to commute with high gas prices wow!

[Coventina]

24. kicking so readers can see update.