Is the UK heading for an apocalypse?

[BleakWinter]

Hello dear Mimsnetters. I wonder if anyone can lift me out of this dreadful feeling I have of impending doom? With the oncoming energy hikes, rent increases, mortgage rate hikes and increased interest rates, I honestly feel a bit hopeless about everything and powerless to do anything about it. I'm just reading about how most countries, despite having their own particular difficulties, are starting to bounce back after Covid. They are starting to trade again, unlike us apparently. I feel like we're not Global Britain, we're Little Britain and we're falling further and further behind other countries. I feel desperately sorry for our youngsters and those in their early 20's. How are they going to afford to house themselves or run a car? I honestly love this country ( by which I mean the UK so not strictly a country but you know what I mean.) and I think this is why I feel so worried. The government has gone completely AWOL and neither of the 2 new PM candidates fill me with much confidence. I feel like we're in the worst possible position with a non existent government. Is there anyone out there who feels things might start getting better? I know things are cyclical...but the fact that things have been horribly difficult before doesn't really make me feel any better. How can I stay positive and not get overwhelmed?

I am just waiting for the next crisis to be hyped up by the media 👍👍👍😎

You just need to calm down.

There will be no apocalypse. Everything will carry on as it always has done.

We are the 5th wealthiest country in the world and our gdp per person is the 3rd highest in the G7 wealthy nations club.

is gdp per person same as capita? cause our GDP per capita is pretty crap considering we are such a wealthy country.

I'm not convinced it was worse in the 70's to be honest!

it wasn't

I disagree.

Many well respected people are saying exactly that. It’s not a feeling fo doom that is unreasonable.
it’s the very normal reaction to another increase of energy price, this time 80% after the 54% that left many people on their knees - depute the fact it’s the summer.
it’s the fact that a hell of a lot of people will be in fuel/food poverty come October.

Its not an issue that needs to be medicated. It’s a nightmare we are all walking into. And tbh we need people to wake up and start screaming it’s not ok rather than just waiting and placating them with ‘you are ill. Go and se your gp’.

It's probably that due to growing inequality many will easily ride the storm so don't see it as a big deal.

"the country completely shut down"

Hyperbole and hysteria. As I recall, water electric, food production, Amazon, stayed very much open. Lots of us kept working throughout

No not an apocalypse at all. Low income families have been feeling this pressure since austerity, the difference now is that cost of living will start hitting the middle class and this is why it feels so horrendous. Austerity didn't really affect middle earners/class so they have had a relatively easy ride over the recent years.
The shit is going to get real for these families now and it is inevitable that most people excepting the wealthy will have to make adjustments to their spending patterns. Once the middle class have to start belt tightening then suddenly politicians sit up and take notice, when it is only low income families suffering then the majority of the country couldn't give a shit.

I think the reality of climate change is contributing to people's worries.

@Aposterhasnoname if I can just say that link is utter bullshit- the only reason exports were high 8 weeksago(and that's when that post is from) is due to something to do with liquid gas exports whilst there have been issues with gas to do with Ukraine - it actually has sod all to do with 'general 'exports to EU. It's very misleading heading.

Excluding that 'specific' - exports are hugely down

Very bad indeed for many- all fine and dandy for those with owned homes, private health, low or no mortgages and lots of savings --- including lots of mumsnetters it seems.

@RichardOsmansXraySpecs

Not another doom-mongering thread 🙄

Yawn.

My parents tell me the world survived the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, so everything after that is 'small potatoes' IMO...

Turn your TV off and stop reading the Daily Heil. You'll be ok.

Paragraphs, my dear!

Completely agree @MineIsBetterThanYours. If everyone feeling anxious about the impending energy prices etc went straight to the doctors they'd be overrun. Like you I think it's perfectly reasonable to feel concerned about the future and it's not something that needs medicating. In fact I'm not even worried about myself. My salary and savings will cover the price rises we've had and will have again. I just feel so sorry for the people who don't have a safety net and find themselves in genuine difficulties.
To those posters who have very kindly and thoughtfully responded with suggestions of turn off the news for a bit, I think that's very good advice 👍

One man's apocalypse is another man's opportunity. These books will
Show you how to profit if dark times come, if only I'd been read them as a bedtime story when I was younger.

Try and look on the bright side of life. No point worrying about what we can't control. People in Ukraine far worse off !

But there’s nothing “bright” about paying £500 + per month in energy bills when I don’t have an effing pot to piss in as it is. It is shit my dears

Why do people jump to the worst conclusions about the UK? Things will be bad yes but not like Sri Lanka or Lebanon.

I arrived back from on Crete on Thursday they had power cuts multiple times everyday and night . It's not a situation unique to the UK in fact I'd argue we are doing ok as we haven't had any power cuts yet.

Saying we're ok because we're not as bad as two of the worlds poorest nations is hardly a ringing endorsement!

I totally agree and flippant 'enjoy life and live!!' comments are great for those of us who can but many many can't. It's genuinely horrific

Agree most other western countries either have similar problems to us or worse! Food prices in France are incredibly high. Germany is facing actual rationing of gas if Russia turns off the taps. The US has terrible labour shortages (just google US teacher shortage to see what I mean). And that's in rich countries!

We are going to have to grit our teeth and get on with it.

Also agree that not reading the news is helpful as it's going to be saturation coverage come autumn

No but people always say the UK is the worst of the worst. I was on holiday in the EU petrol was 2 .20 euro a litre which is higher than the UK. There was frequent powercuts , groceries cost more than the UK and the average salaries are lower. It's not great here but I would say other developed countries aren't doing great either.

On holiday and receiving US news and it is definitely not just us - there was a huge story about tomato shortages