If your life's already disastrous, are you finding the current situation less alarming?

[WanderingFruitWonderer]

Hard to condense what I mean in a title.
Basically, my life hasn't at all gone to plan! Mostly due to mental health struggles, triggered by trauma. I've struggled with life since I was eleven years old. I'm also just one of life's exceptionally sensitive souls, and easily overwhelmed by everyday things that 'normal' people seem better able to cope with. I've struggled with rubbish accommodation and low income for years. I'm self-employed, and live an alternative life, as can't cope with a lot of mainstream stuff. I'm not successful in the conventional sense. But as a result of all that, I've learnt to find my joy in the simple things - a walk along the beach at sunrise, a cup of tea consumed mindfully, watching butterflies etc. Brief periods of respite (which happens now and then) from the chronic anxiety bring unfettered joy!
So weirdly, I think I'm finding the current state of things (essentially society starting to collapse) less shocking. I've essentially been in training for it for years. I've lived a microcosm of such collapse, for a long time. I say this with caution, as I have huge empathy and sympathy for those who are not coping at all with things currently. I'm very worried about people struggling to stay warm and well fed etc. The climate crisis keeps me awake at night too. But, as my life has been so disappointing and disastrous in many ways for many years, a lot of the economic and societal stuff just feels like more of the same, in terms of the effect on me personally. I never really experienced the boom. I wonder if anyone else is experiencing something similar atm?

Yes I do know what you mean. Severely disabled (now adult) child - pandemic was a breeze 😁 (not exactly & we were fortunate we could work from home, but I was very used to not being in control of my life, so felt I had many years of preparation).

Although in my experience the really difficult times have come from not having enough money to pay the bills - so whilst I can deal with everything (& I mean everything) in the U.K. being broken - am used to that - if we end up struggling to make ends meet I know I will find that really tough. So I do have some anxiety around that.

Yeah, the pandemic was a breeze for me too! Well compared with other stuff I've been through. In fact in some ways the lockdowns etc made life a bit easier for me. The pressure to succeed was off, and I didn't need to worry about not being part of the rat race, as there wasn't one! But again, I say this with caution, as I know it was the beginning of troubles for some.
Yes, I know what you mean about the bills. Though again for me I've lived in crappy accommodation with little or no heating, and am used to the hot water bottles and lots of jumpers routine.
I hope things will work out for you in the coming months, and I wish you and your family warm, fed and well ❤️

I know exactly what you mean. I struggle with anxiety and some day to day things can be overwhelming. When lock down happened I felt calm because to be honest nothing in the real world is scarier than the stuff in my head. We also had a house fire and I stayed calm through that.

Yes. My 5 year old is severely disabled. Lockdown was fine, I actually liked it (it had its downsides as I missed family). But I liked how there were no expectations really anymore, of people, and it was quiet. A sort of odd blissful feeling that everything was no longer a huge rat race around me and I had zero control of my life anyway surrounding my future and what I do

As long as I've got the cash to keeping living to a decent standard, I'm happy. I can't really hope for anything else anyway if that makes sense

Take care OP

Oh yes, nothing scarier than the stuff in my head. Totally agree, and that's so well worded. Exactly my meaning. Best wishes to you x

Yep, exactly what I felt about lockdown.
Best wishes to you and your family too

Yes, I do. Ten years ago I was forced into prostitution by a man I thought was my boyfriend who then tried to kill me when I ran away.
After that I was an addict, homeless, lived in a refuge, got away from all that and then was left by my daughter's father at six months pregnant, lived on £86 a week for three years.
The pandemic didn't make much difference because I already had no family in this country so I didn't miss them any more than usual. I already didn't have a job or money.

Now, I've got a job, we've got enough money to get through and life is good. I'm happy. I can survive anything I reckon.

@IHeartGeneHunt bless you, you've really been through it 😔
Thank you for sharing. I'm so glad to hear that life has improved for you. You sound extraordinarily strong x

I know what you mean . Organised lone parent with no social life or holidays so the pandemic wasn't a big problem for me.
There will be lots of us who don't live in a bubble just cracking on with stuff.

God, yes.

I’ve had a shit life. It’s been relentless, one thing after another.

I can’t care.

In many ways, you are better placed to endure any future hardships than those who have much, much more to lose in terms of wealth / belongings.

A lot of people are going to lose things that were assumed inviolable - for some that will be unbelievable and they are going to really struggle with the new reality. That was very apparent in the lockdowns.

Op I am not sure you are as well as you think you are if you think 'society is collapsing'

Society is not collapsing.

So your starting point seems very dramatic and rather inaccurate.

The west are going to through a period of difficulty with rising food prices and energy due to the war in Ukraine caused by Russia.
Both problems have been entirely predictable since the beginning of the year.

Unless you live in Ukraine - where I will add even their society is certainly not collapsing, quite the reverse, you are lucky to only feel the squeeze but will have access to everything you need, even if it is restricted by cost at times. By the spring time both situations will ease, this is not considered to be long term.

While I appreciate you take joy from living 'outside' mainstream life it might be worth properly researching the facts before making wild assumptions.

I identify so much with your post OP, my life has been similar due to trauma and mental health issues. Sorry not the point of your thread but thank you for posting this, it makes me feel like I’m less alone in this stuff

Yes, seems like everyday I add another thing I read in the news to my mental "well that's shit" list.

Its sort of like a "this too shall pass" philosophy without the hope, just an acceptance.*

*that was dry humour poorly conveyed written down.

Yes, I know what you mean. I've not had a traumatic life but I've always been poor. I struggled most during boom years when everyone else seemed to be investing - I had to move three times because of houses I was renting being sold to capitalise on the price increases leaving me massively struggling as all my saving went on deposits. Then my ex left me in a lot of debit I got stuck paying off as well as caring for four children.

My children are now older, I have a secure job and while it's not well paid I'm finally at a point where I'm more secure despite the crisis going on around me. I am super cautious with money already so I didn't have many outgoing other than utilities. I'm obviously feeling the increase but I have had a bit of wriggle room and I'm used to having to save for things I want.

If it gets much worse then my wriggle room will run out but I try not to watch the news too much which I find can make you constantly worried.

I don't think she's being dramatic. We are on the cusp of environmental disaster which will likely lead to famine, wars and mass migration. Our own country is in a terrible state; not because of Russia- because of the shit decisions of this government over the past 12 years. We have normalised working people being hungry and using food banks; we expect to wait 12 hours and A and E or for an ambulance to arrive; we expect to be told when we call 999 that we'll have to wait. I would say these are all signs that society is collapsing. Mostly as a result of the political decisions of the Tory party.

@Kissingfrogs25 I'm another who thinks the OP is not being overly dramatic.

In UK you can no longer access an ambulance, GP appointment, operations. It takes an age to get a passport or driving licence. We have increasing numbers of people unable to pay the very basic bills. School budgets are so stretched that pupils will incresingly not be taught by trained teachers. We have a recruitment crisis in many vital sectors. Our economy has been downgraded by international lenders. We are preparing for (still unlikely but more likely than for forty years) power cuts. We have a government in permanent crisis.

Things are, erm, not great.

Thanks @OldWivesTale . I don't personally think I'm exaggerating either! Maybe societa

yes, I lost my husband in my thirties and was left with two young children to bring up. Covid was a breeze, couldn’t understand why some people were in panic mode unless they had a loved one desperately I’ll because of it. You get desensitised.

Sorry, I pressed 'post' too early by mistake!
Anyway, maybe societal collapse was the wrong choice of words. But I reckon people will know what I mean. I think PP you were responding to, possibly misunderstood my OP.

@Kissingfrogs25 I think you possibly misunderstood some of my post. For one thing, I don't think I'm well! That's the point, my life's a bit disastrous, which is why I'm not nearly as shocked by current stuff as I might otherwise be.
I don't think I was exaggerating, though my choice of words may not have been the best. I was trying to succinctly reference the current situation in the UK, and elsewhere.

I got the dry humour! Yeah, I relate...

I think maybe if you are used to having a very hard time internally, and constantly having to fight to maintain any sort of equilibrium, being surrounded by news that seems alarming and dire can immediately tip into 'societal collapse' rather than 'tough times ahead'.

My life is not disastrous, luckily, and I do not see our situation as society collapsing. I can see how it would feel like that though.

Yep! ❤️

Assuming your self imposed spartan lifestyle is also entirely self funded and you are not claiming any type of state support or using roads, public transport or the health service. If so you have nothing to fear, fill your boots.