Struggling - everything seems so bleak

[LettingsBe]

Is anyone else really struggling at the moment?

I'm desperately trying to get a GP appointment for an ongoing ailment which is ruining my quality of life (gastro related) but it's so hard to get through on the phone that I never get to speak to anyone.

Then there's the cost of living crisis, currently sitting in a freezing cold house as too afraid of turning the heating on.

Plus a man on my street waited 8 hours for an ambulance last month and eventually died when he got to hospital, may have been saved if he was seen sooner. My parents are frail and I genuinely worry about accessing wider health care if they need it.

The news talks only about recession and the terrible war and suffering in Ukraine, the scenes from there are heartbreaking.

It just seems everything is so bleak right now. Anyone else feel the same? I made a decision last month that I need to start some antidepressants as I'm really struggling to cope but can't even get a GP appointment to do that, never mind my other health complaint.

I feel so hopeless 😔

I don't watch the news at all. I literally have zero clue about Ukraine or all the other awful things I have absolutely no control over. It helps so much.

@bakewellbride You're very right, I do need to turn it off!

100%
If I cannot change something I do not worry about it
I also do loads of sport which released endorphins and is better for mood

look for the good bits - eight weeks ago we were worrying about water shortages and stand pipes in the street. Now I'm ankle deep in water 🙂

The ghastly Truss/Kwarteng thing is over

The problems in the police look like they are finally being dealt with (about bloody time!)

I know it feels difficult at the mo but there are good nuggets out there, if you look.

That is the one good thing.
The Liz / Kwarteng thing.

I think there was a week or two, when there was a crisis in the news, and I was thinking it wouldn't possibly get worse. The next even bigger Crisis.
I'm thinking it cant possibly get worse now.
Next day even bigger headlines.

Think it last just over two weeks or so.

At least the last week or so seems to have been quite calm in comparison.

No huge Crises.

I agree that if the news is depressing you, turn it off. There is no rule that says you have to listen to, or read, the news each day.

If everything seems bleak, think about what would make you feel better. Here are a few ideas, if your mind is a blank:

• cook some comforting food - a pan of soup, a chocolate cake, some biscuits;
• re-read a book you loved, or ask around for something uplifting to read;
• watch things on TV that cheer you up (during the pandemic, my comfort TV was Kirstie and Phil's 'Love it or List it'. There was a thread not that long ago where people listed their favourite 'comfort TV');
• if you're cold and don't want to put the heating on, think about ways to keep warm cheaply. Dig out cosy blankets, slippers, bed socks, put an electric blanket on your Christmas list, draw curtains when it gets dark, get a draught excluder for any draughty outside doors, etc;
• find some good podcasts to listen to - there are thousands out there on all kinds of subjects;
• get active. You may not fancy running or walking outside, but what about yoga or Hiit or strength training in your living room?

You're a long time dead OP - enjoy life - even if you need to do so cheaply.

I stopped watching the news during covid , I'd rather live in ignorance than watch the doom and gloom
Hope things get brighter for you soon @LettingsBe

Yes, please have a media break. I know I felt a bit bleh after hearing an interview this morning, but generally I’m positive regardless.

Take care of what you can and disengage for a bit

www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4629600-tell-me-your-favourite-comfort-tv-shows

I am tge same OP, everything is a worry. Mortgages look like they will be sky high by the time our renewal comes around next year. Work are 'restructuring' so waiting to find out what that looks like for my job. Oil prices are high, so is petrol and I know so many ill people who can't get treatment.

I would love to avoid the news but need to keep up with current events for work.

I am trying to read lots of light comedy books and watch similar tv shows to try switch my brain off.

Everything does feel a bit bleak at the moment. It's the war, the climate, the post-covid struggle to get back to normal compounded by small things, today at the supermarket the baked beans that used to be 1.49 euro where I am, and which are my comfort food, have bounced up to 2 euro. That's a 25% increase!

One thing I know is that November always feels bleak. It's a strange pause in the year and suddenly very dark. I am trying the following things:

Keep moving. I get 'stuck' when I am anxious, but I list three things to do - eg dishes, make bed, put washing on - and I do them. (having said that I am now here... but will get back to it). That way I don't get overwhelmed with the entire house and all my overdue work....
candles
hot tea
sleep
lots of walks, getting outside, trying to get some light.
organising my house and trying to sort things out - it feels insurmountable but I am going to chip away.
And as others having said, listening to podcasts - I love This Jungian Life, audiobooks, music as I get things done.
And avoid the news!

Does the British media ever show horrific scenes of wars from middle East, children dying qjd has been going for years Or is it only Ukraine now? Turn the TV off, it's propaganda. Yes, there is suffering there here are other countries and they are human too but why is the media so one sided?

Make time for yourself. There is beauty In the world.

I feel like you OP. Certain stressful things going on in my life combined with the news combined with the time of year, it all feels bleak. I've found these ideas on your thread helpful. Just wanted you to know you are not alone. My plan is like you to cut down on watching the news.

Thanks everyone, helps to know I'm not alone.

And thank you for all the advice on how to feel better, I will start putting things into practice.