How can I control my anxiety and fear and not let it rub off on my children?

[muppetmayhem]

Currently I am anxious on a daily basis about the following;

Russia, China, Climate Change, the cost of living crisis, the government here, the need for a coronation when there are people who can’t feed their children.

As it stands I see no hope for the future and fear daily we are all about to be wiped off the face of the planet. I have a genuine gut wrenching fear about the Russia/China situation. I do not want my children to have children I just don’t see any future for humanity.

Every day all of this is just bubbling under the surface, I feel like I could cry at any time. My blood pressure is through the roof.

I don’t know how to control this; I really need some help - I don’t want it to affect my children.

Help!

Please make an appointment to see your GP.

None of that is stuff you have any control over whatsoever.

I know you may think that's the reason you're so anxious but it could also be your way out of if. No amount of energy you throw at worrying about this stuff will be useful to you or the planet as a whole.

We are all subject to the laws of chaos all the time.

Have a look at this Ted X on anxiety - it will help you understand why you need it and how to work with it rather than trying to fight it;

Depends how old they are. I tell my teen and young adult dds when I'm anxious about things and how I cope with it. I tell them that it's silly and there's no point in worrying but sometimes I do it anyway and it means I'm tired and a bit run down and I have a few early nights and I'm fine. They are all very well adjusted I think!

Go to your Dr. I felt exactly like you do for the same reasons. I really didn't want antidepressants but a 10mg dose of Citalopram has made a massive difference. I now feel normal again and my confidence has returned. Also, don't read/watch too much news. Keep up to date from a reliable source but there is a lot of scaremongering out there.

Make an app with your Gp
Stay away from the news and social media
focus on what’s good in your life, so you can’t control China. But when I can get anxious I focus on what I like about living here and my life, and it puts it in perspective. I keep a gratitude journal. This then makes me feel a lot less worried.

I’ve lived in other countries and I’m grateful for:
my nice house and nice neighbours
I’ve got a good job that gives me all I need
clean water and plenty of food
access to the nhs (been brilliant whenever I’ve needed it)
great state school for my kids
we’ve a military that protects us (I’m ex military believe it or not and know how the warning systems, kit and how great the people are)
very little racism compared to the countries I lived in
liberal values (abortions, homosexuality not illegal here)
no guns
access to culture (art, plays, comedy, sport etc)
we have a welfare system and the poorest in society can get help- I lived in a countries where there isn’t and it’s just shocking, I won’t go into detail

I also recommend meditation! I was having a rather acute period and I rigidly stuck to it and it for me it was better than any drug

I totally get what you mean in terms of the unbelievably shit state of the world at the moment, it's not like your worries are unfounded. Having said that, you should try to get to a point where it's not impacting your life to the degree that you feel you could cry about it at any moment.

Highly recommend a book called The Worry Cure as an easy and cheap starting point - it helped me to understand and take more control over my OTT worrying.
And then possibly a discussion with your doctor in tandem, just in case some formal treatment is appropriate (it might not be, but better to get the ball rolling asap as you could be waiting a while for the right support).

Hope you feel better soon

i was put on HRT for peri menopause but I don’t think it’s working properly.

One thing you could start doing today is either coming off SM and avoiding the news (because the news is pretty much always negative - happy stories aren't newsworthy) or, if you can't do that then actively look for positive information to give you more balance.

There are huge strides being made with regard to climate change, look for them. There will probably be a government change in the UK by the end of 2024 so consider joining a political party so that you have something to concentrate on rather than doom scrolling.

You cannot control any of the things that are occupying your head. If I get stressed it’s because it is something that directly affects me, like the time DS had to be rushed to A&E when he lost consciousness as a toddler.

Get off social media and stop watching the news.

Has it been since you had children op?

Look at history and see that these, and similar things, have happened before. It’s a cycle. You are upsetting yourself about something you can’t control, and perhaps that is the problem. Control.
‘Please see someone about your MH, and look at counselling.

Then ask for a medication review.
But if you were anxious before peri, HRT won’t cure it.

Mainstream media thrives on fear. I've noticed how news programmes just go from one disaster to another. Donald Trump was on the verge of war every month with some country or another and yet he ended up being the least bellicose US president of them all. The BBC loves to milk a disaster. Turn it off

Therapy, surely?! Not CBT but actual therapy