"In the foothills of a world war"...

[Saturdayandallasleep]

I read this yesterday on someone's Twitter and it's sent me into a real spiral because it just seems that everything is heading to that conclusion. I'm in no way any expert in world affairs but with all the escalation that's happening it feels inevitable (to me anyway).

I'm normally very level headed and able to take world events in my stride (if that makes sense) but I wasn't able to sleep last night and constantly checking my phone and up for hours just thinking about DC having to go off to war for national service (told you, spiralling!)

I'm not sure what I'm expecting in terms of replies but thanks for reading.

Has national service been mentioned , where are you living?

No! Not at all - this is what I mean. I'm in the UK but just thinking if there is a war then National service will be introduced. I was really catastrophizing last night. As I said it's not like me but my brain feels all over the place.

We are a long way off 'National service' op!

Bit dramatic

It’s really unlikely National Service will be introduced. Even if there is a world war. We won’t need bodies as much as weapons - so before people are called up it may be that certain manufacturers/producers are offered government contracts they can’t refuse.

Don’t worry too much about it. World war is unlikely. China can’t afford one. India is not in play. The US won’t join one and Russia hasn’t got the capacity.

The Islamic world has been a tinder box for the last 40yrs. Yes, it is going to go on being a mess. Yes, we will be impacted. But so far I don’t see where NATO is drawn in.

I don’t think there’ll be a World War. As for conscription, every time there’s a border squabble someone comes on here saying some retired military guy says there’ll be conscription😂😂😂good luck with that.

l’m more concerned about oil and gas prices. I hate war, it’s evil.

Thanks for this - I need to step away from Twitter. Admittedly I don't have a great knowledge of world politics which probably doesn't help.

@MatthewsMumFromTikTok - I'm glad it sounds dramatic to you, for some reason at 4am my irrational brain just couldn't get past it.

Sorry you had such a bad night and are stressing. Even if it was the case, and I doubt very much it is, we can’t do anything about it. We really can’t. All we can do is carry on like normal. Look after our loved ones the best we can, look after ourselves physically and mentally, step away from the news so as not to get bogged down in it. It doesn’t help the people living in the horrors to become obsessed with it.

There will never be another world war OP. Especially with nuclear bombs left right centre. We couldn't afford to have a mass world war, and national service will never be brought back

I've really restricted what I read/look at because there's definitely capacity for it to make me anxious. I look at the BBC news headlines once a day (and never before bed!) so that I have a rough awareness but otherwise I'm allowing myself to be ignorant. Having a young DC has made my ability to cope with difficult news very weak so although I feel uncomfortable not fully engaging with the awful things going on in the world it's what I need to do just now for my stability.

@AnneLovesGilbert - thank you and I know you're right and honestly this is normally my total philosophy on life but I feel so anxious, although to be honest, I'm totally exhausted which doesn't help.

I felt very similar after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Limit your news intake to one (slightly) reliable source (I picked the Independent website). And allow yourself to read it once a day. Focus on your life, and what you can do to make today better/nicer/easier for you and your kids. Once things settle, I imagine you'll feel better but if not do seek help for your anxiety.

Conscripts wouldn't be any use anyway. War is fought using modern technology which requires expertise and experience.

I’m worried.

It seems the touch paper has been lit.

So why has Israel called up 360,000 reservists after Hamas attack (this isn't meant to be sarcastic btw, it's a genuine question)?

For heavens sake do some reading.It would be over in seconds.National service ??, please.

Israel does have National Service. Those reservists are 1) volunteers 2) trained soldiers. Israel is unusually well equipped with military personnel because they all have to serve a year in the army.

I found my general resilience improved no end once I realised there is nothing I can do about any of this. My worrying doesn't make a jot of difference. I'm not indifferent, I'm informed, but I read what are - generally speaking - reputable sources of news. I limit it. So it's not the first thing I read in the day or last thing at night.

I no longer watch the news with any regularity...I'd prefer to read the Economist or such like with a longer more rounded article.

I don't have my head in the sand, but I've stepped away from the 24 hours a day news cycle.

Much happier all round.

It is very worrying just now. I'm in Sweden and my DD recently got formal notice of 'krigsplacering'. That's formal notice that she is in a reserved occupation and cannot be conscripted. I've never seen this happen before.

Thanks, that's reassuring 😉

People were saying the same kind of things when Russia v Ukraine kicked off. There were threads started on here by people who were convinced we were all about to be nuked in our beds.

I think you need to develop a healthy skepticism to some of the more dramatic claims of the media.

I think deleting Twitter might be a good first step...

Was going to type a response but honestly @RhymesWithTangerine has put it perfectly!

I honestly agree with every word and this is based on family discussions (military family).

Have a media blackout for a few days. Nothing bad will happen with you not knowing what's going on in the world for a little while. Once anxiety sets in its hard to shake, but take it from someone who spent a large part of the 80s panicking about nuclear war - spend the time focusing on normal life, it really helps to reset a bit.

Apologies for my ignorance but what does that mean in real terms.

It means the authorities are ramping up preparedness but not that it's imminent. Sweden has a risk scale of 1-5. The risk was at 3 for a long time. During the summer the risk was raised to 4. So some authorities are responding to that in their planning.

My DD's council, and others, have taken the decision to start securing their essential workers. Mine hasn't but has been running drills on things like getting the school kitchen to produce enough food to feed everyone, even when they have no electricity.

But this is Sweden where we have a Ministry of Preparedness and are regularly reminded of the need to be prepared for crisis. It's a national hobby, we're a nation of wannabe boy scouts.