Climate change and my babies, major anxiety

[cheesemumma]

I'm awake most nights at the moment worrying and feeling horrendously guilty about the horror I'm about to put my babies through. They are going to see and experience horrific and terrifying things. Nobody seems to realise or care. People are just carrying on. I can't help thinking about the regret in 20 years time when people have to deal with the reality of it all. It's a real life horror movie that could be preventable, but people don't care/aren't doing anything. Help me feel better please. I'm 7 months pregnant and and feeling terrified, guilty and irresponsible. Obviously go vegan and don't fly are the main things I can do. What else???

I can’t offer any advise but I will tell you you’re not alone. I also panic about my poor DS having to face these challenges. I feel guilty every time I’m in the car. I panic every time there’s a drought. I do my best to help the environment but like you say, most people really couldn’t care less and i find their ignorance frightening.

You need to adress your anxiety. Worrying about something you have no control over is a downward spiral.

Yes you can go vegan and not drive a car or fly but it wont change whats going to happen.

Tbh probs doesnt help but the way i look at it, human civilisations have been wiped out many many times and will be wiped out again. Its kinda inevitable at some stage and you need to focus on the present and enjoy time you have with loved ones and your new baby.

Make small changes if you can cause it may lighten your concious and improve your quality of life in a way.

Start doing your little bit on a daily basis. Recycle, avoid single use plastics, use reusable baby hygiene products, use less water. Buy unprocessed food, use soap instead of shower gel, .... the list is endless!
And most importantly, teach your children to do the same. If we consumers stop using certain things, production industries will follow!

No more children

There’s worrying though and then there’s this! You need some help, and I say that kindly. Hope you’re okay

Contact your midwife and tell her how you're feeling.

Unfortunately, having children is pretty much the most environmentally unsound thing you could do, so you’ve created a bit of a vicious circle there for yourself.

Anyway, sounds like an uncomfortable level of anxiety, so speak to your GP or midwife.

I don't know if it helps, OP, but I'm much older than you and I had similar anxieties when my DC were little. In my day it was the (real) threat of nuclear war that preoccupied us. It really kept me awake at night.

Guess, what, we're all still here.

I'm not in any way minimising the realities of climate change but in order to get through the day it will help to put your faith in the powers that be to resolve it, do your bit to help the planet, support any initiatives and politicians that drive for change, and let life take its course.

I know I shouldn't be pregnant, it's causing me guilt. I'll definitely have no more. I'm hanging on to the tiny spark if hope this isn't the end and something will change.

I can’t believe the responses suggesting the OP has something wrong with her! Hers are valid concerns. Most people won’t face up to the realities of climate change and arrogantly carry on with their destructive lives by eating meat, buying single-use plastic, etc.

OP there is so much you can do to help the environment. Going vegan is one. But maybe join an environmental group as doing something and being with like-minded people will definitely help your anxiety about it.

The thing is as well, I reread the replies and I'm not sure if I have serious anxiety/mental health issues, or others just don't realise the gravity of the situation. If you haven't read up in it, it's terrifying.

I wonder if the people with the 'meh what can you do, just enjoy life' opinions are the ones that, In 20 years, will say 'fuck what have we done?' and realise what they should be realising now.

Whilst I do believe that civilisation will come to an end, I don't believe it will be in ours or our children's life time. I think it's scaremongering in a bid to get people to take drastic action, which I do agree with of course.

I really really feel for you. I’m not in a position to be having a baby for a number of years, but both me and my partner would like children. Yet the climate really does keep me up at night, and I can’t imagine I’ll ever feel comfortable getting pregnant whilst the environment is such a huge concern. I don’t think you’re mentally unsound at all, but I would let your midwife know how much this anxiety is affecting you because it could manifest in much more damaging ways after the birth. To be prewarned is to be prepared, but hopefully the hormones after your lovely baby has arrived will help cloud out some of the fears. Not saying that they’re insignificant, but they shouldn’t stop you enjoying the present and taking delight in your family. Good luck 💫✨

Why on earth did you decide to have a baby if you are so worried about the future OP? Or has your anxiety risen because of your pregnancy do you think? I think you'd be a fool not to worry about environmental issues to some extent,but to allow the fear to encompass you is not healthy for you or the baby. Practically one of the things you can do to cut down on waste once baby comes along is to use washable nappies instead of throwaway and a menstrual cup instead of towels/tampons.

Brilliant, telling a pregnant woman she shouldn't have got pregnant. Are you people for real?

Shes suffering, she's anxious. She's caught between the truth of environmental degradation and the heightened anxieties of pregnancy.

OP I have been over and back in this so many times myself.
What helped. Doing my own bit in my own household. Less plastic use, less fossil fuel use use, less food waste.
I used to be a shopper and would spend ages browsing, now I browse for ethical specs rather this season's hot new colour or whatever. Same amount of time, less spent, less waste.
My garden. Grow some fruit and veg myself, we won't grow fat on it, but it's organic and healthy.
Wild bits in my garden. The noise from the insects and bees was nearly deafening, I have seen dozens at a time, no exaggeration, in a few square foot. Also when you are weeding bu hand you really get to appreciate how tough and resilient nature is.

Get involved with activists. And the one thing you will see about activists is that they are not trying to save the entire world. They're trying to stop their councils knocking trees on a particular street, or picking litter off a riverside. Then extrapolate that, there are millions of people making small actions all over the place, and its growing all the time. And that's only ordinary people, there are scientists and politicians working too. The tide is turning, I do believe, we may not save everything but we will probably keep it bearable and even still lovely in many places.

That's not to make yo complacent but to give you hope.

All the best to you

People have always worried about something-- starvation, disease, violent marauders, war, natural disaster. Honestly, it makes me sad to look back at the time I've personally wasted worrying about things that never went on to happen, but of course I go on worrying about new things. I try to worry less, though. Do what you think is right and try not to dwell on worst case scenarios, because the worrying itself does nothing to help.

Worrying about the future (or regretting the past) only poisons the present.

People saying no more children here are -unbelievable.

It sounds like depression, OP. Please tell your midwife ASAP how intrusive and overwhelming the thoughts are.

Op, if your anxiety is causing you enough distress that it is affecting your day to day life then you need to tell your midwife/GP

The world is dying yes and your children will be grown adults when things go south.

Technology has changed so much in just 10 years, did you know they’ve been researching ways to recycle co2 from the atmosphere?

Capitalism is failing and big companies are the driving force for the earths suffering. When the last airport and coal mine close then you won’t even need to think about your fantastic children’s choices anymore, for they will be the ones that save us old folk from our stupid pasts

This is clinical anxiety, not normal concern. Please don't obsess about what you do eg diet, that is not a path you want to go down. Please get some help.

I worry what the world will look like in 20 years and what im going to have to live through, poverty, food shortage, climate change, financial issues, the NHS, and i'm already 30 years into my life, I couldn't imagine ever bringing a new person in to this, with an extra 30+ potential years on top of what i still have to face.

People are selfish, children need to stop being seen as a right, the world is massively over populated, people having any more than 2 is quite honestly disgustingly selfish. Nobody NEEDS a child, 1, or even 2, is more than enough for anyone.

People need to get over this climate change thing. Honestly, what will happen is just a few more big recessions. Y'know, like the ones that have happened before. That's it. There's nothing anyone can do about it and no need to worry.

OP the world needs more loved and educated people which your children will be I'm guessing. You have to hold onto the vision that they will grow up into healthy and happy adults who will take their places as citizens of the world. Have some faith.

I think we're looking at more than 'just a few more big recessions'. Heatwaves approaching 50 degrees are expected in London by the end of the century. What we currently think of as an extremely hot summer will be an average summer by the 2050s and a cool summer by later in the century. There'll be increased floods and droughts.

I still think children born in the UK over the next few years will have a decent standard of living (I'd have said 'good' were it not for Brexit), but it's going to go pretty downhill in another generation or two.