Worried sick.....Poland

[TarasHarp55]

I'm so worried about this escalation with the missiles landing in Poland. Petrified in fact. Can anyone talk me down?. I'm so scared right now....

I had no idea this had happened as I rarely listen to the news.
Honestly, switch the news off, and continue your life.
We all know media outlets thrive on panic, scaremongering, doom and gloom, exaggeration..

You worry away. I’m not telling you to do otherwise. Just comparing and judging.

I completely agree with this. Many of these posts are incredibly self absorbed.

The missile hitting Poland might have been a mistake. On the other hand it might have been a calculated step on Russia’s part to elevate the war to the next level. Now they are just waiting for a response from Poland and it’s international allies.

And why exactly would it happen?

Poland is a member of Nato.

It isn't self absorbed at all to have a fear, regardless of what the fear is. Fear can't always be justified or rational.

Nato isn't going to escalate things over two missiles. There is no consensus yet that the missiles even came from Russia. Biden says signs are that they didn't, although Ukraine disagrees.

I came off the news years ago and my head is so much calmer for it.

I get where you're coming from @TarasHarp55 I can't help but worry about these things too, despite the fact realistically it's very unlikely to happen. In fact it's been at the back of my mind since I was about 7 when we were getting all the protect and survive info. I found that utterly petrifying, and now all of this is kicking off again now, I can't help but feel that worry resurfacing. I just don't want to hear anything from Frankie Goes To Hollywood 😣

Both the Polish president Andrzej Duda and the Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki have called for calm and to be wary of fake news.

I think this is very good advice.

But NATO aren't about to make the first nuclear move, are they?

I worried too at the start of this war, about Putin's mental state and how easily he throws the nuclear threat around, and so I understand your need for reassurance. My husband was in the Army, and my rule of thumb was that if he wasn't worried about something, then I wouldn't be. If there was a concern, he would be totally honest with me and I would know that something was worth using up headspace for. He was my reassurance as MN is yours at the moment.

If it makes you feel any better, he's not worried about this, and he's in Ukraine, so I'm keeping my head level.

Op you are right to be worried, we have a crazy despot with nuclear capacity, so I don't think it is unreasonable to be worried. Maybe acceptance is better for you.

Accept you are concerned about the development, accept also there is not much you can personally do. And perhaps field your energy into helping Ukraine this winter. Collect coats to be sent to the border, fundraise to help send over batteries, torches, heaters etc. Maybe your fear can be turned into something more useful - and be glad you are thousands of miles away and it is very unlikely to affect your beyond an expensive energy bill and your food bill might be a little more.

Go out for walk, enjoy the autumn colours and be glad for today.

Thank you to everyone that have kindly took the time to reassure an old worry head like me. Your reassuring posts have really helped me.

Agree with all the other posters, this is not an escalation into oblivion, just a rogue incident.

OP, I had a bad two weeks feeling like you did when you made this thread, so I get how you feel.

For what it's worth, the chances of a nuclear attack are very remote - China have warned Russia against it as have NATO.

Also, it wouldn't be a world ending 'Threads' scenario even it did happen..we are talking a small tactical strike...devastating for Ukraine but not what we were prepped for in the 80s.

But I repeat, the chances are so remote it is genuinely not realistic to escalate your concern into something preventing you going about your everyday life.

Please try not to compare and judge people's anxiety levels. If people have a particular worry it doesn't help to be told that "someone's got it worse". We all know that, but it doesn't help. Maybe you should be judged for your lack of empathy.

Why worry about:

1. Something that may never happen

1. Stuff you cant control

@TarasHarp55

You can calm yourself down . Poland have acknowledged it was probably an accident

well from me I want to thank you for starting this thread OP. I didn’t sleep a wink last night being terrified. Stupid I know but I can’t help it. It’s talked me down too

^ i have an anxiety disorder which magnifies things anyway

I know, but still can't see the connection. Why would Putin start nuclear war if he gets no response now. These missiles were most likely from Ukraine anyway. I rather think Europe will be so fed up of war, gas prices etc. that they force Ukraine to sign the peace pact, and give some of their territory to Russia.

I understand OP - it's something I have been very scared of in the past but your post & the replies have helped put my mind at rest

The positive in all of this is Russia acknowledging the calm approach of Biden to this.

It's looking more likely it was as a result of air defences. Not any better for the poor people killed but likely not intentional

I felt like this last night. But then I realised there's a massive jump between a missile landing just over the Polish border to all out nuclear war. It was immediately obvious that world leaders were making clear and deliberate attempts to de-escalate. When missiles get thrown around, it increases the chances of something like this happening, which I think is where the world is coming from in relation to Putin's war. It's dangerous for this very reason. Thankfully, the vast majority of the world's leaders are advised by some very clever people, none of whom would see the benefit, for anyone, of escalation.

Dangerous and uncertain times for sure. But it was clear from the earliest news stories that intent would be the decisive factor, wherever it came from from.

Could people stop being so harsh towards the OP? She was worried, she asked a question, and when the answer was reassuring she said thank you and stopped worrying. That’s not scaremongering or being ridiculous.