God help us all

[Vellincharm]

Just that really. So many awful things happening all the time. Too much for me recently, and if you are an atheist I apologize.

Yes, the sea temperature in the Florida Keys hit that of a hot tub yesterday. Live in active hope and faith, it is what we have

Great post. I entirely agree.

... if you are an atheist I apologize.

I don't think you should feel the need to apologise. I feel worse for people who believe in a god and think that god is doing this to them.

I don't blame Heavenly Father for the fact that this world is sometimes shitty. Humans have free will, sadly some people choose to do heinous things. And we live on a world where there's natural disasters and diseases, those things are part of living. I think people are more self obsessed than they used to be, capitalism has a lot to answer for, as does the way we're effecting the planet.

I think they have always happened we just see it more

This. Good news doesn't sell. Or generate clicks.

Oh relax and just enjoy your life. Stop worrying about things you can change and trying to depress everyone else.

*can’t

Leaving aside belief in God etc. I ditched radio and TV news during Covid and it was the best decision I have ever made.

I no longer SEE things that are horrible and unbelievable. I no longer listen to endless drivel, analysis, repeat reporting, rolling news, constant doom and gloom.

I do keep up with the latest news though, that's kind of natural, so I catch the headlines every day online, and if there is anything of interest to me I will follow it up. But on a day to day basis most stuff passes me right by. I know that might sound cold hearted, but there is nothing I can do personally about most of it, and awful things have been happening since the dawn of time.

I just focus on my immediate family and circle now. The only social media I use is here and if it is considered SM - YouTube. I am feeling far more calm and settled as a result.

No I don't think it's just about bad news being reported more.

Objectively I can't do the things we did in the 70's anymore, like leave my kids outside to roam and let them whittle wood with a pocket knife - which me and my brother did.

Knife crime epidemic in my area is a real observable change. Someone was stabbed to death in the local park this year and again in the local green last month, both a 5 minute walking distance away. Can't leave my doors open or key under the mat like my mum used to in the past for fear of burglary.

New neighbours all the time. Shops changing and closing every 5 minutes. No continuity.

Family breakdowns are an observable thing, likewise housing instability and unaffordability, environmental degradation and family breakdowns are all observable.

Saying it's just because things are reported more ,is sort of burying the head in the soil. Things are objectively worse along certain metrics. Primarily the ones that give people meaning.

Limit the news - I have a quick look every day as dont want to turn a blind eye or be unaware of world events. Other than that, I really do try and enjoy life every day. We’re here for such a short time (im an atheist so perhaps that helps as I really believe the end is the end). Concentrate on enjoying time with the people you love, doing the things you love and there will always be bad things out there (we live in a much safer time than people did centuries ago).

Wow this is gorgeous

Do all of the above, to help yourselves, limit social media and news etc as we all deserve to have wellbeing in our lives.

I tend to disagree with those who say we cannot do anything about somethings, we can actually. We have a vote, we have democracy where we can air our views and make our point, we can join ( peaceful) protest groups, pressure groups etc and we can show empathy to those who are less fortunate and struggling, I’m going to try to do this too.

The best advice I read was not to spread yourself thin in terms of caring and effort. Pick the one thing you can focus on, say climate change, and put your time, money, effort, doomscrolling, lifestyle changes towards that. Tune out all the other awful news and events: someone else will pick one of those as their one thing. This way you’re not overwhelmed (“how can I help Ukraine and Syria and the climate and refugees and and and and”), you’re not dipping in and out of causes then forgetting them, you can give £25 to one cause rather than £1 to 25 causes, you’re not going to get completely tapped out and emotionally spent so you end up doing nothing, etc.

Wise.

I must say I borrowed someone my TV, the last thing I watched being the Queens funeral and I'm shocked by how much I haven't missed it.

I do also think the TV soaps are toxic. I haven't watched any UK ones for nearly 20 years. When I catch them at a relative's house there is always a negative storyline. When I gave them up it was a bit hard initially, but after a while it was easy. I find them a chore to have to watch now.

My grandparents lived through the Blitz in London during WW2. When I asked how it felt to think you might die in the bombing, Grandma replied that they didn't THINK they were going to die, they KNEW they were going to die. She went to bed every night knowing that . She had to go into her neighbour's bombed house and identify her friend and her children's bodies.

I don't think any of us today can know what that must have been like. If you find the TV news depressing, think about stopping from watching it and concentrate on your own life, children, pets, hobbies. There is more to life than the news cycle.

Look up Positive News, it’s quite encouraging, they have an article called something like ‘What went right in the world today’

https://www.positive.news/

There’s no point looking back with rose-tinted glasses. In the ‘good old days’ there were no antibiotics, decent anaesthetics, cancer treatment, cataract surgery etc etc.

I wouldn't want to live my grandparent's life, although it sounds similar to yours. They grew all their veg and kept chickens and goats. However they had ten kids in a three-bedroomed house with no inside toilet, and had very little money. They never had a holiday in their lives and lived a pretty basic existence. My mum and aunts took my granny on holiday to Spain once when she was in her seventies, it absolutely blew her mind! So no, I think it's easy to have rose-coloured specs on when looking back to older simpler times, but it was bloody hard work and most people would prefer modern home comforts. But there is nothing stopping you from choosing to live more simply if that's what makes you happy! I'd prefer to keep my ensuite, internet and central heating/air con!

It is a complete fallacy that we can do nothing about this.

We can do nothing individually.

But we can do an enormous amount collectively. Join organisations campaigning for the right kind of change, and force politicians to stand up to business.

One of the worst things neoliberalism has done is to deprive us of our sense of collective, communal power.

I lived through that period and was interested in politics even then.

I think it's a problem today that so many young people remain disengaged from politics. We need young people to care - and vote.

This

This. Life is what it is, there will always be catastrophic events, financial issues, disease outbreak, weather causing food shortages. We’re very good at saying this is the worst it’s ever been but that isn’t true. It’s easy to fall into anxiety, eco anxiety in particular , but you have to try and focus yourself mind on the fact that this isn’t an uncommon thing throughout history.

Oh look, you’ve solved anxiety. Well done you, you should repeat this to the medical council, bet they haven’t thought of telling people who are struggling to ‘get over it’ 🙄

Great post.

@Vellincharm is there one particular thing that has triggered this? Are you generally anxious? Can you chat to anyone about how you’re feeling? If you are religious, can you seek solace within your flock?

The op hasn’t said much about what the issue is but agree with pp limit media and a bit of @DaisyAndDonaldDuck advice too