AIBU worrying about WW3?

[mumstheword1x]

My husband says I’m putting too much energy into something that may never happen. I’m worried that UK will have a nuclear attack… my husband also says ‘the weren’t even used in the Cold War, they are mainly just a deterrent’

I can’t stop thinking about it, and I’m seeing tabloids like Mirror, Daily Star, The Sun.. report like ‘4 minute warning’ and everything- to the point I’ve had to delete Facebook.

ive even asked ChatGPT who says it’s ’extremely unlikely’ 😆

but I just can’t shake it, I suffer with anxiety that I am being seen for.

This is why I don’t watch the news. I couldn’t live like this. My mental health is superb

OK so say that it’s true. What are you able to do about it? Absolutely nothing.

Live your life, do things to make you happy, be a good person.

We’ll all be dead in 100 years anyway.

And get some help with the anxiety.

Worrying won't change anything. Delete any social media that's causing you stress and change your phones news settings.

If we were all going to die in a nuclear war, I'd rather just enjoy myself now while I can 🤷‍♀️.

To be clear, I do NOT think there will be a nuclear attack or a world war.

Your DH is right. Nuclear weapons are the ultimate deterrent. They’re not meant to be for attack.

Russia would have defeated Ukraine by now if they wanted to use a nuclear weapon.

Why do you think they haven’t?

What’s your life like generally? Busy? Happy? Work? Children, friends?

I think about this of it pops up on the radio news or I read an article in the weekend papers, but outside of that… no not really - I just live my life

Exactly

I adopted this approach during Covid and… well, I rather enjoyed lockdown as a result!

Nobody wants to use nukes otherwise Russia would of dropped them on Ukraine. They know soon as they drop that one nuke, everyone dies & nobody wins.
So stop worrying & stop watching the news.

Not worth worrying about as there’s nothing I can do about it.

I haven’t watched the news for months, so only way I’ll know somethings going on, will be if it really does happen.

I think you should stay away from social media for the sake of your mental health. I don't suffer from anxiety and don't go looking for articles about war but even so every day I have articles popping up on social media with headings like 'best/worst places in UK if nuclear war starts', 'who would be first to be conscripted' etc. If I suffered from anxiety I'm sure I would probably draw some pretty dark conclusions from this when actually it's all clickbait

No point in worrying about something that you can't control. If we were hit by nuclear weapons you wouldn't know too much about it!

Is your husband of an age to remember any part of the Cold War, OP? We had some frighteningly near misses during those years, which perhaps not everyone is aware of. I think YANBU, unfortunately - complacency about the possible deployment of these weapons is a dangerous stance to take imo. Personally I’m concerned too.

If you’re receiving professional support for anxiety, you are obviously very vulnerable to the news.

So… for your own sake and the sake of your family - be strict with yourself and don’t listen / read / watch the news

Do you have any influence over it?
Can you change it?

If the answers are no, then concentrate on what you can change and influence. All the angst in the world wont make a difference.

Honestly, it’s extremely unlikely, I wouldn’t worry. Why nukes specifically? Thats the one thing I’m absolutely not worried about.

“My mental health is superb”
You sure about that?!

I think there is a lot to worry about: terrible damage to infrastructures, economies and the many (innocent) people who live in all the countries being targeted by all sides; oil shortages; higher prices; possibly unrest and anger caused by the current situation in the Middle East spreading to other countries - especially those assisting Israel and the US.

But I'm not worried that anyone will use nuclear weapons. None of the capable nations who have them will deploy them.

If this is a serious post, then I have to ask why your main info sources are the Daily Star, The Sun and ChatGTP. Come on.

No good worrying yourself @mumstheword1x about something you have no control over. We have been through worse, and we will go through worse in the future. Sit tight. We'll be OK.

Doomsday

People will be dissmissive and condescending, but it is absolutely normal to have worries about this some of the time.

So, instead of telling you there is nothing to worry about, I would say, focus on what you can do and be considerate about what will impact you and your family.

Bombs dropping on the UK? Not likely. No need to buy your hazmats. Prices rising due to supply constraints? Likely. Consider your purchases?

These are practical things I do for lots of scenarios, like shortage of goods, power and water cuts, ill health, car trouble, financial issues - not warfare, but they make me feel better.

1. Keep a well stocked pantry, where you can. Only what your family eat, only what you can afford to spend and store. I like to have things like tuna, dried goods, some water etc. I make sure I have dog food too.
2. Check your first aid kit and medicine cupboard! Update what you need.
3. Batteries and torches, candles and matches.
4. Maintain a decent amount of fuel in your car- I try not to let me tank go under half full.
5. Keep a little cash in the house. We’ve had it recently where card machines go down, keeping £100 in a secure place at home has helped me out (as long as I remember to replace it when I buy the odd takeaway!)
6. Savings! Most disasters are personal and financial, save what you can.

It’s easy and privileged to tell people to turn off the news and do nothing. I personally believe we should witness other peoples’ suffering, especially if we can do nothing to change it, they deserve that.

All of those things above are things that are useful for so many reasons, and they give you control over your circumstances. I appreciate that they cost, and it might be not be feasible to do all, but do what you can.

It’s done a lot to help me keep on an even keel when the news is terrible and worrisome.

fabulous

but did you clock that this Op has diagnosed anxiety and will be receiving professional treatment for it?

@Nowpauseand? You think having an anxiety diagnosis means everyone should act as if every worry in the world someone has should be dismissed as mythological?

I have bad anxiety (diagnosed, medicated) but for some reason I am not worried about WW3. There's been so much shit happening over the last couple of years that I've run out of fucks to give. (Or it's the meds!) It's like every day there's another sensationalist headline about how we're all going to die and not a lot has actually happened. Also I find it comforting that if poop really hit the fan there's not a lot I could do about it anyway so I just try to live my life.

That being said, I was a bit of a prepper back in the day and it is nice to know I have enough supplies to keep us going for a while should there be any issues with food/energy/etc.

No, I think that if someone has an existing mental health condition which is being severely exacerbated by the news - then avoiding the news is beneficial

Rather than “prepping” (which in reality, against a nuclear war, is going to do sweet FA!)

Tbh if it did happen, it would be quick and we would all go together.