Struggling to cope with fear for my children

[MadBrained]

How do I snap out of this? I look at them and I love them so much and I get a pit in my stomach about any harm coming to them. I've even get upset about the fact that one day they will die (please God in old age.) it's particularly triggered at the moment by how horrified I am at what is happening to children worldwide right now. I have awful intrusive thoughts about my children in these situations. I've struggled to get out of bed today being consumed by it. I know this is wrong and I want to just snap out of the cycle of it.

I don’t have any answers, OP, but I feel the same way. Hoping someone comes along with some advice.

It's good to know it's not just me, even though I'm so sorry you feel the same :-(

Do you have wider mental health issues? How long has this been going on for? Have you told anyone in RL?

I've been a bit like it ever since they were born but, if I'm honest, it started to get out of hand when the invasion of ukraine started in 2022. I was suddenly cured of the illusion that the world is safe for children

How old are your children?

5 and 3

I have this and it has got worse as they get older. I take sertraline but doesn't seem to help much.

I did go to the GP a few months ago and Sertraline was suggested but ... it won't change reality! I guess I need to figure out how to cope with the uncertainty and that lack of safety I feel

But it will help you get more of a perspective on that “reality” OP

For your children’s sake let alone your own - you should consider it seriously

Have you confided in RL to anyone close

No, I haven't told anybody but I think it's clear I'm not the happiest. I'll reconsider the sertraline

I think you also need to tell someone close

do you have a partner or single parent?

I'm sorry, and I can understand this - so much has happened across those years.

This might be a helpful book to read:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reality-Slap-2nd-survive-thrive/dp/1472146360/ref=ascdff_1472146360/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=500806356660&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=271895608903374959&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045657&hvtargid=pla-1214728966732&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

Thanks so much for your kind replies x

I've been through this Op. it's terrifying. I went through it for a long time Precovid when Russia was all over the news. I couldn't eat, got quite ill. Randomly a work trip to London helped me as it made me realise that everyone was just getting in with it. Then during Covid I was very anxious again. I ended up on Sertraline and it was honestly a game changer.
I'm off it now. I do worry about what's going on but now manage to keep it in perspective as I've been here before and figure if I had carried on worrying the way I was for the past 7 years I would have gone insane.
There are lots of bad things happening & have been for a long time but we are still standing.
Maybe step away from reading the headlines for a little while. I do skim read but take some of the reports with a pinch of salt. I'm not denying there's some horrific things happening but unfortunately I cant influence them and make things better. All I can do is enjoy my family and my life in the now.
Hope you feel better soon x

Thank you @hby9628 - that made me feel a bit more sane, I really appreciate it

You need to go back to the GP.

Having a parent who is so consumed by anxiety that she struggles to get up in the morning isn't great for a child.

Please give medication a chance.

No, it won't change reality. But it might help you to focus more on the here and now and turn the larger picture into 'noises offstage'.

I get this to a certain level too op. But I don't let it affect my day to day life, it sounds like you could do with some help be it medication, therapy or both. I really feel for you I know how awful these thoughts are.

the news started having a similar effect on me at one point, so now I don’t read anything on news sites nor do I watch it. I get the key bits from hearing others talk about it. It’s sad I’m not educated in depth on what’s going on in the world, but I’m happier.

Thanks all, your kindness is evidence of some good in the world

I agree with your post @Ollifer but I really dislike the line, "I don't let it affect my day to day life". That makes it sound like it's a choice, it's not. I'm not having a go, I just see that line a lot on different threads and it's always about stuff that's out with the OPs control. Obviously what the OP does about the thoughts is a choice and I agree that medication and/or therapy could be hugely helpful.

There is so so so much good in the world world

much much much more than bad

Yes I read my post back and I agree with you that it's very badly worded. I am someone who has been so depressed in the past and like a zombie on sedative medication, so I certainly have been through the can't get out of bed phase. Apologies op if my post caused any offence.

No offence at all @Ollifer - I really appreciate how kind and supportive everybody has been. And nobody has been dismissive which I greatly appreciate too

@BluebellsForest thanks for this recc