How to cope with the emotional toll of what's happening around the world

[Parkingt111]

I hope its OK to put this here and I should add that this isn't a bashing thread or anything like that. I suppose just a safe space to talk about coping with what is happening around the world. I think with the Palestine conflict I have a constant sense of anxiety and also alot of guilt. Guilt that I am safe and ok and some of my loved ones are not. On reflection i realise that its also selfish to make it about my own feelings, which in comparison is trivial compared to their suffering. I have so many conflicting emotions which I'm not great at articulating but I think it helps to perhaps write some of it down.

Would love to hear what some of your coping mechanisms are. Love to all who is reading whether muslim or not.

When I was younger I worried about every little conflict turning to world war. I remember looking at mums chatting to each other outside schools with not a care in the world and wondering why they didn’t seem as afraid as I was. Over time I realised that I had spent a lot of time worrying about nothing. I too think about those who are suffering but I have learned to recognise that there is nothing I can do about it. You worrying or feeling guilty isn’t going to help them. You’re just inflicting needless stress on yourself. All you can do is support charities that help with aid and stand up for refugees who come to this country from war torn areas and are treated like scum. It is disgusting. Other than that you just need to let it go, recognise it’s beyond your control and that making yourself miserable and anxious won’t help them in the slightest.

@MrsSlocombesCat yes it's true about being more active in ways that can help more effectively. Some charities in nearby cities to mine are quite active and open to volunteers.

In Islam we are taught that the whole ummah is one body and when one limb is in pain the whole body is in pain. So I don't think the pain can ever fully go, but I think it's more about finding the balance which is something I have been trying to do.

And it's true that you do what you can and then leave the rest in Allah's hands.

Whatever your faith or none we can all feel that sense of hopelessness in our troubled world. I cope by doing what I can in places I can make a difference, I help out with people in my community in need, donate to charities and am willing to give practical support when applicable. I can't change what happening overseas but I can pick up prescriptions for my elderly neighbour, run a lunch project for low income people, volunteer etc. concentrate on things you can do not that which is beyond our reach

I feel the same as you OP, have done since I was a teen and press coverage of war etc really affects me negatively. I can't watch the news near bed time and I find it easier to read news articles than watch actual footage because the latter makes me so upset. I don't want to bury my head in the sand but I do have to protect my emotional wellbeing, my kids rely on it after all. I try to do what I can to help others as people have said, even if I can't assist everyone or with every issue, I have to accept that. I work in healthcare in a role that directly benefits people (not clinical) so I take pride and comfort in that, I donate what I can to charities, and I try to practice patience and kindness with the people that I meet in life, to the best of my ability.

Oh and prayer. It does help me emotionally and I hope it helps those I pray for somehow.