coping with worry.

26 replies

mopandsmiff · 13/09/2026 17:04

I’m getting quite anxious about the possibility of a disaster. All the dire warnings about AI, war with Russia, and stormy weather this winter.

It really feels to me that the question isn’t ‘if’ something happens but ‘when’, and not in 100 years but more like within the next 5.

I want to prepare, but I don’t have the money or space for the preparations that would be needed for the scariest scenarios. I read about people who have gardens full of vegetables and stockpiles of food and fuel for multiple people for several days, and stashes of cash in the house … I just can’t do that. I don’t really have the spare cash to be spending on this and even if I did, I have very limited storage space.

I am about six months into a new job but instead of feeling focused and motivated this weekend about a busy week coming up, I’m just thinking about how really I’d kind of like to quit my stressful career (that I worked hard for and enjoy in theory) and instead get a part time / low paid job that will give me time and headspace to enjoy my life and its simple pleasures while I can.

I know that sounds a bit extreme but it’s the way I am thinking. And nobody thought covid would happen (myself included- I was minimising it right up to lockdown) - but then it did.

I’m posting here because I think folks on the chat / AIBU will shout at me to stop catastrophising. I’m not doing it on purpose, or for morbid kicks. I’m also not normally an anxious type of person at all, far from it. But this sense of doom has sort of got ahold of me this weekend.

How do you guys cope with worry about the future (aspects that can’t be prepped for) and then crack on with daily life?

OP posts:

Charitythoughts · Yesterday 08:15

NotPerfectlyAdverage · 17/09/2026 08:40

All of your fears are valid. But I have a Biology degree specailising in the environment and im a ex programmer. Neither global warming or AI killing us all keep me awake at night. Because although either could kill us soon, it might not and I can't control or stop either possibility.

I'm currently prepping for power and water cuts and anything like covid. It takes some worry away.

I'd set a realistic target that doesn't stress you out. Like buying a long life staple food each week. We eat 1.kg of pasta a week. So I buy another 1.5kg every week until I have 4 weeks spare then stop and rotate. That costs me £2 a week. Same for tinned tomatoes. Buy 2l of water a week and put in the bottom of a wardrobe or under kick boards. Buy a head torch and a pack of matches. Then your pretty much prepped and can add things like medicines first aid kit.

I'm not prepping for world war three. But if covid and lockdwn happened again I know I have zero reason to rush to a shop. Which in turn makes me feel calm. Which is the idea. It's not for end of days. It's breathing room buffer.

Yes this is how I'm approaching it too. I can't do anything to protect myself from nuclear war or AI run amok but I suspect in terms of putin anyway that what we're looking at is hacking systems so that power goes out or shop systems go down or supplies are interrupted. Or we're looking at extreme weather - floods, power outages etc. so I prep so that I have enough supplies to last me up to a fortnight - after that either the government will have organised a proper relief effort or they won't and then we're kind of screwed beyond the ability of a few weeks supplies making any difference 🤷🏻‍♀️

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