Emotionally drained by the news in the world.

[Illbeok]

I feel like the world is going crazy and I am getting so anxious about everything. I've always had anxiety and managing my depression at the bay. And the news tells me there are wars, bad politicians doing unthinkable things, AI is taking over, a market crash is coming, and so on. (The biggest is the climate change and these bushfire news makes me cry and feel powerless.) I feel like these issues are my own and keep donating money and feel financial stress at the same time (by the way some donations are not even tax deductible). I worry that we will become unemployed and Australia will become like these countries with high unemployment rates or the climate change will cause food shortage, the US will take over these key geopolitical locations by force and the world is divided into 3. I watch Eckhart Tolle or do mindfulness practice to stay in the "Now" but it is very hard not to worry about the future for me and everybody else's. I don't have friends so I cannot talk about it to anyone. The problem is that I cannot just shut it out. I need to look at the news and pay attention to politics because I have to manage someone else's finances, so I need to pay close attention to macroeconomics and geopolitics, do research. How does everybody cope with the current affairs in the world?

[white knight]

Hi, welcome, 

I understand.  Back in 1977 I became a prison officer, a very young one of 21yo. I had no knowledge then of pending diagnosises decades later. After 3 years there my brother took his life and that along with sensitivity threw me into depression particularly my burning desire to reject society.

What followed was a hatred for news, crowds, cruelty and toxic people eg manipulators and swindlers.

So I retreated to the mountains several times and one day found the compromise of moving to the country which solved all the issues I had. Yes, I'm still, like you concerned with the world but two things are important for you 1. You should try to separate concerns the you can achieve an impact on from those you have no control 2. Worry only gives to ulcers.

Google: beyondblue worry worry worry ... and:  beyondblue distraction and variety  ... and   beyondblue anxiety how I eliminated it

I included on on anxiety as your issues could be related. 

We also have a great online library just use search function.

I hope that helps. Reply anytime I'm here daily

TonyWK 

[Mudcakes]

I was so close myself to making a post like this. Im having huge social media hiatus but sure its helped but damm the news is freaking me out. Like I am worried for the future and what my future kids have to live through. I gotta watch the news though for basic safety things to know about local things. Its like good evening, heres all the reasons why its not. I feel you and Im trying to stay present too. 💖

[Picture]

I can understand how you feel this way. I feel that there is so much negative overwhelming news at the moment. I try just to skim the headlines these days and have also removed myself from most social media. For me focusing on small actions within my control helps.

[Alikiwi]

I certainly feel this, as most do. Not a lot to add, but really make yourself avoid news like the plague that it is. In your case not easy, but I think essential. You need to focus on what is good for you, not stuff that will drag you down. Again not easy I know, but remember, you should come first. Take care.

[Illbeok]

Hi Tony, thank you for sharing your story. I feel what you felt then ("a hatred for news, crowds, cruelty ...") and feel deeply sad about the world. I am reading the posts you showed me. Yes "Worry is non productive", and I intellectually understand it yet I cannot emotionally control it. What you said about "separating concerns" is exactly what I have problem with. When I see bad news I feel like they are my own and my internal voice says "Hey, do something!" (Sometimes it backfires, like I got mugged when I tried to help a person on the street.) I think it is more of an anxiety than altruism. I often day-dream "If I were Elon Mask whose net worth's $700bn, I would give all my money to ..."  What an unproductive thought!! I worry about myself and other people, particularly young people, and become sad or anxious. Anyway, thank you so much for understanding my feelings and practical advice, I don't want ulcers!! I will keep reading your past posts...  

[Illbeok]

Hi Mudcakes, thank you for understanding my feelings and I feel like I'm not alone! I cannot imagine how I'd feel if I had kids, my worry would be x100... "I gotta watch the news though for basic safety things to know about local things." YES! That is the hardest bit about this, I cannot completely shut it out of my life! I wish I could just switch it off and forget about it. If you discover a new way to stay present let me know!

[Illbeok]

Hi, Picture. Thank you for your reply. I totally admire you for not clicking those headlines! What are the examples of "small actions" that you mentioned? I have difficulty drawing a line between what I can/should do and cannot, for example I got so anxious about the climate change and told people at work "all the scary facts you should know" and "we all must get an EV", and yes I am very unpopular.) I get upset about news and donate money emotionally but I often regret it later when I have hard time myself! Do you have some criteria for what you can and cannot do? 

[Illbeok]

Hi Alikiwi, thank you for the encouragement, thank you for telling me that I myself should come first, sometimes I wish I had someone watched me and told me "don't do it, you should come first!". The problem is that I don't know how to avoid the news and be informed for important things at the same time. If you know some tricks to filter the right "information" from "noise", let me know! 

[Psychdiaries2]

Hi there, 

Thanks for reaching out!

I remember in lockdown watching the news and getting anxious about the state that the world is in. It is so scary. Honestly, the best thing for me was turning it off. Even now, I don’t watch the news unless it is a huge story. Apart from that, I try to stay away since I know it’ll make me anxious. Thinking about the future always is going to stress you out. I try to focus on the present as much as I can. You really don’t know what’s going to happen, all you can do is focus on the things you can control. Also, I try to not scroll on news accounts on social media. 

I think everyone can relate to how difficult it is seeing these horrible things happening everyday, but I think sometimes you need to limit the media you’re consuming. I hope you take care of yourself today. Warm wishes 🙂