At the end of 2021, I was in a deep spiral of depression and anxiety. Inflation, gas prices, the Pandemic, interest rates, drought, war, politics, global warming, mass shootings, etc., etc., etc. There is certainly enough to be concerned about if you simply look beyond your own front door. With the insurmountable number of issues the world has, how do we deal with it all?
Being an introvert, the noise of this world can become overwhelming for me. In the last year, I moved to a small, quiet town and have a home in the country. For me, this life is the most peaceful it has been in decades.
Even with my current quiet lifestyle, one can’t simply ignore the issues going on around us. At least I can’t. All you have to do is turn on the TV and you’ll be bombarded with images and stories that are disturbing. That’s a LOT of negativity to absorb. I want to be informed. I’m not a “head in the sand” type of person. So how do I deal with it?
Negativity breeds negativity. Have you heard the phrase “misery loves company”? It’s true. You must distance yourself from it in some way. Below are some ways of coping with the negativity.
*Take the negativity in small doses. If you MUST watch the news, limit yourself. Set a limit of exposure. I do not expose myself to image upon image of war, or weather disasters, or the back-biting of politics, or a number of other things. I know they exist, but I am not overloading myself with the details.
*Tend your own garden. Even though my life is a quiet one, there are responsibilities and activities that I must tend to. I own a fixer-upper house that I am always working on. I am taking my writing interest more seriously. I spend time with family and stay in touch with friends. I try to stay active and healthy. These are not only important in my life, they also distance me from the constant flow of negativity.
*Do your part (within your means). Want to help? Seeing all the awful things that go on in the world, it’s hard not to want to help, to be involved. So, do What You Can Within Your Means. Recycle, save water, donate to the food bank and/or local charities, Vote! You can also volunteer locally. Libraries, animal shelters and retirement communities always need help. Shop small and shop locally. Small independent business owners need your help. They feel the crunch too.
*Be prepared. Keep your gas tank full. Stay stocked up on the basics/essentials in your pantry. Have emergency water and first aid items on hand. THIS is an excellent website that can help. They have information on everything from building an Emergency Preparedness Kit to Cyber Security.
A few things to keep in mind:
*It’s not all about you. There are some things that just do not concern you and there’s nothing that you can do about them.
*We’re all in the same boat. You are not alone in feeling the enormity of the problems of this world.
*See the reality of the situation. In the Big Scheme of things, Worldwide, there is only So Much you can do. Keep in mind that YOU alone, are limited by your means, your location, etc.
*Do What You Can. If you want to help, then help. Do what’s within your power to help. A lot of little things add up to bigger things that can help overall.
*Seek help. If things get to be overwhelming, seek help. TALK to someone. Let those around you know that you are struggling. THIS is my page on Mental Health Help. There are a number or resources and articles that may be helpful.
No one knows how much time we have on this planet. Be happy when you can, enjoy and be grateful for what you have, live today, for today. Spend time with your loved ones. Appreciate the little things that make you smile.
“Mind your own biscuits and everything will be gravy.”
Copyright (C) 2023 Penny Wilson
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