How to Deal With Apocalyptic Anxiety
Now, when the hot global political climate and the threat of nuclear war hang over our heads, it is hard not to worry. But you don’t have to sit and stare in agony at the news feed.
The fear of nuclear war or the apocalypse is nothing new at all. People have lived with him for years since World War II and long before that. But taking care of yourself is paramount in times like this, as is avoiding the deep clues of mass hysteria. Research shows that fears like these increase the risk of common mental disorders in young people , and it’s probably not good for anyone else, but the slightest effort can help you maintain a healthy perspective on what’s going on.
Therapist Michael J. Salas of Vantage Point Counseling Services suggests several things you can do when anxiety arises . Ask yourself:
- If this event happened in the future, how could worrying about it now help?
- What evidence do you have that a catastrophic event will occur?
- What is the difference between cautious, fearful, and worried? How do you define each of them? What would you most like to feel?
- What information is presented and how reliable is the resource that delivers the information?
It may seem silly to ask yourself these questions, but it is really important to consider. Worrying about abstract fears like this rarely provides any benefit, caution is different from fear – don’t let that get you – and the evidence and information you have about a major nuclear war probably comes from some talking heads on the news. …
But what can you do to combat this feeling of nervous terror in the long term? To find out, I spoke with Jeffrey DeGroat, Ph.D., LP , a clinical psychologist based in Birmingham, Michigan.
First, you need to understand why this type of stress and anxiety affects you in the first place. DeGroat explains that this type of stress gets worse because you spend too much time and energy on things you can’t do anything about. You want control, but you cannot get it. You do not run any national nuclear weapons program, you do not have the ability to control space and stop an asteroid, and you cannot make a supervolcano cool down. Simply put, you are afraid of the unknown, and this is not unusual. Try to let go of what you cannot control.
Easier said than done, of course, is to simply “let go” of a particular concern, and DeGroat offers two specific suggestions that may help. The first is to take action:
“If you are overwhelmed by the current political climate, you can find relief by getting involved in political life. For example, research the various political or social movements that you agree with and find ways to get involved. You can attend local events or participate in online communities to express your opinion and promote political and social change. “
You may not be saving the world from destruction in the process, but that’s not the point. You focus on what you can do and give your mind some relief knowing that you have contributed to trying to improve the situation. Sometimes this is enough to get you to sleep at night. The next thing you can do is take comfort in your distractions:
“If you are uncomfortable participating in social and political movements, I would recommend that you focus on taking your mind off the current political climate. Investing your time and energy in activities that bring you satisfaction can be a great way to distract yourself from stressful environmental factors that you have no control over. ”
Take a nature trip and reconnect with nature, gather your friends for weekly game nights, spend time with your family doing your favorite things, and in the name of heaven, stop reading the damn news every five seconds . It also helps create a safe zone of “nuclear-free war” where a moratorium on the end of the world has been declared. And it can be difficult, but give yourself some slack and remember that it’s okay to be afraid from time to time. Sometimes we exacerbate stress when we first criticize ourselves for how we feel.
Finally, DeGroat notes that you are not alone in this worry. Do not be afraid to seek comfort in those who think the same way. Stay in touch with those close to you and reach out to those who support you. It’s okay to be afraid, but you can also ask for help. At the very least, remember that cases like these do have a positive impact, even if they are difficult to see. The heightened nuclear threat is drawing more attention to it, including more focus on education , training and future prevention. This fear has its advantages.