Feeling despondent over the state of the world today - Grief and Mourning -Bereavement, healing - City-Data Forum

gentlearts · 07-15-2016, 09:18 AM

It is as though I have reached my limit of tolerance for the constant pounding of sorrowful things happening in the world.
Last night's Bastille Day massacre seems to have hit me in a physical way. I feel like curling up in a ball and sleeping, and I can't snap out of it.
I mourn the loss of our collective happiness, and feel powerless to affect change.

Dude111 · 07-17-2016, 06:12 AM

I feel the same as you....... I hate all the trash in the world now... All the mean/unfriendly people --- I wasnt born here!!!!!!!! -- I WAS BORN IN A BEAUTIFUL/PURE WORLD!!!!!!

I feel for ya my friend

gentlearts · 07-17-2016, 11:32 AM

I know, right? Me too.

I'm feeling a little better, but it seems like every day, there is something new to insulate myself against. Forcing myself not to feel, can't be a healthy way to live.

Cida · 07-17-2016, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gentlearts

It is as though I have reached my limit of tolerance for the constant pounding of sorrowful things happening in the world.
Last night's Bastille Day massacre seems to have hit me in a physical way. I feel like curling up in a ball and sleeping, and I can't snap out of it.
I mourn the loss of our collective happiness, and feel powerless to affect change.

I'm not sure that any "collective happiness" wasn't mostly a myth. Take your pick - Great Depression starvation, JFK assassination grief, Cold War paranoia, WWII deaths, etc.

gentlearts · 07-17-2016, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cida

I'm not sure that any "collective happiness" wasn't mostly a myth. Take your pick - Great Depression starvation, JFK assassination grief, Cold War paranoia, WWII deaths, etc.

I think the differences were that we weren't getting a terrorist attack every day, and we did not get minute by minute pounding from TV.

I don't know about your life, but mine had a few low points I could count on one hand, until lately.

fluffythewondercat · 07-17-2016, 02:57 PM

The best and most effective remedy is to stop watching TV news.

G Grasshopper · 07-17-2016, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fluffythewondercat

The best and most effective remedy is to stop watching TV news.

I don't watch TV news. I don't even have local news on my TV. But I still get it when I turn on the radio in the car, when I talk to friends and family, when I go to church, etc. You can't escape knowing about all the tragedy in the world unless you become a total hermit. I guess we just have to find ways of coping with it. Maybe if we put effort into making someone else's life better, we can feel like we are making a contribution to the happiness of the world.

fluffythewondercat · 07-17-2016, 05:46 PM

The OP said she was getting it from TV. You say you're getting it from the radio.

I say that if you don't want your brain to be hammered with images, sights and sounds of terror and violence, don't watch it. Don't listen to descriptions of it.

It's something nice you can do for yourself. Take care of you. And maybe tomorrow you can help someone else.

staywarm2 · 07-17-2016, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gentlearts

I think the differences were that we weren't getting a terrorist attack every day, and we did not get minute by minute pounding from TV.

I don't know about your life, but mine had a few low points I could count on one hand, until lately.

The terrible events of the last few weeks have hit very close, shaking our sense well being. It is very frightening to think that we could be shot and killed while watching a fireworks show or that there are angry people out there who want to kill the police, the ones who protect us.

It seems like our world is changing drastically lately and that it's not safe here anymore. There seem to be so many more people who are evil or mentally deranged who want to harm others to assuage their own anger.

Our world here in the U.S. is not the same as it used to be... We are no longer naive. Of course those of us who watch what is going on in the world will be affected. But ignoring the happenings is not the answer. Somehow the disaffected among us must be found and given help to identify their anger and alleviate their alienation from society before they perform horrendous acts.

If you could count your low points on one hand, you are much more fortunate than many, if not most, of us. I hope you feel better soon.

tangelag · 07-17-2016, 08:27 PM

OP, I think you are not alone in your feelings. We are being bombarded daily and unfortunately, much of that coming in (most?) is negative. How to balance it all?!!

I agree that sometimes you have to turn it off. Only you know how much you can take.

Years ago I was so stressed by the 'news' that I stopped reading the paper and stopped watching tv. I even took a year off from my job! I did listen to music radio. I think it helped. I took up other activities.

I missed an entire generation of tv shows and, in fact, forgot about tv. Literally. As an example, At that time I went back to study at the university, including dance. In preparation for a recital by the dance company a group of us were creating the program for the event and were given access to a huge computer center. One of the dancer's boyfriend was a computer specialist at this kind of 'techie think tank'. One evening I looked up to see there was a film playing on the monitor. This was BEFORE computers were capable of digital videography, before CDs, and there wasn't much other than inserting a vhs cassette for film. When I looked up to see live news video on the monitor I was stunned. I asked one of the young men at the center "How did you do that?" He replied, "Do what?" I said , "Get a live film on the computer?" He looked at me very confused and said, "That's a television." I was very embarrassed...I literally had cut tv out of my life so effectively that I no longer recognized it. The place was literally a sea of computers, so a tv never occurred to me. I think I was better off without it.

I still am very picky about how much I 'let in'.

Believe it or not, I have never seen (except for the briefest 1/2 second) the 9/11 videos. I decided from that time on, based on the descriptions of the horrific events, that it was not something that I needed in my memory. A few times I have almost been exposed to it, but I have a good sense about when one of the videos might be coming and I avoid it. This works for me.

OP reminds me of one of my students. She is overly sensitive to sad events in the world today (for example, she seems to constantly be talking about anti-animal cruelty videos she has seen online and how they make her sad and unable to think about anything else) and I am a bit concerned. When school resumes in the fall, I will be consulting with her grade level counselor. She literally got nothing done last school year. I am not the only teacher who has witnessed her overly emotional response to 'things happening in the world'.

OP, it's good that you've shared here how these things are affecting you. Keep talking about them to your friends and family and maybe they can offer some solace. Since you mentioned your church, perhaps you might seek some time with your spiritual leader at that church. That's what they are there for.

Best wishes and take care of yourself.