Is anyone able to chat about anxiety and our current state of affairs in the US?

[Ramon123]

Hi all, without getting political about this - I'm very worried about the state of the US - the discourse, the polarization, the calls for people to separate from people who don't think the same way they do. The goal should always be to seek understanding. Without getting into a lot of detail, my husband was a first responder during the January 6th Capitol Riots and I've been having very bad anxiety ever since. I'm so nervous about how everyone is so angry and awful in the US, and I'm so scared for the future. Is anyone else feeling this way, or am I feeling this anxiety because of our close proximity to the situation? If anyone is willing to speak with me or has experience with PTSD I would appreciate it.

[Hb2003]

I would love to chat about it privately

[Hb2003]

Because I don’t want anyone attacking me

[Hb2003]

I will say that the US has been hectic a lot of things injustices covid protesting violence ect i wish that everyone would be kind to each other instead of hating each other because of differences

[Hb2003]

I am feeling the same way as you but I have hope

[Good_for_us]

Hi, I’m glad you posted this- I just joined a few minutes ago, just so I could join this discussion, as I agree so much with your comments. I was very worried about what was happening in our country even before Jan 6th, and since then it has gotten so terrible. The extremism I am seeing is shocking, the censorship, the McCarthy-ism tactics of making lists of certain people who are in the ‘wrong’ political party, the cancel culture. I am seeing a sliding into a totalitarian government where only certain views are tolerated and expressed. I never thought I would see this happen in our country. When I was growing up, and for a large part of my adulthood, the Republican and Democrat parties were much closer together and usually worked together to find compromise. The current situation is hateful. How can we expect citizens to get along if this is the example we see in our leaders? I’m so sorry that you have that additional stress/trauma in that your husband is a first responder who was at the Capital that day. I hope he is okay! That would be so scary! I have had to turn off the news starting yesterday as my anxiety level is so high , and adding in both parents with Covid (although recovering, thank God). I am trying to take deep breaths, listen to zen-like music and read some comforting novel. I don’t know if you are religious, but prayer helps me. I want to believe that cooler heads will prevail and we will see a return to moderation and democracy.

[Catsamaze ADAA Volunteer in reply to Good_for_us]

Hi Good_for_us. I want to welcome you to the community. Very glad you found us......

[Good_for_us in reply to Catsamaze]

Thank you, Catsamaze

[Marshall64 in reply to Good_for_us]

I feel the exact same way

[hlacovara in reply to Good_for_us]

I absolutely agree and it would seem most people do.

[Hb2003 in reply to hlacovara]

I hope so 😄

[Ramon123 in reply to Good_for_us]

oh me too!! I know we are not allowed to post anything political on here, but the situation seems so out of control in the US - I think many of us can't help but be very affected and scared by it. It's like I thought there were some fringes on both sides, and that most people were very good people and to have faith. But my faith has been tested over and over again in 2020, and it feels like I woke up one day and missed the last week of class and have no idea what anyone is talking about. I'm scared to say the wrong thing, think the wrong thing. I'm scared to find a new job now. Sometimes I feel scared to leave my house if I'm going somwhere new. We don't go many places anyway with the pandemic, but it really feels like empathy has left the station in America.

[SingingpraisesofGo]

It is sad how much ugly has come out in our world, but we need to discern that much of what we are seeing and hearing about is a result of corruption in our government. In my opinion, this corruption is a result of spiritual and moral decay in our world. We need something bigger to trust in, and that is the God who made us. I have found peace and hope in God, and I pray all who need this peace would ask and receive the peace He gives. I was diagnosed with PTSD, depression and anxiety disorder and I found inner healing as I put my trust in the Lord. I went to counseling and was on medication before, but now I am healed and at peace and no longer in counseling or taking antidepressants or antianxiety meds as I once had to. I am sharing this to give hope to you and to encourage you to spend less time looking at the chaos around us and consider looking to God, because He cares. There is hope, and I pray you find healing and peace as well. This is my experience, and I know others who have found this same kind of peace, even in the midst of this storm we are all in.

[SteelyDanfan]

Hi Ramon123. I can relate to your anxiety about the current issues facing our country. I'm sorry your husband had to witness Jan 6th firsthand. I watched the news all day in horror. Now, I feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop.

[Stilltrying2]

Can’t believe the current state politics in our country.

[Nothing_but_books]

I am feeling it too. My city was the site of a mass hate killing not too long ago, and instead of reconcilliation, the community are still attacking each other.

It frightens me how quickly I see my country sliding into an abyss I never could have imagined when I was young.

Hb is right, this is a post that could attract a lot of attacks. Would you consider locking it so we keep it in house?

[Nothing_but_books]

For the readers in our little forum. This couldn't be more pertinent.

"The Children's Story" by James Clavell.

It's quite short. Internet Archive has it here for free, no download needed:

archive.org/stream/TheChild...

I found a short film of the story too:

archive.org/details/TheChil...

[Good_for_us in reply to Nothing_but_books]

Yes, you are right- this is very timely and relevant. Sad to say.