The News, climate change, AI

Recently been feeling really down about the future and about the way the world is going. Lots of things that I used to enjoy reading about such as politics have made me feel really upset and have caused obsessions which I’ve naturally been researching all about… Similarly the depressing news about AI this week has really spiked my OCD and I’m really struggling not to compulsively research. The difficulty I find is that because it is a real life thing, it’s hard to just say, oh it’s my OCD it’s irrational. I don’t think it is unreasonable to be scared about the way things are going, yet I know that OCD plays a part in how anxious it makes me. Just wanted to see if anybody else is feeling the same and if so, what has helped?

FallFell

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: Yesterday

I feel you so much!! The AI thing has got me in so deep. Foe climate, there's someone on tik tok (I forget her name now I apologize), but she emphasizes on the real, Tangible, positive things that are happening that better our environment. That makes me feel better about that. As for the awful AI news, I wish I had advice. I'd get on my knees and beg for advice or reassurance right now. What I'm trying to tell myself now is: It's new. There's going to be a lot of doomsday stuff and it's gonna be hard to tell what's real and what's not. And, I compare it to the yearly "ww3 is starting!!!" Scare that always happens. Whenever people start thinking ww3 is imminent, there are so many pessimistic people who are convinced itll happen. And then it doesn't. While this ai situation is very different, I'm trying to look at it from a different light so I don't absolutely lose my mind, because it's hard to be motivated when everyone is saying the world is over in 3/4 years.

Anonymous

Date posted: 7h

@FallFell It’s a proper downer isn’t it!! Thanks for the recommendation, I’m trying to watch some more positive stuff as I know there are always two sides to everything, just my OCD loves to focus on the negative… It’s difficult not to just want to curl up and cry sometimes. Some days I feel very emotional about it and some days it doesn’t really affect me. I suppose it just means we care deeply about the world and those around us, still feels awful when you’re really in the haze tho haha! It’s sad cos politics has always been something I’ve loved and keeping up with all sorts of current affairs too. I’m considering a little break from instagram and tik tok but I’m not sure whether that is avoidance or not…

anca

Date posted: Yesterday

The AI thing got me too and like you said, since it's a real life thing there is not much you can do to ease your anxiety. I've honestly been avoiding posts and stuff about it which I guess is not good but i don't really care

Anonymous

Date posted: 7h

@anca It’s a tough one to have had to read this week, especially with everything that’s been going on the past couple of years, I just feel like it keeps adding and adding!! I’ve had to take a step back and realise whilst the negative things have continually added, so have the positive and sometimes I need to remind myself to look at them as well. Just difficult to do when you’re nearly having a panic attack whilst reading the news 🥲 Tbh I’m not sure wether avoiding or researching are good at all, I suppose just doing them in healthy amounts is all that matters 🤷‍♂️

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