I don’t even know how to say this anymore without sounding like a damn broken record, but ever since Trump got elected in November, my mental health has been slipping. And lately it’s not just slipping. It’s more like I jumped off a cliff and freefalling toward jagged rocks.

I’ve done everything I’m supposed to. I stay active. I run 3 to 5 miles on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I exercise 3 to 5 days a week. I spend time outside. I touch grass. But none of it works anymore. It just doesn’t take the edge off like it used to.

I know doomscrolling makes it worse. I know the news and social media are built to keep people angry and scared. I try to pull away from it. But even when I do, I get hit from another angle. My girlfriend sends me political messages all day long, like she’s trying to convince me of something I already agree with. I’ve told her to give me some space, but it doesn’t stop. It’s like she needs me to be in constant panic mode with her, and I just can’t do it anymore.

Lately I find myself dreading conversation. I don’t even want to hear another human voice. I’m tired in a way I don’t know how to fix.

I thought retirement was going to bring me some peace. I’ve worked hard my whole life. I thought I had earned some quiet. Instead, the world keeps getting louder, and none of the things I used to do to cope are cutting it.

Is anybody else feeling this way?

  • PahdyGnome@lemmy.world
    6·
    8 hours ago

    I don’t know how helpful this will be but I’ll give it a go anyway. One big difference I can immediately see between us is that you’re retired whereas I am not and I find that I’m far too busy at work to think about how doomed the world is. Perhaps a hobby you can really lean into would serve the same purpose for you?

    As far as social media goes I was already only on Reddit until the great exodus. By the time I found Lemmy I was already out of the habit of going onto Reddit every day and I’ve noticed since then I have been a lot better at ignoring the political stuff that comes across my YouTube feed unless I specifically feel like watching it.

    I’ve been dealing with depression a lot longer than there’s been an oompa loompa in the White House but I actually find it’s been easier to deal with since I’ve been working more and distracted less by social media.

    Again, I dont know how helpful you might find this but I figured it was at least worth mentioning what seems to work for me. Perhaps you might find a mix of several answers on this thread works for you. You can’t solve the problems of the world but there is always a way to feel better about your little corner of it and yourself as a whole.

    Edit: just wanted to clarify I’m not suggesting that you lose yourself in work to block out the noise of the world, rather that it makes the free time you do have far too precious to spend worrying about things that are well outside of your control.