YOU ARE NOT ALONE - A companion online community discussion board for The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast with Paul Gilmartin

I get anxious about political and current events in the United States. Right now, I'm anxious about the TPP, which is a treaty currently being negotiated between the US and 11 Pacific countries, the largest so far. One thing that makes me anxious is the fact that the talks are going on in secret, which makes me think that there will be at least a few parts of this treaty that Americans won't like. Wikileaks has supposedly published part of the treaty, which contains a clause containing parts of two internet anti-piracy bills that were defeated in Congress before. The anticipation of this treaty being ratified by Congress leaves me terrified. I wonder how this will affect the internet. I've talked with my parents and therapist about the matter, and they have told me to wait until the event actually happens, and it's not as catastrophic as I'm making it out to be. I've also talked with my rabbi, and am starting a regular meditation practice, but the anxiety is still scaring me to death. Sometimes it's very difficult to get out of bed. Not sure if this is a unique situation, or how this will affect matters, but the matter still scares me.

You're not alone. The TTP gives me terrible anxiety as well. I'm European, and TTP will basically destroy everything on both sides of the Atlantic. It will completely sideline what little we have in the way of democracy, it will lead to endless suffering and death. And the most awfulsome part is that here in Germany, it's being pushed through by the so-called "Christian" "Democrats".

The only "solution" I could come up with so far is to keep telling myself that I'm far from alone. TTP will negatively affect 80+% of the population.

One possibly brighter note is that if they actually get their way with regard to the anti-piracy stuff, and piracy actually becomes much harder, it will drive A LOT more people into protest. I've long had the impression that piracy is being sort of half-condoned because it pacifies politically dormant parts of the population. But take away their games, movies, tv shows and possibly even porn, and it might be a completely different game. So that's my personal silver lining about the whole return to feudalism.

But yeah, I'm right there with you. It scares the living shit out of me.

You're definitely not alone. I get anxiety about world events all the time. For me, there is some sort of draw to negative news, almost like I crave the anxiety it causes. It's something I have to look into.

One thing that helps me is to get involved in activism. It seems to give some small sense of control, rather than being just a passenger on a scary ride. It also helps to surround myself with like-minded people. I don't feel as alone when I'm surrounded by people at a protest or meeting. Although, some of this can be triggering for me since I also suffer from social anxiety.

On a "brighter" note, one positive thing about unlimited access to news is that you can always distract yourself from depressing news with even more depressing news...

Also, I find there's a difference between things that just scare me due to their opaqueness and complexity (i.e. stuff like TTP), and things that make me more sad and angry rather than just scared (e.g. factory farming).

In case OP returns, I'd like to ask whether you are engaging (or considering to engage) in any kind of activism or organizing, or at least communicating with likeminded people offline. This is one thing I want to do. Sort of like a self-help group for people suffering from wanting the world to be a better place. I say that because I'm often not sure what actually gives me greater anxiety: the things like TTP itself, or the fact that I'm not in touch with people IRL who share my sentiments and worries about it.

Your problem is definitely not unique.
And I understand the intent of your answer from authority figures, but what they really should be saying is to be in the present.

This does not mean to ignore the world, but as others say, get involved.
The only possible solution to the world's problems comes from enough people having their consciousness raised, and you can help.

I was labeled as "paranoid", and later found out that paranoia is a state of heightened awareness.
You might apply that to your anxiety.

But don't get immobilized by it as that is just the type of reaction the vampires hope for--
that we will all be zombies and do nothing.

Hey Don, I fully agree with your point re: the danger of getting paralyzed with anxiety (which, yes, is very much the ideological injunction of the system) vs. letting it spur us into action. This is something I'm struggling with, and have been for quite some time. My main problem seems to be that my mind keeps coming up with absolutely excellent reasons for why resistance is futile and why I should really just enjoy the vapid little spoils of being a good little cog in the machine, such as they are and for as long as they last (i.e. before they finish their project of turning the entire world into an open-air gulag).

Anyway, I read a little about your story on your blogspot page. It reminded me of the story of Ian Chovil. Maybe you've heard of him? Don't know if he's still alive, but I wanted to suggest him to Paul as a potential guest. Maybe you should be on though, it would be fascinating to hear you tell your story.

You know what always helped me with this type of anxiety? As people, we get anxious over change no matter if its good or bad.

Lets say we get a group, or individual who is smart enough to take over the system. They will have had to outsmart and outhink everyone to do so....

At that point, maybe we'd be better off?

Also, a lot of this worry is driven by talk radio. The hosts, all of them, are in the entertainment business, not the news business.

My little granddaughter will say, "its hot outside...."

Her friend will say, "I almost died because of the heat...I went so far as to call 9-1-..and then I stopped because it was too hit to touch the button twice."

The second is talk radio. entertainment, and nothing more.

a lot of this worry is driven by talk radio

I for one never listen to talk radio. Also, they probably don't even mention TTIP with a single word on talk radio, they wouldn't want to accidentally get people to think and inquire further about it.

My anxiety over TTIP comes from all the fine journalists and bloggers and fellow citizens who are concerned about many different aspects of it, and who write and talk in great detail about what the consequences of TTIP will be.