I’m so scared about money, the economy, and everything happening in our country. How do I cope?

Dear Grace,

How can I love life more? Considering crap that has been happening in the world lately, dark, gloomy, end-of-the-world thoughts are occupying my brain. I have two wonderful kids and a husband, and we are struggling financially right now. I am home with the kids, and all I do is scroll on Facebook or Instagram just so I can see the latest doomsday news or crisis…My mental state is very bad. I’m so worried about the state of the world, it’s keeping me up at night. Please help me to stop this. Thank you!!!

– Doomsday Dazed in North Carolina

Dear Doomsday Dazed,

Thank you for writing in—your letter hits close to home because, to be honest, this is something I’m struggling with too. You’re trying to keep your family afloat while prices go up and the idea of a day without shocking headlines feels more and more like a dream. Of course you’re overwhelmed! Of course it’s keeping you up at night. You’re doing the hardest job there is—raising kids during uncertain times—and still showing up with love, concern, and care. That tells me everything I need to know about your strength. 

Here are some ideas to bring your stress level down:

Curate your news feed.

You’re not alone in feeling the pinch in your household budget—nearly half of all Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. It’s normal to use social media to keep up with the news on our economy, or get tips and support on how to make your dollar go farther. But it sounds like right now, social media is hurting more than it is helping. 

Let’s start by setting some gentle boundaries with your doomscrolling. Social media is designed to keep us online, and right now our feeds are full of fear, outrage, and heartbreak. That kind of constant input can flood your nervous system and leave you feeling helpless, but we have more control than it feels like. Start small. Set a time limit on your social media in your phone settings to remind you to log off for the day (instructions for Android and iPhone here!). Follow accounts that share good news, ways to get involved, solutions, or stories of hope and joy. Mute or unfollow anyone who is spreading hateful messages. You can still stay informed about issues you care about, but instead of drinking from a firehose, pick one issue to follow closely and unsubscribe to the rest (here is advice from a journalist on how to stay informed without burning out). You’re allowed to protect your peace—in fact, it’s necessary.

Giving back cures hopelessness.

When the world feels out of control, the most grounding thing we can do is help. That doesn’t mean fixing everything—it means doing what you can, where you are. Maybe it’s swapping childcare with another mom, helping a neighbor bring in groceries, or joining a local timebank to volunteer in your neighborhood. You and your kids can do this together! Giving your time or kindness is just as powerful as giving money. Action is the antidote to despair.

Finally, take care of the caretaker.

You’re carrying a lot, Dazed. And while the world is a mess, your body and mind still need rest, joy, and moments of calm. Replace just 10 minutes of doomscrolling with something nourishing—blast a song that makes you feel unstoppable and powerful, scroll through your camera roll until you find a moment that made you laugh, or skip your usual content to just look at nature and space accounts. Your well-being matters, not just because others rely on you, but because you deserve to feel good in your body and hopeful in your spirit.

It’s okay to be scared. It’s okay to feel stuck. But you are not powerless, Dazed. Sometimes we can feel like we’re sitting on the sidelines of our economy, our history, or even our own lives. But the truth is, we all have an important role to play and are leaders in our own way. Lots of people are concerned about the state of the world, and lots of us are doing our small part to make things better. 

The advice I’m giving you, I am also working on: setting some small boundaries, getting involved in my community, and replacing phone time with things that fill my cup. Let’s keep at it, together!!

With love,

Grace