“This World Is Crazy”

I wake up and it’s the same thing — another war somewhere, the news screaming at me, the prices creeping up again, people yelling at each other on social media, strangers acting like the world is collapsing or that they’re the only ones paying attention. I keep scrolling because I think maybe I missed something important, maybe I can fix it, maybe I just need to know. But it never stops.

People talk about global war and instability like it’s just something to “factor in,” like it’s fine to have a cup of coffee and pretend that your life isn’t trembling a little in the background. But it is. And it’s everywhere. On the bus, in the shop, in the way people look at each other when no one’s listening. Angry, tired, distracted. Small things feel like mountains. Big things feel like avalanches.

I don’t feel hopeful reading the news. I feel worn down, irritable, and small. And when people tell me to “stay calm,” it’s like they don’t understand that calm is a luxury, not a switch.

I’m not trying to make a point. I’m just tired. And I think a lot of other people are too, even if they hide it behind scrolling feeds, jokes, or pretending they’re fine.

— A very tired reader

---

Editor’s Response

Yes, The World Is Difficult Right Now — But You Can Recover, Bit by Bit

You’re not wrong. The world is loud, messy, scary, and unstable. Alerts, breaking news, scrolling feeds, projections of doom — it can feel like the planet itself is yelling, and you’re trapped inside it.

But here’s the thing. Noise is not the same as reality. There’s chaos, yes, but there are still quiet corners where people are keeping life going. And those corners? You can find them. You have to.

Recovery isn’t grand. It’s small, awkward, sometimes inconsistent, like the rest of life.

• Turn off what you don’t need. Notifications, alerts, constant feeds. You don’t need ten news sources. Pick one you trust and let the rest go. The silence will feel strange at first. You might even feel guilty for it. That’s normal.
• Do something physical. Cook food just for yourself, wash the dishes, tidy the room. Walk outside without headphones. Touch something real. You’re reminding your body that the world hasn’t completely collapsed, even if your mind feels like it.
• Connect in person. Call a friend, a neighbour, someone you trust. Not to debate the news or fix the world — just to notice someone else is still awake, still human.
• Anchor yourself with small acts of stability. Volunteer, check in on someone, water a plant, feed a pet. These don’t make headlines, but they remind you that people can act without chaos running the show.
• Let yourself be messy. Read, write, rant, wander. Don’t worry about being productive every second. Humans survive by adjusting, wandering, pausing, sometimes repeating mistakes. It’s okay. You don’t have to “hold it together” all the time.

The world is chaotic, yes. But it isn’t finished. It isn’t devoid of meaning. It isn’t only what shouts the loudest. People have survived worse — not by pretending it’s fine, not by reading the news calmly, but by doing small, human things anyway. By carrying on regardless.

You’re not failing by feeling tired, frustrated, or scared.

Recovery is messy. It’s slow. It’s uneven. But you can do it. You have to, because the world isn’t waiting. And neither should you.