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A lot of people are in the same boat here – it is not weird or weak to feel anxious about war. In fact it is a completely normal response to something extreme and upsetting.

While it’s normal to feel anxious sometimes, it’s also important to make sure it doesn’t escalate and take over your life.

Sadly, wars are nothing new. They’ve been a part of humanity since time began. The difference is, our exposure to war has massively increased – we hear about it on the radio, we see upsetting images on social media, it’s even on the telly in the gym. Our brains were not designed to consume this amount of upsetting information and the constant barrage of news can really take its toll.

There is no guilt in limiting the amount of news you’re consuming. You may decide it’s important for you to spend 20 minutes a day catching up on world affairs. You may choose to just read the headlines, or you may decide you don’t want to engage with the news at all. Find what works for you.

You’ll come across lots of news-related posts on social media and you can find yourself ‘doom scrolling’ if you’re not careful.

You are not alone in feeling anxious about war and the chances are someone you know is feeling the same. Sharing how you feel can often feel like a weight has been lifted. Choose someone you feel comfortable opening up to and tell them that you’re feeling a bit rough and why. Ask how they’re feeling too – you may be able to exchange tips on how to keep the anxiety at bay.

If you don’t feel comfortable sharing how you feel with people you know, you can share here on our discussion boards, a support group or reach out to our helpline.

Wars are complex and often far from home, which can leave us feeling pretty powerless. But there are ways to engage with conflict in a way that feels positive and productive and it often makes us feel better by doing it.

If you have the headspace and energy, you could try organising a fundraiser with proceeds going to humanitarian aid organisations. You could look for places taking clothing donations, you could join a local solidarity march or look to volunteer with refugees arriving in the UK from countries affected by war.

The important thing here is to do what feels right for you. Organising a fundraiser may feel too much, but joining a march could feel really empowering.

When our attention is hijacked by world events, our self-care routine often goes out the window. It’s also common to feel like we don’t deserve to be happy, or to do fun things because so many people are suffering elsewhere in the world.

On the contrary, we reckon it’s even more important to look after yourself and a big part of that means finding joy in the world. By doing the things you enjoy and by practising self-care, you’ll build resilience to cope with the news and the changing political situation around the world. Self care looks different to everyone but it could include going to a weekly exercise class, having a mindfulness practice or just hanging out with friends.

Have you ever heard of the negativity bias? It basically means our brains are hardwired to pay more attention to bad things than to good things – it’s really annoying! When it comes to something as extreme as war, it means we can fixate on bad news – our minds have a tendency to spiral, thinking up bad scenarios and forgetting the good stuff in our lives.

We challenge you to notice the positive things in your life every day – it’s usually easier than you’d think. Did you have a good belly laugh with a friend? By keeping note of all the little positives in our lives, we can curb the spiralling mind.

The injustice of war is a crappy fact of life and it’s hard to get our heads around it. But one way we can put two fingers up at the people perpetrating war is by finding joy and resilience in our every day.

Image 1:
There is a drawing of a young person hugging themselves with four clouds drawn onto the background of the image. There are also two heart illustrations drawn on the background of the image. The heading of the image reads 'A guide to self-care', and there is a text box to the right of the young person with text inside that reads 'What is self-care, why is it important and how can we do it?'

Image 2:
The heading of the image reads 'What is self-care?' and is in the top centre of the image. There is text below that reads 'Self-care is about actively taking care of ourselves and our mental health. Sometimes we can worry that self-care is selfish, but it is essential to know that it is not selfish at all. We are important and we all deserve to take time to look after ourselves.'

Image 3:
The heading of the image reads 'WHY DO I NEED TO DO IT?' and is in the top centre of the image. The text below reads 'Being a young person can be tough.
We live in a society full of pressures whether they be from school, family, friends, work or the media. Sometimes we end up prioritising them over our own physical and mental health. Taking time to care for ourselves, listen to how we're feeling and what we need can greatly help with our mental health.'

Image 4:
The heading of the image reads 'HOW CAN WE DO THE SELF-CARE THING?' There is text below that reads 'Self-care is totally individual and can be anything that helps us care for ourselves. It can be a 5-minute activity, setting a boundary with someone, trying something new, being kind to ourselves or taking a break to do nothing at all. Take time to discover what self-care looks like and remember that it's okay if our self-care thing is different to others.'

Image 5:
The heading of the image reads 'WHAT CAN SELF-CARE LOOK LIKE?'. There is text below that reads 'It can be hard to know how to look after ourselves. What is most important is what it does for us and how it makes us feel. We spoke to members of our online community to find out how they look after their wellbeing.'

Image 6:
There is an illustration of a head with a heart inside and the text below reads '"To look after my wellbeing, firstly it helps to acknowledge when I'm struggling. Knowing and accepting you aren't feeling your best can make it a whole lot easier to take the next step." Below this is an illustration of a TV and the text below reads '"I like to just be by myself and have a break from doing anything other than watching my favourite TV shows and making some good food."'

Image 7:
There is an illustration of a music symbol with text below that reads "Making sure I get enough sleep, going outside, listening to music, having a nice shower, watching something fun to cheer myself up, speaking to my best friend, and looking at positive quotes.". Below this is a drawing of a flower and text below that reads "Just spending a bit of time away from distractions and stressors to focus on something simple works wonders."

Image 8:
There is an illustration of a thread of wool with text below that reads "I also crochet and knit which I find helps to ground me in the present as I move from each stitch feeling the textures.". Below this is an illustration of a pencil that reads "Journalling and writing poems about how I'm feeling". Below this is an illustration of a coffee mug with text below that reads "Drink tea and watch Disney".

Image 9:
There is an illustration of a mobile phone with text below that reads "Having phone-free time every so often really helps me switch off and properly get into my other hobbies!". Below this is an illustration of a music symbol with text below that reads "For me music is my escape. Putting on my headphones and just zoning to some tunes helps me to relax."