I'm worried about 2020

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I've been feeling this way for sometime, and wanted to get it done with

It's now 2020, and I am wondering how it will go for me though, which hopefully will be a good one. Unfortunately, this is something that has been concerning me for a while now ever since it was new years eve. I am worried about how the new year will go because I don't know what will happen out in the open and elsewhere, and there will be new changes coming towards me as well, like I see myself getting a new paid job in the future and will have to evolve in life, and that is something I find really hard to cope with, changing and adapting to new features, it's all too hard for me.

It's been like this before and it has usually gone fine for me, but this is a whole new year and even the start of a new decade so that concerns me, and I have finished off with many other stuff in life too, have finished college and my education in general so I am working in a voluntary role at the local charity shop, which I like working there but I have to get paid sooner or later. I'll have to get myself a paid job and also sort out some other stuff too, like I am planning to drive soon and eventually get my own home to support myself, but those things are extremely difficult especially for someone like me.

I'm also worried because I don't know if anything bad will happen, like another terrorist attack or something. I'm probably being way too worried here, but I am saying this because a hit-and-run happened last month very close to my home, and it killed a young boy in the process, this really got me very anxious because bad events don't happen right near my house, and now we have this garbage about a potential world war all over the place and not even a few days into the new year, so that concerns me too. I really do try to brush the negatives aside and focus more on the positives, which helps me but sadly not that much, I cannot keep them away forever you know.

I'm hoping I can get some advice on how to cope, since I am feeling a little down about this and would like some support on how to deal with these certain events and issues and eventually cope with them if possible. It would be appreciated if I got some help/support, that would be nice for me.

Oh, and this is my 300th post here too. Goodie

Thank you

Maybe they're just in different time zones and haven't seen your post yet. Don't take it personally.

Most of us are programmed to worry. It's human nature to do so and has been around as long as humanity has, but usually the things we dread most don't happen.

I grew up with very poor self image so know how you feel. I had a rather dismal 2019 as I had to say goodbye to the little dog I've had for almost thirteen years.

Take 2020 one step at a time so you don't feel overwhelmed by too many things at once. We who are on the spectrum don't handle pressure well - we need our own pace to digest things.

I'm sorry about the hit and run. Such things are always distressing. I'm sad about all the loss of wildlife in the Australia bushfires.

I'm sorry too that there's an idiot in the White House who wants to increase his non existent prestige with blustery war talk. It won't involve the world, but conflict is always best avoided and a certain DT isn't the one to do that.

Feel free to tell us (or in PM if you prefer) more about what specifics in your life you're worried about.

Nobody knows what is going to happen in life or in the future. Worrying about it or looking at what you think could be the future is of no use. It always turns out differently anyway, so don't time travel too much in your head. You are wasting time and satisfaction by imagining and worrying about things out of your control, like terrorism.

Learning to drive, living and providing for yourself might seem daunting steps but you'll adjust and I'm sure you can do it. You don't have to put pressure on yourself or hurry. Just trust that it will work out for you.

Hope it will be a beautiful year for you.

Fears can be a life saver but they may become your biggest enemy too. You can learn to deal with many really dangerous situations once you learn to overcome or control your anxieties. For this just skip your fears and get a great life instead. At its end you are dead anyway.

I am too.



This is so true, and I think accepting this and living by it as best we can, is the best advice rileydaboss2000 (and the rest of us) can take to heart.

Sounds like me you have anxiety and paranoia. I like to establish that in my head. Doesn't make it go away but maybe makes it a little more manageable. Going into your 20s is serious business. Its like this s**t is for real now. No more wondering what it's going to be like, it's here now. Final growing pains.

I'm happy with the support, I will be hopeful and make sure that the year will be a great one for me but I don't know for sure what will happen, something potentially life changing could happen to me or maybe amazing would happen to me, I'm not even sure about that but entering my 20s this year will certainly be a big deal for me, since I see stuff happening to me which will surely showcase my evolution in life, and I have mixed feelings about that because I am more of a nostalgia person and future things do worry me, again not knowing what will happen.

I'm going to take things easy this year, have have resolutions planned which I will hopefully try to accomplish. One of them is not worrying all the time and reducing my stress/anxiety problems, which I feel that this will be really tough and painful to get done but hopefully I will succeed in the end, but then again they cannot go away for me forever, it's like a dark void opens in my heart and engulfs it completely. I'm hoping 2020 will be a good time though, will take it one step as suggested, since I feel that can help me best.

Thanks for the support, after feeling down about this I really appreciate it......

I've ended up coming back to this after 4 months because it seems things have gotten worse for me

I've ended up having to witness the coronavirus arriving over here and screwing everything up, bringing my worries over the limit and changing my life too. I have been in lockdown here for a while now and have wearing a face mask most of my time when I am outside for exercise or going to the shops because I need protection against this virus. I am also not allowed to leave the house often except for essential reasons, which I have done for exercise and getting my medication, along with enjoying the weather as well. I was super worried when this first became a threat and I could see it coming over here and screwing up everything, and it seems I was right all along.

I have been able to do some good throughout all of this though, like when I have gone out for walks the environment has been nice and peaceful to view and the skies have mostly been clear due to everything going under lockdown, which means no cars or planes in sight. I have been regularly doing exercise to get myself fit and healthy along with doing some of the household chores, mostly the washing up and tidying my room but other stuff has happened too. I have learnt some life skills such as cooking and have been out in the garden on the trampoline and sunbathing in the nice weather now that it has finally been sorted out. I have also done some of my usual things too, this time finding some motivation to get them done so those are some good things that has happened at least.

It's now May, which will contain my birthday so that will be really good for me since I turn 20 but unfortunately due to the coronavirus lockdown I am not sure if things will be good when it happens. I have been seriously concerned about this virus since it has killed many people over here and I never want to catch it myself, because who knows what the hell could happen if I ever catch this bloody virus, same thing goes with my family members since some of them have health issues and are of old age. I just want this all to stop.

I feel like not existing anymore, wishing this was all a bloody nightmare I could wake up from....

I think you're doing the right thing, keeping your mind and body strong with exercise and getting out in nature. Keep it up! I am sure that with the precautions you're taking you'll never get the virus and I sincerely hope all your family members will stay safe until this horrid crisis is over. We will get through this and those who are mentally and physically strong will emerge victorious. It does often feel like we're in some kind of twilight zone or in one of these movies such as Contagion or one of the post-apocalyptic ones what with the quiet skies and nature getting a breathing space to recover from humanity's heavy hobnailed bootprints.

Unfortunately you probably won't be able to have a proper birthday celebration but you probably don't like big parties or crowds so it should be fine. Right now we must just get through each day as it comes but not forget to focus on future plans either. For example, if writing, painting or studying, one should carry on so they are at an advantage when the national lockdowns finally come to an end. I'm not sure when I can travel to another province to see my friend yet, so I need be patient and keep occupied.

I'm hoping things can get better for me, as I was really unhappy that this coronavirus has affected my country greatly and has turned my worries up to the limit, but at least I have been able to do some good like going out for walks, getting some exercise done and enjoying the lovely weather in my back garden. I think my Mum or Dad even said to me that I have been coping with the lockdown very well and that is a good thing to hear, although sometimes I have to go up to the shops which I don't like but sometimes it has to be done, so I wear my mask and then wait in queues to go inside due to restrictions. I even wear my mask when going outside for walks too, and I always remember to keep my distance from other people.

I'm hoping my birthday can be a good one, but I will have to see how things end up. I honestly think this feels like the apocalypse and the end times over here but everything still feels normal in my house and my quiet neighbourhood like it never even happened. I live my life as usual and do my usual hobbies like nothing has changed for me and I am in my own little dream world, but unfortunately things really don't seem nice over in England right now. It's a good thing I still take my medication because I would have had so many anxiety attacks by now, luckily only a few has happened but still, I never know what could happen next.

I'm hoping things can turn around, and this nightmare can end....

OP 7th Jan 2020. Hm. From now on, if you express mild concern about a year, I'm going on red alert.

From your description, I reckon you're handling the pandemic pretty well, though it may not feel like it. You're keeping active and staying sensible, and your level of caution is 100% appropriate. Also on lockdown in the UK here, in my case being extra careful because of asthma. It's this wierd kind of half-life. I'm a bit of a wreck, but less than I'd have expected. Turns out chronic anxiety is a good preparation for an actual crisis.... The walks are a a lifeline for me too, now that all the Lockdown Joggers have quit crowding the pavements. For all the quiet, everything I see seems extra-vivid and significant. Which is partly down to The Fear, but I'll take it.

^Did you also have lockdown joggers at certain hours of the day? We can currently only run, cycle or walk / exercise between 6-9 a m, which means some areas do get crowded. A poorly conceived idea.

Ha ha ha ha....if only we knew back in January what 2020 would bring. Did any of us expect the freaking plauge back in January?

Currently nothing feels normal at all. Not exactly the apocalypse but certainly something unprecedented in 102 years. We'll get through it but it feels so strange to be in the shopping malls and we're all wearing masks or buffs and resembling recruits fore the Taliban army, even while exercising. I have sensory issues with wearing a mask for longer than I can help but put my buff/bandanna thingy around my neck so its ready in case of any challenges.

I can't help feeling masks are symbolic of silencing people but maybe that's because all my life, masks have been worn by medical personnel, not the public. We can't see each other's faces properly. Even when my mom comes to bring something, we both have to wear masks. I'm honestly on the lookout for a Friday 13th, halloween or gorilla mask just to be different!

I reckon the OP's going to be OK. Now is the time to get physically and mentally strong in preparation for better times.

Uhh I don't even want to go to the mall...there will be too many people who potentially carry the plauge. And my boyfriend won't even support me in wearing a plague mask at the mall so what is the point...? Like if I can't wear a plauge mask at the mall why should I even go?

That said with the way masks get in the way of talking I feel like I might as well go all the way and get a darth vader mask with a built in voice changer or something.

Just a couple months before this whole thing... I commented to my boyfriend that I thought it was creepy and weird to see someone with a mask. Now it occurs maybe that person was being considerate because they were sick and wearing it so they didn't sneeze, breath or cough their gross germs on other people. Just funny to me I thought masks were creepy....and now I am wearing one when I go out.

And goddamn as much of a hassle as the masks can be...I am kind of starting to like having one on. Lol Like people cannot see your mouth so they cannot see the expression you have. Like IDk there is almost something a little comforting about obstructing my face in public. So hell I could even see the appeal of just having masks as a fashion or comfort accessory.

LIke now I feel like just when I get totally used to wearing a mask it wont be nessisary anymore, but I may still end up wearing one just because now I kind of like them.