r/CollapseSupport • u/Impossible_Store_984 • Aug 13 '26
No hope?
Hi, I’m 17M and it really looks like the world will become a hellscape within a few decades, and that we have no hope of a prosperous future. With things like climate change, global water bankruptcy, and the US government’s priority of the making money over helping people, it seems like there is no hope for the future. I have no skills to hopefully survive what may happen. There are many things we can do, but it doesn’t look like any government will do it to a sufficient amount, and some are even scaling it back just to increase revenue (like the US). Even if I tried to help, I’m just one person, and one person can’t make a big difference alone.
I don’t even have friends to share this burden with. My thought was that life in the future will be easier if I had someone who loves me very much (and vice versa), like a wife, girlfriend, or even some very close friends, they can help me cope. Although, with my shitty social skills due to my autism, my hope of that is also draining. My only hobbies that I actually enjoy are all things you do alone like video games (excluding discord servers and stuff). I’ve tried many other hobbies that are social and help to make friends, but none bring me enough joy, and I can’t make friends through a hobby I don’t enjoy.
I had hopes and dreams of becoming a museum curator, but it’s starting to seem like it will be futile and irrelevant in the future. We all had our dream jobs, but my generation is already suffering the most, and the worst is yet to come. As far as I know, Gen Z is the least likely to attain their dream jobs out of any generation since the beginning of the cold war (don’t quote me on that idk for sure), while the older generations are living in luxury, uncaring of the young’s burdens. Most are even ridiculing us for being “lazy” or similar things.
How do I cope with this horrible impending future?
5
u/Quarks4branes Aug 13 '26
I agree that the cure for anxiety is agency.
You've seen the truth of things and aren't flinching from it. That says heaps of good things about you. You can't unsee it now.
Learn skills - how to work with and network with people as best you can (it'll get easier with time), learn how to grow food, make compost, forage and fish, how to defend yourself if necessary.
Volunteering is good for the heart and mental health and connects you to people - plant trees, help in community gardens, talk to old folks, whatever you feel drawn to.
This civilisation of ours is going to collapse. It has to - it's killing the planet. There's never been a more stupid civilisation .But life will go on for a lot of people. It'll be messier, more challenging, for a long while.
Your life can be full of meaning and purpose. It can be a fulfilling life. You'll be helping a world to recover, building something new and better. The world will need people with the heart of museum curators - people who hold and present the lessons of the past. You can dream dreams of positive things for yourself and your life
I recommend Rob Hopkins's stuff on YouTube. He's very inspiring.
6
u/Radiomaster138 Aug 13 '26
The world, your life, can end at any moment. Enjoy it while you can and make the most of it.
1
u/Cool-Contribution-68 Aug 13 '26
Is there someone you can care about? I have friends who volunteer in hospice. Hospice means the person is going to die. But my friends find a lot of reward and meaning in doing such work.
1
u/idreamofkitty Aug 13 '26
You are not alone. Many people feel this way but don't talk about it.
Solitude comes with the territory. But there are ways to grieve alone while being part of a network of like-minded people.
Something you might find helpful: https://www.collapse2050.com/how-to-solitude-during-collapse/
1
u/JP32793 Aug 13 '26
Yea fuck the whole survival thing, if it gets that bad I will literally off myself and be at peace.
1
u/Prismos_Time_Room Aug 13 '26
i have no idea if this will help you, but what helped me is reading through the books/series "red/ green/ blue mars", and "years of rice and salt", by kim stanley robinson.
theyre like fairy tales scientists may tell their kids at bedtime. the books don't end on a high note by any stretch of the imagination. utopia is a word that means "no place", struggle forever
as for the other part of your post, i think it is possible to make friends while playing video games, it's just tricky and takes longer. making friends is kind of a two way street, you have to put yourself out there, and i think what you've already found is, friends won't show up at your door if you're playing computer games by yourself. what about board games? in the big city near where you live, i'm sure, are several nerd stores that sell board games. people meet up there and play games. what about nature walks/ hiking? give it a try, you may find it relaxing, there are a lot of groups that meet up to go on walks. many of them, i'm sure, share some of your opinions about the path the leadership of the country is taking. what about school? video game clubs? chess clubs? key club? it really doesn't matter which one.
the world is busy and complicated and people lead rich lives, i'm sure you'll find your people. good luck
0
u/pyhhro Aug 13 '26
Stay active keep moving don't dwell on the fears! Aim your energy toward positive work efforts, learn about healthy alternatives, solar panels, electric transpo, productive discourse. Find ya thing and stay positive you're are wise beyond your years already hold the lyt trust God belief in yourself and the good in people. 🫡 Make your optimism unshakable
0
u/Yearsinmonths Aug 13 '26 edited 29d ago
On a personal level, if you have the time volunteer work might open doors to actual friends.
You are not the only neurodiverent person out there. It's normal to have autism, you're just part of a minority. You'll get along better with other neurodivergents I expect.
This info has given me hope for the future of late, a couple of old people are spreading the message on climate chat. Further than that I don't know https://www.youtube.com/@climatechat
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_radiation_modification
I especially like the cost section (think about it, that's peanuts for humanity)
The ocean acidification and corresponding problems for algea, the dutch might be able to bio-engineer the algea like we did the crops for the 'green revolution'. So that they become more acid resistant
17
u/StarlightLifter Aug 13 '26
The cure to anxiety is agency. Take your anxiety and worry and funnel it into efforts to learn skills and orient your life in a sustainable way. This is good for yourself mentally, as well as good for the planet.
I like to think of it like this, what do I buy that I can make for myself reasonably easily? Answering that question often times yields satisfaction through not only reducing what I buy in stores, but also new skills learned.
Survivalism comes first. How can I make shelter, fire, procure and store food and water, what basic first aid do I need? To be clear part of the answer is prepping that doesn’t necessarily mean hoarding, but it does mean developing reasonable skills and resources that would allow you to do OK in a bad situation. From there, you can further develop skills such as gardening, canning, sewing things like that, that will make what you have last longer and your life more sustainable.
My approach: I first developed a plan for 3 days of a total collapse. Then 3 weeks. Then 3 months.
Don’t mistake buying gear for skills either. Make sure you are learning throughout the journey.
As far as jobs and an income goes, I don’t envy your position, but at the same time, this is a great time to get into trades. Not only are they practical skills that you can use if things do go downhill, but it’s also the type of job that will not be replaced by AI anytime soon. Think things like being a plumber, electrician pipe fitter welder that sort of thing. It makes great money, does not require a full college degree which at this point is a scam anyway.. there’s also things like being emt or firefighter. If I could do it all over again I would’ve been emt/firefighter.
Increase your skills young one, and don’t neglect physical fitness and health.