I don't think it's all you.

The state of affairs with the world generally is lousy--& unless you hang out with the rich & powerful, most people you and I are around aren't having an especially good life right now. For most people things aren't looking up.

I went on a vacation in the fall of 2011 that cut me off from TV and newspapers for several weeks. It was actually a relief to not get the news--& I never got the habit back. Of course I get news in other ways, but the stress is less. I'm still impacted by the people around me. And so are you. People are. It's one reason why folks hit the bars after work.

Alcohol will numb you. Or drugs. You don't want that, though.

You can't fix the world, or even one person, Hatter, but you can work on accepting them as they are. That's first. Second, try accepting that you aren't responsible for anyone else. Taken together, this means permitting yourself to function simply as an adult who is neither a parent nor a teacher. You are an adult with responsibilities to no one but yourself.

Take a deep breath. Another one. "An adult with responsibilities to no one but yourself." How does that feel?