The world is ending, nothing is going right and we’re all doomed. Sometimes it feels impossible not to feel this way. The glaciers are melting, and we are slowly approaching that deadline of irreversible climate change damage. The political state of the United States is bleak. We had to survive a global pandemic. Even for the best optimist, life can seriously suck sometimes. So, how can we stop feeling this way?
We all cope with the state of the world differently. Some people spend most of their time trying to combat the “big issues,” like climate change, politics, poverty and war. Others find comfort in worrying about the little things. They check every ingredient in the food they buy, religiously recycle and avoid all single-use plastics. And then there are the people who try not to worry about anything. I consider myself a part of this group that refuses to actively worry about things that are out of my control and turns a blind eye in very specific instances.
Recently, a family member told my mother that she shouldn’t be cooking with her Teflon pans because some research shows that they have harmful chemicals. When heated to temperatures above 500 degrees Fahrenheit, there is a significant risk of the Teflon coatings breaking down and releasing toxic chemicals. People aren’t just worrying about what we cook with, but how that tool could harm our health.
Some people try to argue that Teflon pans and cooking ingredients will be like the cigarettes of our generation, causing cancer while we attempt to remain blissfully ignorant. There is no denying that regulations are extremely lenient in comparison to European food standards. There are several chemicals that are completely banned in Europe, but make regular appearances in United States products. In comparison to the food of the United Kingdom, you’ll often find many more often chemically based ingredients in the U.S. version.
This might sound extremely disconcerting at first and make you want to get rid of all your Teflon pans and obsess over nutritional facts. However, most of your everyday cooking does not result in temperatures over 500, and pots and pans are also investment pieces that one buys and uses for years. Replacing some of your most essential and expensive cooking hardware because of a nonproblem is not practical.
When it comes to trying to combat the “little things”, like what we eat and how we cook, the real answer is always everything in moderation. Occasionally enjoying junk food is not the end of the world. You do not need to spend excessive time worrying about your pots, pans and utensils if you are using them safely. When these small things are added up, it might seem bad, but obsessing over them may be more detrimental to mental health than physical health.
That does not mean you should instead spend time worrying about the “big things.” Research has shown that Gen Z is the most anxious generation alive right now, experiencing more reported mental health struggles than any other generation. Younger people are completely overwhelmed with stress that goes beyond their personal lives. We have found ourselves in an endless doom spiral, where each of our anxieties build on top of each other, and we find ourselves worrying about everything. That is not the answer to our problems. The issues we often find ourselves obsessing over such as climate change, gun violence and the economy require years of focus and dedication, along with working with communities dedicated to finding solutions. These are things we as a society certainly need to worry about, but it does not completely fall on you. Find organizations and causes that you can support and work with to find solutions, but also spend time focusing on your mental health and the things that bring you joy.
Once you begin to identify the causes of your anxiety and worries, and why you feel the way you do, you can begin to effectively combat these feelings. There is so much in the world to worry about; no one is denying that. But we cannot live in constant fear. Instead of trying to combat the issues that cause us anxiety, we should instead focus on controlling how we react and handle the anxiety we are feeling. For some people, that might mean changing their pots and pans for some peace of mind. For others, it might mean not looking at ingredients and counting calories when having a treat.
There are small steps you can take that can help reduce these global issues. Avoid single-use plastics. Stay informed on politics. Fight for what you believe in. But also, enjoy life as much as you can. Find joy wherever you can. Practice avoiding and managing that voice in your head that makes you worry. When all else fails, put on some Bob Marley, and have him encourage you to, “Don’t worry. Be happy.”
Lara Tinawi is an Opinion Columnist writing about campus culture and her everyday musings in her column “Daily Dose.” She can be reached at ltinawi@umich.edu.
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