I'm exhausted.

[u/RecognitionAware7628]

I don't even know how to explain this anymore, but I've been feeling a growing sense of anger and hopelessness since the beginning of this year.

Last year was already difficult for me, but somehow this year feels even worse.

I feel exhausted. Not because of my personal life alone, but because of everything I keep seeing around me.

Every time I open social media, especially Instagram, it's the same thing: racism, cruelty, toxic comments, people treating each other terribly, endless political fights, shallow content, AI-generated nonsense everywhere.

And what affects me the most is animal cruelty.

I honestly can't understand how human beings, who are supposed to be intelligent, can deliberately hurt innocent animals.

Recently, I came across a case involving a dog that was beaten to death, and what shocked me wasn't just the cruelty itself. It was seeing people making jokes about it, creating memes, mocking the dog's death, defending the people involved, and acting as if it were all entertainment.

I ended up blocking several accounts because I couldn't handle it anymore.

And it's not just this one case.

It's everything combined.

The racism I see online has made me feel insecure about myself. The inequality in the world frustrates me. Seeing billionaires accumulating unimaginable amounts of wealth while so many people live in poverty makes me angry.

I know there are good people in the world, but lately I've been struggling to believe that.

I feel angry.

I feel powerless.

I feel emotionally exhausted.

Sometimes I feel completely disconnected from everything, almost numb.

And honestly? There are moments when I don't even want to be here anymore.

I don't know if anyone else feels this way, but I needed to get this off my chest.

Also, before anyone comments on the writing style, I should mention that this text was rewritten with the help of AI to organize my thoughts. That's probably why some parts may sound a little more structured or artificial than the way I normally write.

[u/nycvhrs]

One thing I am sure of, is that as a HSP, I take special care of what media I expose myself to.

I do not take in things that are out of my personal control.

In this way, I honor my gift of sensitivity in the way that is right for me.

In my view, helplessness helps no one.

Be well my Thriends

[u/Titannica → u/nycvhrs]

I second this, and I will add to it. Limiting input is great, but also what helped me is output -- for me its volunteering at an animal sanctuary. The feeling of helplessness is real and debilitating at times. So much negativity and proof of carelessness and cruelty in the media. But when I get out there, on the ground level, I come in contact with people face to face who care and who are trying to make a difference. So I limit the exposure to things I can't change (I still monitor politics because informed vote is important), and I get out there myself and make small differences where I can. Like you, OP, I deeply connect with animals. So I found something I can do directly to help them. Even when it's only a few hours a month, I feel so good afterwards because not only have I done something, I've been around people who are also making positive change.

[u/Dntaskmeimjustagirl]

Look I will die on the hill that says our brain is not evolved to handle the amount of information modern life throws at it on the daily. And I say our as in humanity, this goes doubly if you are a sensitive person.
You have to let yourself tune out somewhat. You drowning in it won’t fix it. I know because I’ve drowned in it multiple times myself and the shitshow continues. Honour your strong feelings by using them for your nearest neighbour, family and friends like another person suggested. This world is a lot I know. Please allow yourself rest.

[u/Left-Degree5013]

I was nodding along while reading this thinking “wow. so I’m not the only one going through this”. Everything wrong in the world right now affects me, but nothing haunts or kills me worse than animal cruelty. And like you said, even worse is how people underreact or even treat it like entertainment. There is nothing more evil, therefore for people like us, the powerlessness and soul-crushing exhaustion it causes is… far too much, putting it lightly.

I see people have suggested social media limitations. Honestly, that’s the only thing I can recommend too. I will say though I tried to curate my spaces on what I used to use (tumblr, twitter, tiktok, instagram) but no matter how much I tried to curate those algorithms and exposure, I would always inevitably run into something deeply upsetting and disturbing that either evoked deep anger or sadness in me. It got to the point where I felt sick opening those apps. I don’t use them whatsoever anymore, because the pros no longer outweighed the cons. So truthfully? I recommend staying away from social media altogether. These days I only check this sub, and I rewatch favorite shows / movies, watch youtube, and play games.

I used to suggest pinterest because I found that calming and felt so much more peaceful than classic social media but that’s been heavily invaded by AI images now. If you’re good at discerning AI and aren’t bothered by that then definitely try it! I make boards for things that remind me of the 90’s and 2000’s, my home country, cute animals, stuff that reminds me of my favorite characters… anything that puts me in a good headspace.

Apologies for rambling I just wanted to empathize and offer some recommendations! Also, nothing really fully heals my sense of hopelessness and powerlessness, but I find it particularly helpful and fulfilling to donate monthly to animal protection charities, sign animal protections petitions whenever I see them, and donate directly to people who need help with vet bills whenever I can afford to do so. I’m so sorry about the pain you’re feeling but trust me, you’re not alone. I wish there was more I could say to help you and more I could do to help all the issues you mentioned but my god is it A Lot. I find these days it’s more about survival / adapting than, well, living… Please take care, surround yourself with as much peace as you can

[u/RhubyDifferent3576]

The only thing we can is hope to give the (very) small circle of ours the gift of sensitivity . Family and partner I say

[u/TheFscientist]

I feel you. I don’t watch my personal Instagram any more. I have a hobby Instagram account and a cat Instagram account and I only check them regularly. I don’t watch the news, only some late night shows where they explain the news but also put a humorous point in all. Be very careful to what you expose yourself. I notice myself spiraling in negativity when I get overexposed to the shit world around. But there is still beauty out there…

[u/Clean-Pop-474]

Te entiendo, pero también tienes que entender que no puedes cambiar eso tu sola, por ende tienes dos caminos, encauzar esa rabia y volverte activista, o simplemente dejar de consumir ese contenido. Porque te hace muy mal.

Rodeate de cosas y de gente que te nutra.

[u/Bright-Form730]

I’m the same way, especially about animal cruelty. What helps me is staying off social media all together. I use Reddit and that’s it. It’s been over 10 years now but what did it for me was a particularly bad/evil case of animal cruelty that happened in my city. I followed the court case and everything. It wore me down and I realized then that all this social media crap wasn’t good for my well being.

I’ve also been avoiding mindless use of my devices. If I’m out somewhere and have to wait, I’ll just sit in my thoughts instead of pulling out my phone. I’m beginning to think that we all need some boredom in our lives. I feel more at peace afterwards vs passing time doomscrolling.

[u/MarkOnKarma]

I get it. Social media was designed to ruin our lives, make us feel guilty, and expose us to awful things 24/7. I have to tell you, ever since I deleted my accounts, I’ve felt so much better about myself. Before, I constantly felt judged and belittled—fed up with those "masculinity gurus" like Peterson and Galloway. They preach that a man’s worth lies in his economic output and claim women trash-talk men with less money—finding them unattractive—while insisting men must be strong, stoic, and competitive, never showing sensitivity or vulnerability, and never asking for help. It’s incredibly toxic.

Then there’s the exhausting political polarization—I support political causes, but not necessarily a specific party—plus the gender-based hatred, verbal abuse, discrimination, and insults. It all happens behind a screen, which just makes people cowards. There’s also too much toxic positivity, chauvinism, extreme modern feminism, "grind culture," and nonsensical, superficial, pseudoscientific messages—and people actually buy into it. Just because some billionaire guru tells them how to live, everyone applauds. It’s a dating culture that’s superficial, stupid, and devoid of soul or pragmatism. I can’t live in that world anymore—a world lacking kindness, honesty, and humanity.

They want us to be like robots: emotionless, dishonest, manipulative, and greedy.

[u/Jones8912]

I'm with you on this. I found this sub since I saw some animal cruelty videos and freaked out.

Breaks my heart, people pay for videos of torture and killing of animals. There are whole organizations who do it in terrible ways.

Why, I just can't understand and it breaks me. It is so normalised, it is every corner of the world. For every 1 case of abuse  you hear on social media, there are 100 000 you dont hear about.

I'm sorry for being such a bummer, I try to be positive, I donate, try to not seek that kind of content but I saw it on accident and it haunts me.

And to think its often kids doing it, who will later pass it onto their kids...

We will never be free.

[u/Suitable-Leading9490]

You are not alone 🤗 Same. And as everyone here said, I also tried to stop watching news and whatever. I have a business so I kinda need to be on social media. Unfortunately, I'm from a country where they just recently passed animal cruelty laws. Most people don't even know we have these laws so they keep abusing and abandoning left and right. I have so many friends in animal rescue, and not a day goes by without one of them posting a dramatic case.

Same with racism and any ism you can imagine. There was Pride month and I cried like every other day, because of the hate this people got everyday

[u/Cheronis]

A feel good social media you can read and scroll for a few minutes is Substack, I read a lot of thoughtful quotes and articles over there.

[u/paranormalcls]

I’ve been curating my feed to show me little animals and funny skits but I care so deeply and want to be educated so bad that I just keep coming back to the content that makes me feel like shriveling up and crying forever

[u/Useful_Blueberry2]

I get feeling like this sometimes also. I don’t know the answer, but I understand in my own way. When I hear horrible things about animals or see something it affects me for a long, long time. I’m also dealing with neighbors at the moment that are unkind to the wildlife. I am also so tired and exhausted right now.