For multiple generations (almost 80 years and counting) the planet has been in a state of constant “Cold War” between the US and Russia (Formerly the USSR) with Canada caught in the crossfires. Our country has been telling these war mongering giants to chill for almost 80 years!
I cannot help but feel worried with all the news coming out in the last 2 years about Russia. If you do to, give this blog a read, you may just learn a new strategy to help you cope.
3 Generations of Childhood Nightmares
If I had a nickel for every time my family’s children had nightmares about nuclear annihilation brought on by tension-inducing events by the countries directly north and south of us, I would have three nickels. which is not a lot, but it is weird thats it has happened that many times.
- Cuban Missile Crisis
When my Grandad was only 19, the Soviet Union had nuclear missiles stationed in Cuba. as you can imagine, this caused intense panic (Especially when emergency communications with the Soviet Union from the US repeatedly failed). I can only image the pure fear he was in.
- Cold war cartoons
When my mom was growing up in the 1980s, Cartoons were on the air teaching kids how to “duck and cover” in case of nuclear strikes. She dreamt about Russians invading Vancouver through Alaska All. The. Time. Movies aimed at teens back then like Red Dawn, War Games, etc. glorified war and gave her nightmares!
- Russo-Ukrainian War
The USSR may no longer exist, but that does not mean that Russia is any less of a threat. In February 2022, The Russian Army invaded Ukraine, and the Russo-Ukrainian War escalated to international news! I remember feeling bad for the Ukrainian people and hating Putin with a burning passion. I feel the tension now that I know about the utter supervillain Russia is refusing to follow the rules of nuclear weapons
The Cold War never ended, it just evolved. Russia is still as big a threat as the USSR was, the Russo-Ukrainian War and Israeli–Palestinian conflict are just proxy wars in the 21st century, and the nightmares continue, even 79 years later. I wonder what nightmares the next generation will have…
Talk to your family members about their experiences, I know it helped me by learning what my Parents and Grandparents went through. It is normal to be scared.