As Iran responds to the US-Israeli strikes carried out over the weekend, renewed concerns are emerging about whether the world is moving closer to World War 3.
In the early hours, Iran reportedly targeted a US Embassy in Saudi Arabia, following air strikes on several Iranian cities over recent days.
After the escalation, the State Department advised Americans in countries including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Syria to leave as quickly as they can.
Fears about a wider global conflict didn’t begin with the latest attacks, however. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously argued that Russia’s actions already mark the start of a new world war.
“I believe that Putin has already started it,” he told the BBC in late February as the Ukraine entered its fourth year of war with Russia.
“The question is how much territory he will be able to seize and how to stop him,” Zelenskyy continued. “Russia wants to impose on the world a different way of life and change the lives people have chosen for themselves.”
Others disagree with the idea that World War 3 is already underway, suggesting it would only cross that line if NATO nations become directly drawn into fighting.
With conflict and instability continuing in multiple regions, some people are also thinking about what it would mean to prepare themselves psychologically if a broader war were to break out.
Author and psychotherapist Eloise Skinner explained that the most useful starting point is recognising your own specific reaction to events, rather than assuming everyone experiences the same fears: “Because each individual will have a different emotional or psychological response to these kinds of world-level events, I think the first step would be to identify how actually feel about the threat, on an individual level, and then address those feelings separately (in other words, trying to understand the deeper feelings or emotional responses that might be going on).
“For example, if the fear is really about the uncertainty of what might happen, you could work on dealing with uncertainty (working with a therapist, using CBT techniques, practising present-moment awareness, and so on).”
She added that for people whose anxiety spirals when thinking about worst-case scenarios, everyday stabilising habits can help: “If the fear is tied to anxiety when thinking about all the things that could happen, there might be practical ways to find grounding and reassurance (limiting one’s news intake, forming structured daily routines, embodiment/mind-body practices, etc.).”
Skinner also shared broader advice for coping emotionally when headlines are dominated by violence and suffering.
“Knowing your personal values and priorities can be helpful — for example, if you know that spending time with friends and family feels fulfilling and meaningful, adding in more opportunities to do so during your working week can be effective in reducing stress or worries,” she advised.
“If you know that talking about your fears or concerns feels helpful, you could seek support from a mental health professional, or use a tool like journalling to help you process emotions.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 to reach a 24-hour crisis center or you can webchat at 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.