I'm ashamed to admit I had a major blow out with my daughter and wife tonight. Just boiling point stuff that blew and got so ugly. I had to leave the house to calm down and let the wife and daughter do likewise.

After a bit I came home to a scolding and talk of divorce came up. Seems Im developing hurtful traits that where exhibited by a past husband in which my wife left him for. I worked it out with my wife because she is my everything. I then had a tense discussion/apology with my daughter that slowly turned into one of loving advice and reconciliation. She amazed me with her spot on advice and for being only 18 she sure is a perceptive gal. My wife has her feelings hurt but we are so good together I know it will work IF I make changes.

They tell me Ive changed for the worse the past 6 months as Ive slowly lost my enthuasim and have been replacing it with a mizture of frusteration, gloom andbitterness (at the world)

They both told me Im to saturated with current events and end of the world mindset. That its good we have preperations but to dwell on it with such a consuming negitive gloomy attitude was hurting the family.

Im not going to ignore current events but Im going to stop them from ruling my attitude. Heck, I died on the operating table this past Feb and you'd think I'd have a blessed attitude but this seems to of messed my mind up in a subtle way. My doctor told me something of this magnatude puts people in a tailspin and suggested counseling to help me find my way back to the joy I once had.

Guess I should fall back and regroup. I'm prepared, knowledgable and improving my skilld fast. Seems we are ahead of so many others already. I should worry less and be thankful for being ahead and ready AND with that under my belt, start enjoting life especially my family.

So Id like to ask you folks, how do you had to balance current events in a crazy world and a bad economy with life and happy family? Is there a way for me to be more happy? I'm going to start including God more and set prayer at the top of my list. Something Ive let slip lately.

To conclude, Ive got a wonderful family that I came close to losing tonight. To top it off, tomorrow is my wifes birthday ugh, I feel like a heal. They are worth changing for and I feel in an effort to protect them Ive ignored them or just changed on them. Man, the pressures of this world just dont let up! Suggestions are welcome to help me retune my thought process away from the state of the world or for a hobby to preoccupy my mind as I have none.

Faith & Friendship
Pooly

PS not looking forward to winter as I suffer from extreme cabin fever

Too much of anything can be a bad thing. I am reminded of the phrase "the only vices of that person were his exaggerated virtues" Stay away from extremes.

As far as current events, I personally think I have seen worse conditions in my lifetime, and that is not to claim that everything today is sweet and rosy. We are discussing stability vs instability in another thread. I think it is safe to say that society, most of the time,is surprisingly tough and resilient.

Glad you are working things out with your family. The best to all of you.

People have predicted the end of the world since the beginning of the world (for humans, at any rate). While we can't ignore the larger world the real Apocalypse is losing your family. What use it it to gain the world but lose your soul?

I agree with being prepared, but if you've reached the point where involvement with politics/theories/ideas threatens your family life you must make a choice as to which you value most.

You will protect the ones you love best by being there. Do what you must to make this happen. If you push them away that won't happen.

Best of luck with your personal travails.

I am an old er nurse, and therefore the least qualified of advice-givers: this is all IMHO, YMMV stuff:

Changing the amount of oxygen supplied to the brain, or any insult to brain tissue like concussion, changes the brain chemistry, and changing the brain chemistry is a big deal and lasts for a long time. It turns happy folks into sad, peaceful into violent, optimists into pessimists. This may not be a political issue but a physical/psychological one as your doc suggested. This is way too hard to do by yourself: counseling, medication, and lots of attention from really smart people for you and your family may be required. You are clearly a smart and sensitive guy, with a good grasp on the priorities in your life. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.

Its not the end of the world.

But the economic shift of wealth to China is real,just read they are now the Number One economy in the World.

Prepare for what that economic shift entails and that should suffice IMO.Its way more than just income,its what loss of wealth entails to your society as a whole.

My Mom REFUSED to watch the news and lived her whole life happy.....so maybe you can OD on news.

Dont live in fear,get up to speed then refine within REASON,when we go overboard in anything and miss balance then things get sticky.

Im glad my wife is on board 100% with my politics.

We spent a fair amt getting to where we are at,but really we are just getting back to 1900 preps,and it worked well for them.We never crushed our savings to buy preps,we used disposable income only.

As said about history,there is a lot of good things we can learn from the past.

So we have some protection,a pantry and power and water and food and shelter.Could be better,but Im not Bill Gates,Im a schmuck but still believe in Grand Parents and Great Grands knew what its about in making a secure home,they did it,we can too without going overboard.

Mike,my Dad had a hypoxic incident.He was a guy who could multiply 6 digits by 6 digits in his head,after that would tell you 2 and 2 is nine and swear by it,only part of brain that was affected that we could tell,amazing!

Don't pay too much attention to the media. It's moslty politically biased, sensationalist hooey. Fear sells, remember?

Balance.

Balance the amount of time you spend with your loved ones and alone.

Balance the amount of time you spend watching the news with time spent watching movies, enjoyable television shows, reading a book, or whatever it is you do to disconnect and have some fun.

Make the time to exercise. Make the time to do fun stuff with your family and friends. Make the time to do fun stuff by yourself.

Balance the time and money you spend prepping for what might happen with the time and money you spend on dealing with what's happening now. If you get too caught up in what might be, you may very well miss things that you'll wish you hadn't.

Try a light therapy lamp for the winter; they've helped several people I know.

In addition to seeking professional help for your medical and psychological issues, consider marriage counseling.

Separate correspondence sent.

I agree with CHAOSMAGNET with the exception of one bit of advice. Seeing a psych type has serious ramifications for a veteran. Balance the need against the short and longtime ramifications.

Greenghost,
Wildman makes a good point re. psych vs. veteran status.
Go to the physician who spoke to you about "people in a tailspin" and ask for a referal to an appropriate practitioner. The refering doc should explain to the practitioner the history behind the referal which should alleviate any concern re. your status as a vet.
Best of luck to you.
jpickett, former USNR corpsman

First off, let me say best wishes to you and your family. Next let me say something about "current events". Current news is often not accurate and not even well presented. It has been my past experience that every, and I mean EVERY news event that I have ever had direct involvement with from on the scene have all been reported inaccurately, Every one of them.

To me that means that I cannot pay a lot of attention to the media and the way things are portrayed. Chances are very high that the event is not being accurately presented.

I try not to get wrapped up in speculations and just worry about the near-term and ignore the "what if" syndrome.

As for winter being a time for cabin fever, look into some activities that are fun and good for you. Cross Country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, whatever it takes to stay busy and have fun. I always find winter to be my best time, but I live in the desert:) I spend my summer with cabin fever and I read a lot and stay cool inside.

Good luck!