I posted the following yesterday:


What I said got me thinking. Sure, when it comes to what's tangible, I'm better prepared than the man in the video with his "earthquake kit."

http://forums.equipped.org/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=291893#Post291893

Sure, I can put on a brave face, take 1MG of Lorazepam (an anti-anxiety medication) and take down Goliath. Let's be realistic. If I have to take 1MG of Lorazepam to handle a road trip, what am I going to do when the population is injured and in a panic?

Jeanette Isabelle

Training... First define Goliath, and then learn and train to take him down. Train so that it’s no longer stressful, just something that needs doing. “I can do thing without Lorazepam”...

For me the way to get through things I don’t like is to put myself on auto-pilot and let training take control. There are some things I learned from my father that I really don’t like doing — plumbing, electrical wiring, carpentry... don’t think about it, just do it. No one has ever paid me for any of that, it’s just something that needs to be done so I do it.

Sorta like taxes, hold my nose and do the paperwork; nothing to like, dislike or fear, just a necessary evil.

FWIW, probably < $.02

What does stress have to do with anxiety?

Jeanette Isabelle

Realistically?

When real life crisis hits you will do one of 2 things.

1. You will overcome your anxiety and do what needs to be done.

2. You won’t.

Don’t mean to sound crass, but that’s the long and short of it all. If you can’t handle normal every day life without serious limitations it’s only bound to get a whole lot worse when things turn bad. All the gear and supplies in the world will be of no use if you are unable to face a bad situation mentally.

Something tells me you already know that though. I can’t offer advice (far above my pay grade) but I hope you figure it out. I’ve a lot of friends struggling with similar issues and I’m greatful every day I don’t.

If not stress, what triggers your anxiety?

The major one: being in the car for an extended time. I feel trapped and have an overwhelming urge to get out, which would be a bad thing because it might cause a wreck.

I have a problem with my throat. If the muscles in that area get very tight, that will trigger an attack. Only medication will fix that.

Running out of something, such as lip balm, will send me into a panic. Therefore I make sure I have at least three of each product I routinely use.

I also have separation anxiety; fortunately, it's mild. I can treat it without medication. If I'm home alone for an extended time (three hours), I can drive to our gated community's main club where there's always people. I would be fine.

Jeanette Isabelle

Ya, that is called stress

Driving on S.H. 200 (College Rd.) would give anyone stress. How would being home alone for three hours or running out of lip balm cause stress?

Edit: I looked up the medical definitions of stress and anxiety. The descriptions are similar though the anxiety definition puts more emphasis on panic.

Jeanette Isabelle

Here is where I disagree. Having the right supplies provides a level of comfort. Knowing I have them at my disposal does offer some relief.

Jeanette Isabelle

Anxiety disorder is feeling stress for reasons that do not normally cause stress in others. You are stressed about things, and catastrophize causing the panic.