Mental health problems

[FelisCatus]

Are there any other preppers on here who have had/are having problems with their mental health? I suffer from an anxiety disorder, which greatly impinges on my ability to enjoy anything. Anxiety is the main reason I'm prepping in the first place, as I spend an awful lot of time panicking about the economy and peak oil. Tbh though, I even worry about whether my anxiety will impact on my survival should SHTF (in other words I have anxiety about having anxiety). It would be nice to know I'm not alone, if there's anyone else here with similar difficulties?

[spindrift]

You may well find that your anxiety becomes less of an issue than you think should SHTF. Afterall most anxiety disorders are based on the fear of the unknown or what might happen, or how you might react if something occurs. Its why graded exposure type treatments work so well, they take away fear by making the unknown known. IF SHTF then worrying how you will react will become irrelevant as youll be living it and surviving. Paradoxicly your fear of SHTF and how you will react will make you better prepered than most as youll have devoted so much time and resources to it. Afterall, most of us are on forums like this because we fear what will happen if/when the balloon goes up. Your in good company.

[Pepper7]

Hi FelisCatus, I don't have any problems ( as of yet! ) with my mental health but i have some friends and colleagues who suffer, some do suffer with anxiety which is very common among professions that deal with extreme stress. I know they deal with it by just talking with each other, so your are not alone and if you need a chat you can pm me.

[preppingsu]

Hi feliscatus,

Would you mind popping over to the new members section and posting an introduction please.

Thanks

[FelisCatus]

You may well find that your anxiety becomes less of an issue than you think should SHTF. Afterall most anxiety disorders are based on the fear of the unknown or what might happen, or how you might react if something occurs. Its why graded exposure type treatments work so well, they take away fear by making the unknown known. IF SHTF then worrying how you will react will become irrelevant as youll be living it and surviving. Paradoxicly your fear of SHTF and how you will react will make you better prepered than most as youll have devoted so much time and resources to it. Afterall, most of us are on forums like this because we fear what will happen if/when the balloon goes up. Your in good company.

That's very reassuring, thank you

I am thinking of doing SHTF rehearsal weekends too - camping out in a forest alone with no mobile phone or other modern technology (torches included), and with a limited supply of food and water just so I could get some practise. Hopefully, the rehearsal might ease my anxiety about a bit this since I'd be more used to going without modern comforts than most people.

preppingsu: OK, I've just left a message on the New Member's Section.

[junmist]

Hi yeap I have SAD the only good thing about this is that I know it will go away around April/May time the way I get round anxiety is to remind my self that it is my brain making me anxious and nothink else and if I give into it the next attack will be worse. Which I do not want and YES it easier said than done and it can be a constant battle with myself and it is tirering but it is worth it taken me three years and so far this year no attacks yeahhhh

[CardiffGuy]

"I am thinking of doing SHTF rehearsal weekends too - camping out in a forest alone with no mobile phone or other modern technology (torches included), and with a limited supply of food and water just so I could get some practise. Hopefully, the rehearsal might ease my anxiety about a bit this since I'd be more used to going without modern comforts than most people".

FelisCatus - some people have anxiety and other similiar disorders. My dear old ma had severe agaoraphobia disorder which put her in such a place mentally that she refused to step outside the door of the house for 12 years. If she had to go to the doc's, she could only go into a car with certain family members and go into the doc's via an alternative entrance and straight into a side room with no one else in it. T

Fast forward a few years with family support, she now goes out on her own, catches buses with no problems and has no issue's now approaching people to make conversation.

If you need advice (non medical of course) drop me a pm, also if going out as a rehearsal, let people know the area you are heading but take a form of contacting help should an emergency arise.

C.G.

[elvengate]

Hiya,

I'll put my small input into this.

I am currently suffering from severe PTSD due to my 20 years of service in the U.S. Army.

I have found that prepping has helped me a great deal. Think of it as being a safety blanket.

I am not worried about how I would manage in a SHTF situation at all. It would be like returning to home I guess. My issues are with reconciling things with the civilian world. In a SHTF situation you would be in an environment where you would have the time to dwell on your anxiety. Back to a fight or flight mindset. Would I burn out and have my problems in a SHTF environment? Yes. Yet I believe that the intensity of the environment would assist in the management of this.

This may not make sense, yet I "am" a crazy person so what can you expect.

Thanks

[justsurviving]

I am on some antidepressants, and due to a glich in repeat scripts I have enough for 14/15 months. I alternate dates etc. I have also enough pain medication parac, asprin. ibufro. and others for a year. I stockpile any meds I can get. Including lopromide.

[Trish52]

I suffer with anxiety, I've been suffering with anxiety for years but In august 2012 it got substantially worse, I ended up seeing a councillor and getting diagnosed with PTSD due to an incident I witness in August. I do have to say I'm a lot more paranoid which DOES have an impact on my prepping, in a good way I guess, I make sure I'm ALWAYS prepared for a situation, I ALWAYS carry my Altoides pocket survival tin everywhere I go, I have 2, Urban and Rural, I carry both of them most of the time or If I'm just nipping out I'll bring my Urban, even if I just go to the pub. I'd rather be safe than sorry.