I am not a well known name here, but I know that Hallyx is (was). When he wrote this (on 3/11/99) I was stunned:

"If I can get my head out of this depression, I'll try to post more. But right now I need sunshine and blue-skies."

I was stunned because on a personal level I hear myself saying too often, "If I can get my head out of this depression, I will...(you fill in the blank)." Last night before supper my wife found me in the backyard, sitting, looking at the sunset and the trees. She asked if I was depressed, and I had to admit that I was. Sometimes the reality of what we have yet to do to prepare the family for the events of the future become overwhelming.

Seems I have not been laughing much lately. Need to smile more. My composure does affect those around me that I love, and who need me healthy (physically, mentally, emotionally).

PJ- who refuses to quit, also refuses suggestions for Prozac (sp ?).

-- PJ (Just@here.com), March 11, 1999

Answers

Lighten up PJ. The human race survived along time without all the little goodies we have today. The first thing we all must realize is, most of us do not have the money or the time to prepare 100%. We must realize we cannot cover all the creature comforts without the infrastructure. The problem is, we try to prepare so nothing in our life will change. It is, going to change in some way. You cannot do it ALL. Do your best and CHILL. Got any ST. Johns Wart?

-- Scotty (BLehman202@aol.com), March 11, 1999.

Perhaps it might help to share my major concern. The root of my emotional state may not be the same as yours. Hallyx, if indeed experiencing bouts with depression, may or may not share his concern. That is his private business.

My wife and I happen to think the level of chaos following 01/00 will be greater than a 3 day level of preparation. We are facing the turmoil of deciding where to relocate. We thought we were well on the way in this decision making process. Come to find out, we are not. Personally, I have expended a lot of time, energy and emotion traveling and looking and considering this or that location. It appears that I have to start all over again in the search, and in the midst of regrouping for this effort, I find myself listless, depressed. Now, "If I can get my head out of this depression, I'll search for our Y2K home (again)."

Our parameters are simple: reliable water, garden to grow most of our own food, woodland for firewood, and good, helpful neighbors.

In a city of nearly a million just doesn't seem to describe our simple needs.

PJ- who loves herbal teas, St. John's Wort included.

-- PJ (Just@here.com), March 11, 1999.

Where are you looking, PJ. I may have a very attractive spot for you, but do not want to give away too much online. It is a properety that has real value whether or not Y2K happens, with good resale value, or real value as a summer place. On a beautiful lake, 20 acres, own septic system, water treatment plant, well in case power is out for any length of time, etc...

At least one family in the condo project who is prepared, and possibly other owners will "get it" in time.

Place another post to this thread if you are interested in western

-- housemouse (jgj@nevermind.net), March 11, 1999.

Dear PJ,

Here is what helps me:

Someone here made the comment that whatever we have to go through, it still doesn't compare to the preceding generation, who lived through the Great Depression and WWII. If I need to survive ten years of garbage it still won't touch the hell they had.

We can do this. Drink that tea!

-- mabel (mabel_louise@yahoo.com), March 11, 1999.

Hi PJ,

getting away from this forum once in a while, and do something I enjoy instead of preparations helps me regain balance and hope. But I keep in touch with some friends I made here via email.

Depression is a difficult problem to discuss and a taboo in our society. As if our brain was immune to assaults and insults from life, but not our body. It's ok to take heart medication to make sure our hearts keep beating, but not ok to take Prozac to ensure that our brains keep functioning.

Depression sets in very insidiously. Oftentimes it's a long period of stress that starts the snowball effect; you start by missing on sleep which bring your internal clock out of balance, which in turn affects your eating habit, then your body functions etc...which all affects your brain chemicals out of balance, which in turn reduces your ability to deal with stressful emotions, and the vicious cycle keeps going downhill.

Prozac and its cousins like Zoloft helps bringing your brain chemistry back in balance, which in turn gives you the energy and ability to get yourself out of this vicious cycle by sleeping and eating better. You can then think more positively and effectively, which will in turn enable you to take more positive actions and help you feel better about your situation etc., and the vicious cycle is reversed upwards. Prozac when taken for depression is not a permanent solution, it's only a temporary boost, like a jumper cable. Usually taken for a few months to get yourself out of the grips of depression, but you must use this window of time to reflect on your situation that got you depressed in the first place (perhaps you focus too much on Y2K?), and make changes in your daily habits (concentrate on getting enough sleep and eat balanced diet and excersise), and do things you enjoy once in a while (taking a saturday afternoon with friends bowling or fishing or playing cards or volunteer work for something you enjoy, anything away from the routine of family/work), which is very important to replenish your mental strength.

St-John's Wort or Prozac, they're both just a boost, jumper cable. You must make changes in your life to get out of the vicious cycle.

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), March 11, 1999.

A good friend of mine who is preparing, says when he is having a bad day or has read something that is disturbing regarding the y2k future, he just heads to Costco and buys another 50 lb. bag of rice (he has 10-12 now) or 24 pack of TP (6-8 now) or some other supply item. I have started to do the same thing, it helps. We are both fairly well prepared already, but going out and spending $10-15 on supplies can make you feel like you are doing something else to prepare. Enjoy the things we take for granted now, like long hot showers, a great steak or going to a movie. Good luck.

-- Bill (y2khippo@yahoo.com), March 11, 1999.

Forget the Prozac. Been there done that. Go with the St. John's Wort, standardized capsules. Prozac wrecks your liver. St. John's Wort is the prescription of choice in Europe for depression. It has been in use there for over 30 years. No bad side effects. Go to the health food store & buy a book on it & read up. While you're at it read up on Melatonin for sleep disturbances. Prolonged stress damages your body's ability to make its own melatonin.

-- mostly lurking (mostly lurking@podunk.texas), March 11, 1999.

We have read a few good postings about the fault tolerence of systems. Fallible and vulnerable humans also have their levels of fault and stress tolerance. Those who are aware of Y2K vulnerabilities will suffer phases of depression. It is not a predicament that stimulates elation. What will be the fault tolerence of those who have not attained any degree of self-reliance?

-- Watchful (seethesea@msn.com), March 11, 1999.

I agree with lurking. Most I have known who do get anti-depressants gain MUCH weight....that is enuf to depress anyone....Tell me lurker, does the St. Johns cause excessive weight gain.?

-- consumer (private@aol.com), March 11, 1999.

I wish so much that I could visit with each one of you and help you. For 2 decades my fellow man has done everything that could be done to me, except put my fingers in a vice.

Cheer up, if I could and can make it, you can too. If it were not for the great suffering by other people, I would be looking foreward to TEOTWAWKI. If nothing else, it would get the packs of lawyers of my back that have plagued me since I was 10.

Remember since you are all SO intelligent your mind can send you into mental depressions thinking about your future.

I've been there. And for many years. I'm almost 60 and am in better shape mentally and physically than when I was 10, 20, 30, 40 of 50.

After having experienced severe middle ear infections, diphthteria, tuberculosis, whooping cough, gangrene and what more, I run in the Bay to Breakers footrace. Last year I came in under 3,900th place. Out of 60,000 to 80,000. And I run only 1 to 3 miles, 4-5 times a week.

These little illnesses weren't enough. I was firebombed, shot at, abandoned by father, starved, and beaten by mother so I would grow brains. I lived in an attic and shack for more than 2 years without heat, water, power or toilet.

I was tricked into slavery for more than 2 years where I dwelled in cowshit without being allowed to bathe or shower.

Still I feel bad if my wife of 30+ years asks me to kill a spider. I do not hate my father, mother or anybody else. Except maybe lawyers.

Cheer up. It could be worse.

hatchou@yahoo.com

-- Not again! (seenit@ww2.com), March 11, 1999.

This is what scares me about the Doom&Gloom prognosticators and their gullible following.

-- please try to chill out (scary@stuff.here), March 11, 1999.

It sounds really stupid, but we are going to Walt Disney World. It is more expensive than Prozac but it sure is alot more fun.

That is what I need right now: FUN!

-- Cid (.....@......), March 11, 1999.

Good answer, yes Disney, tell Nancy Kerigan I said hi.... LOL....I'm just playing with you so dont get angry....we are going to Niagra Falls the end of month....yep, we need fun...but clinical depression is not fun,. I am still awaiting an answer on St. Johns wort...thank you.

----consumer

-- consumer (private@aol.com), March 11, 1999.

I've tried them all. St. John's Wort far surpasses any prescription for effectiveness and having absolutely no side effects. No weight gain, very balanced, a sense of joy for the first time in my life. After twenty years of trying everything, trying nothing, St. John's Wort has been noticeably, significantly effective.

-- tweetie (bluebird@chirp.com), March 11, 1999.

I've had this ongoing depressed funk for about three months now, (could have something to do with that "so-called millenium bug"?) but for the last few days I've been on St.John's wort and been feeling radiant. St.J'sW would be a good plant to learn to grow; bound to be some depressed people next year seeing as we're going to have a depression and all.

-- humpty (no.6@thevillage.com), March 11, 1999.

Hmm, for some reason I thought Hallyx was a woman.

-- Blue Himalayan (bh@k2.y), March 11, 1999.

Dear Chris,

We had a whole steep hillside backyard covered with St. John's wort and did not know its value. I've been taking low dosage of ST. W. and Kava Kava and it helps me greatly. 2 caps of St. W . in the morning, 2 caps of KK at night.

Be careful. Cows have died by feeding on St. W because it reacts with the sun. Also it takes several months to take full effect.

In some areas of the world ST. W. is considered to be a weed.

By the way, what happened to Uncle Deedah? I think he's in the dumps.

-- Not Again! (seenit@ww2.com), March 11, 1999.

Blue- Sorry if I have the gender wrong. Maybe Hallyx will enter the scene, and I will apologize to (him)(her). In fact I do admit I used Hallyx's name as a lead- thinking the regulars, whom I admire and respect, would be more apt to respond if they saw Hallyx instead of PJ.

housemouse- If you go to another thread where I have posted, you will see my area of interest listed there: The thread is called "Risks and Benefits of Your Current Location."

PJ- whose wife just returned from the Health Food Store with some St. John's Wort (tea as well as capsul).

-- PJ (Just@here.com), March 11, 1999.

The problem with medical advice is that every Joe and Jane has something to say. As an RN, I must point out that Mostly Lurking has his "facts" wrong about Prozac. Prozac (fluoxetine) does not reck the liver, and is even used in patients with pre-existing cirrhosis of the liver in lower doses, as well as with patient on dialisis (pre-existing renal failure) with no adverse effects. In studies, small percentage of wieght LOSS has been reported, but wieght gain is not. It is advised to monitor patients with bolimia and anorexia nervosa closely because of this potential side effect.

For more info on Prozac see this link: http:// www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/fluoxetine_wcp.htm#CI

St-John's Wort's active ingredient is hypericin. It works on the amines of the brain just as Prozac does (serotonin, dopamine, adrenaline etc.) and takes 2 to 3 weeks to take effect just as Prozac.

People forget that active ingredients in herbs are drugs in themselves. Do your own research for yourself. My concern with herbs such as St-John's Wort is that they have not been studied in strict and aproved methods such as is done in the medical field, and are more subjects to hearsays and hoogalism. No standard of dosages etc., yet are powerful brain altering chemicals.

I am not against the use of St-John's Worth or other medicinal herbs, I simply want to point out that there are a lot of misconceptions about both Prozac and St-John's Wort, and that each person should do their own research instead of listening to Joe and Jane with their own bias, me included

But the real important point I want to make here, is that whatever you decide to try if you do at all is that simply taking medecine for depression will not cure the root cause, only the symptoms temporarily.

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), March 11, 1999.

PJ and Hallyx, a lady.

I can relate.

Yesterday, I actually felt SCARED for the first time. So I knew it was time to shut down the puter, play and rebalance. For perspectives sake.

A friend and I drove over to a cute tourist beach town below Santa Cruz, Calif. Theres nothing like the fresh hit of an ocean breeze to let you know whats real. By the end of the day, the Y2K body tension had relaxed considerably. A tasty lunch and a soothing caffe latte helped.

But, then, of course, I happened to see the front page headlines of the local area newspaper, Santa Cruz County Sentinel ...

War games showdown looms -- Marines face Coastal Commission hearing on urban warrior exercise.

Y2K ramifications are everywhere.

Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.

Diane, sniffing essential oil of Lavender for the blues (aromatherapy treatment) and ready to take St. John's Wort too

*Big Sigh* and feeling better

[P.S. The SC news web-site is under construction, so Ive contacted the editor and hope hell send me a digital copy of the article so I can post it later. Otherwise, Ill just tense up again by re-typing the darned thing!]

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), March 11, 1999.

Hallyx, I do apologize, your ladyship. My error.

Diane, I heard on the "Jim Hightower" radio show (UBN), about the armed forces exercises on the west coast. In fact, he mentioned that there will be an eyewitness, live broadcast from the midst of all the activity on his program on Monday.

-- PJ (Just@here.com), March 11, 1999.

As far as medication evidence goes, I prefer hundreds or even thousands of years of well attested folklore to A few scientific tests passed by the institutionally-corrupt FDA. If you don't know their sordid history then you got a few months homework to do.

St.John's Wort worked on me within days, I must be a neurological freak? As for just everyone having an opinion on health, the same goes for RN's. I've researched these topics to death for years on end, a fully employed person doesn't have the luxury of time to do that, nor might they have my specialised training in assessment of evidence and argumentation. Doctors and their pharmaceuticals are amongst the top 3 to 5 causes of death in USA and Australia, similar figures in rest of industrialised world. Caveat Emptor.

-- humptydumpty (no.6@thevillage.com), March 11, 1999.

"Doctors and their pharmaceuticals are amongst the top 3 to 5 causes of death in USA and Australia, similar figures in rest of industrialised world. Caveat Emptor."

So then I guess that you mean by that comment that the life expectancy that increased from 47 years old in 1930 to 80 now is due to herbal medecine and witch doctors? Or maybe those statistics have been made up by the FDA too?

Well guys, I tried. Whatever makes you tick, it's your life.

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), March 11, 1999.

Yes, people, please do your research. Some herbal remedies have precautions associated with them, you don't want to cause interactions. But I have never heard of interactions for St. John's Wort, only the potential ultraviolet sensitivity, cited above. I believe 1200 mg. is the most recent recommended maximum dosage, but you need to build up gradually. Try to work up to 900 mg. at first over a couple weeks, (300 mg., three times per day). Use a reputable brand, to ensure dosage uniformity.

At an herbal seminar, the instructor made a very interesting comment. Ingesting the whole plant (herb) usually results in no side effects, because nature, in her wisdom, has provided numerous substances within the plant which balance each other out. However, when a pharmaceutical lab decides to identify the single "active" substance of that plant, isolate it, purify it, and concentrate it into a powerful drug, there are often side effects. This is also why herbs may take more time to become effective, and you generally need to take more milligrams of herbs.

Not to malign modern medicines, thank God for them.

-- tweetie (bluebird@chirp.com), March 11, 1999.

Tweetie, thank you for your well stated insight.

Just want to point out though, that unless you eat the petals of St-John's Wort, you end up taking a -concentrated herbal extract- either in liquid or tablet form. Read the ingredients on your bottle, the other substances that are in the plant are usually removed.

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), March 11, 1999.

Modern medicine is also largely responsible for the rises in life expectancy that you site, I can't disagree with that. Mostly due to Paediatrics, but also due to keeping the dying alive a lot longer. This is no way negates the big problems with modern medicine that I referred to, namely, that they kill millions every year too.

-- humptydumpty (no.6@thevillage.com), March 11, 1999.

I take issue with Tweetie's herbal instructor who said: "Ingesting the whole plant (herb) usually results in no side effects, because nature, in her wisdom, has provided numerous substances within the plant which balance each other out." Plants produce toxins to promote their own survival. It just happens that many of these chemicals (or their byproducts) have proven extremely valuable to man, such as digitalis in foxglove. For that matter, some very common foods, like potatoes or tomatoes, would be extremely poisonous to us if the plant were eaten in its entirety. Not to say that we entirely understand how to purify the effective compounds. On the other hand, if you are producing your own herbs, you better know what you are doing, starting with identification of the plant.

As far as info on St. Johnswort and other herbs, I highly recommend the Garden Web forum: http://www.gardenweb.com/forums/

There is an entire section on herbalism: http://www.gardenweb.com/forums/herbal/

The grande dame on herbal use on that forum is "Traute the BioGardener", who has produced a number of FAQs, including a few on St. Johnswort and depression: http://www.gardenweb.com/faq/herbal/

My own experience on St. J, after several months, was a big bust - no improvement, but no apparent side effects either. Hear it works great for others.

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), March 11, 1999.

try these links...

http://www.mayohealth.org/mayo/9901/htm/depressi.htm

http://www.mayohealth.org/mayo/9901/htm/stjohns.htm

-- depression info links (somebody@somewhere.world), March 11, 1999.

You can get St. John's Wort seeds from Abundant Life Seed Foundation. Alas, I don't have their address with me; they're in Washington state, should be easy to find on a Web phone book.

Another great, all natural remedy for depression is sex. My wife and I are spending a lot more time in bed. It has really boosted our spirits. Give it a try!

-- Franklin Journier (ready4y2k@yahoo.com), March 11, 1999.

Thanks Chris for your balanced advice. It's refreshing when a medical professional (allopathic) addresses the importance of finding the 'cause' of an illness as opposed to just treating 'symptoms'. Bravo!

I've spent very little time on this forum, & Y2K in general, the past month or so. Depression was attempting to gain a foothold. I needed a break. Took a couple mini-vacations; very low-budget, but a big bang for the buck.

My family has achieved 100% of our minimum preparation goals. The basics are covered. If any of you are procrastinating...get off your butts & ACT NOW. It will do wonders for your peace of mind.

Best of luck to all.

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), March 11, 1999.

"Whole plant because nature ballances"..... . . . . .OH MY LORD!!!

Rhubarb - - - stem - bitter but tasty- - - leaves (I'm told) bitter, and VERY deadly, roots - - - deadly

tomato fruit - - great - - - rest - - - deadly

Lets read the documentations first before using.

Kinda like mushroom collection. We eat puff balls all the time but won't even try others. A family in town thought they had harvested the same that they were used to in SE Asia. WRONG!!! FIVE people needed livers due to the (I think aminitra) they had eaten.

Instead of KNOW YOUR RUITCAKE we need to KNOW YOUR PLANTS

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (reinzoo@en.com), March 11, 1999.

PJ--

Just a little something I learned....Vitamin B-6 is an amazing thing. 100mg daily changed a friend of mine. He was often depressed and had quite an "explosive" temper (no fun for his family). I would not have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself.

I am amazed to this day by the change in him. Incidently, being "anti" medication, this was the only thing he was willing to take.

-- Scarlett (ohara@tara.net), March 11, 1999.

People,

Obviously I did not mean that you can eat any plant, anytime, and expect that it will be safe.

-- tweetie (bluebird@chirp.com), March 11, 1999.

PJ and Hallyx - Boy, do I ever relate! I talked to a good friend of mine who also is a psychologist because my sleep patterns have been disintegrating and my energy has gone away. I told her I was worried that I might be depressed. She laughed in my face. "You might be stressed out, but you're not depressed. You laugh too often and your sense of the absurd is quite healthy. Take more time for yourself, and realize how much stress you're under." However, my stress elastic is running out of elastin. I kept finding myself in tears today, so I went and had my hair permed (almost as good as buying 50# of rice, not quite as good as a massage).

Rant on..... It would be okay if life didn't keep happening on top of Y2K worries, but ... our parked car was involved in a hit and run, my boss is making my life miserable at work and cut my hours, and I just had a breast biopsy and don't get the results for another week and a half. Thank You, Lord, that my family is well right now; if Carla went to hospital again, I might join her there! .....Rant off

Sometimes it helps to rant at your friends :-)

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), March 12, 1999.

{{{{Tricia}}}} Good to hear from you. Here's a big hug.

Your pshycologist friend was mixing friendly teasing with her psychology.

You know that doctors/psychologists/psychiatrists/nurses can't treat family and friends or give impartial advice right? That's because they have an emotional stake in the relationship.

Your friend either unconsciously or conciously doesn't want to see you depressed, so she'll deny the signs or she will refuse to discuss it and dismiss it so as not to get involved with your problems too deeply, because that affects a friendship. She could however, have tactfully suggested you consult with a refered coleague.

Sustained Stress leads to depression. Tiredness and lack of sleep, bouts of crying and sadness, loss of motivation and procrastinating for daily routines etc., those are symptoms of depression. If you let that go it could very well get much worse :-/

-- chris (catsy@pond.com), March 12, 1999.

Thanks, Chris. I think that she was giving me that advice as a friend, not a psychologist; and I know that just being around her gives me a lift, so I likely seem less affected when I'm with her. Yesterday was the first time I've ever had a crying jag, if it continues, I will seek help (my family will nag me to it!). I was quite depressed after my first child was born, I know the symptoms and that it is not easily shrugged off.

Like you, I think it is very ironic that any other organ in our bodies is allowed to be ill, except the brain. I am perhaps a little less threatened by mental illness than most, one of my sisters has been diagnosed bipolar for years. You seem more open to mental illness than most nurses I've worked with, have you done any psych nursing? Thanks for caring :-)

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), March 12, 1999.

"You seem more open to mental illness than most nurses I've worked with, have you done any psych nursing?"

Tricia, no I haven't. It's just in me to care for people's mind and body, as a whole. Doesn't make sense for me to treat the body without the brain, which is what drives the body. I've had psychiatric nursing as part of my training only.

Psychyatry is just too intense for me to go headlong into it. It would affect my own mental health pretty quickly ;-)

It's hard for regular hospital nurses to care for people's emotional health, there is just not enough time. Most nurses I've worked with are just as caring people, but we have a very tight schedule of duties and heavy patient load, which makes it that we can't spend the extra 5-10 minutes with each for such caring exchange. Plus, after a while you must develope a leather skin otherwise you become too emotionaly involved and burn out. It's a whole sad situation, I know.

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), March 12, 1999.

Funny, I've exchanged email correspondence with Hallyx, who signs messages "Hal". Interesting our different takes. I miss Hallyx, who in my mind was always "The Quotation Maven I'd most like to emmulate". I have a great deal of experience with pharmacology for depression. Was on prozac for 2 years, Zoloft for 1. Of the two prozac did me better. Did not gain weight, and my understanding is that weight gain is more typical with tricyclics. I have not been on any medication for 4 years, and haven't really needed it. At the time I started prozac I was in a two year cycle of daily suicidal ideation. Starting in April of 1998, with the tragic, sudden death of my nephew, and coincidentally, the sparkling awareness of a potential Y2K train wreck, I have more difficulty managing the depressive swings. Action has helped,...walks help, talking helps. The Y2K emotional roller coaster is, I'm thinking, something many of us are VERY aware of. It is important to remember that an hour, sometimes a day can change how we feel. As hard as it it when in a deep dark hole, doing ANYTHING can lift the darkness.

Donna, the baby cyber bear wondering about the wisdom of doing so much psychological self-disclosure. Oh, what the hell!!!!! It's only life after all.

Got perspective?

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), March 12, 1999.

Strange as it may seem my mental health has improved since starting back to work in the puter biz. Are things better than I thought they were? Nope. If any anything they are worse. Maybe by being a part of the solution (however small) it has empowered me and I feel more in control than before. Being closer to the information has freed me from the daily routine of searching boards, and news sources which I felt compelled to do but, really brought me down.

My biggest source of headaches today (as they always were in the past) was fighting the DGI's. Today it's Y2K, in the past it was --- insert the name of the problem here the magnitude of which the other guy just doesn't grasp---.

MoVe Immediate

-- MVI (MVI@blackfunk.com), March 12, 1999.

Heartening to see you back MVI!

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), March 12, 1999.

Donna,

"wondering about the wisdom of doing so much psychological self-disclosure."

Yes, wise. Courageous, too. And giving others comfort to hear this spoken of openly and factually.

You always write great stuff here. I think of you as the "logic woman."

-- mabel (mabel_louise@yahoo.com), March 12, 1999.

Courageous and wise indeed, Donna :-) Just remember that everyone of us man/woman had, have or will have to battle with depression. It is as common with people as having a driver's license. But it is taboo mostly in the musclehead gender, to whom admiting depression is akin to admiting impotence, a weakness in their minds. But it is not, if you're here to talk about it. The weak ones are those who comit suicide. Those who do not have great strength of mind to work things out. And to be able to realise that taking a medication help oneself out of it, is smart. Like taking an antibiotic when you have a contracted a bacterial disease, instead of hoping it will just go away.

MVI, by going back to work you became active again. You changed your mind from the hyperfocusing on the bad news and made new connections with people. You regained a balance in your life and control over it, instead of hyperfocusing on bad news sitting idle in front of a screen. Physical activity and change of scenery is important for mental well-being. I myself hyperfocus on this forum and it affects me too. I go away for a week and I feel wonderful. I'm going back to my y2K retreat next week to concentrate on preps there, and hopefully hit the slopes, no computers there :-)

This thread is helping not just the posters, but the lurkers too.

-- Chris (Catsy@pond.com), March 12, 1999.

Chris,

Wow... You have provided some really perceptive comments and advice here, too. This discussion itself can be uplifting, in a way. It really is a sign of *strength* to talk about these things. I read that somewhere...

-- mabel (mabel_louise@yahoo.com), March 13, 1999.

Donna, thanks for sharing. I know I almost hit the cancel instead of the submit button on my post, too. And thanks PJ and Hallyx for starting a discussion of an important issue that is often overlooked, both here and in the wider world.

A comment on Y2K, if we are having problems now how can we prepare emotionally for Y2K. I'm not saying that we will have a 10, but even at a 5, many will lose jobs and be stressed. It may be you, it may be a family member or friend. I don't think it's wise to focus too much on these possible problems, but it's always easier to deal with problems when you're prepared; ask any fireman! So do some assessment; is your job likely at risk? If so, maybe you should seek another one now. How can you help friends and family who find themselves in a tough situation? If we have a 5-7 and you keep your job, maybe your preparations can be of benefit to someone you know (unless you and yours love rice and beans :-). What emotional resourses do you have to help you and yours through tough times? How can you strengthen those resourses now?

Thanks to all of you who have shown concern for me. "Burdens shared are burdens halved; joy shared is joy doubled".

Sorry for rambling - I'm on my way to sleep after a loong night shift.

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), March 13, 1999.