tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7740983595962649109.post8775377435783194836..comments2024-03-10T01:26:13.595-08:00Comments on Trainride Of The Enigmas: Fear Of FearGeo.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16221314320558128986noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7740983595962649109.post-84323596485246864592012-08-13T21:29:36.874-07:002012-08-13T21:29:36.874-07:00Thanks Will! You bring up a good question. I had t...Thanks Will! You bring up a good question. I had trouble with unfortunate SSRI side-effects like the trots, which set me back socially. Why it works for some and not others is clearly an enigma.Geo.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16221314320558128986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7740983595962649109.post-51521661735213911302012-08-13T20:51:51.817-07:002012-08-13T20:51:51.817-07:00As a longtime friend of Geo., my former HS student...As a longtime friend of Geo., my former HS student and good buddy, I'm glad he asked me to chime in. <br /><br />Ever since my early adolescence I have had panic attacks, only precipitated for many years when I was alone in a house (my parents' or later my own) and had the feeling that I would suffocate unless I went outside or at least opened a window. Otherwise , I was sure I would scream at the top of my lungs. <br /><br />It was only when I got into my late 50s when that tactic no longer worked. I saw my longterm primary doc and he suggested Zoloft, which has worked for me--and I know not for some others uniformly--for over 20 years (Now there is a generic, sertraline, which costs much less). In any case, this experience convinced me even more that illnesses, physical as well as mental or psychological ones, are frequently caused by biochemical imbalances, increasingly so as we age because there are no longer as much of those 'juices' in our bodies as when we were younger.<br /><br />It interests me that this recourse has not so far helped my friend Geo., and several of my age-mates, so I know there must be more to the story.<br /><br />Whaddaya think?<br /><br />Will<br />Williehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13672263724813424429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7740983595962649109.post-10696166046681059872012-08-13T10:01:49.409-07:002012-08-13T10:01:49.409-07:00John-- I won't tell anyone if you won't. H...John-- I won't tell anyone if you won't. Here in California, you hear sirens if somebody lights up behind the barn.<br /><br />CarrieBoo-- Glad you had a "thinking sort of weekend" because you've just contributed something valuable. Your excellent comment about neighbors is echoed and well-received here.<br /><br />Austan-- Good Q and A. and effective emotional morph. But remember, Viking(!) is always written in the exclamatory case.Geo.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16221314320558128986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7740983595962649109.post-48516931455564682722012-08-13T09:30:41.253-07:002012-08-13T09:30:41.253-07:00As a fellow pipe-smoker, I will share the followin...As a fellow pipe-smoker, I will share the following joke:<br />Q: What's the difference between anxiety and panic?<br />A: How much money you have in the bank.<br /><br />I must have screws loose. Fear turns into anger in my system almost instantly. Maybe a Viking thing. Austanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05568578637922817033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7740983595962649109.post-34296074940921942112012-08-13T06:06:57.324-07:002012-08-13T06:06:57.324-07:00Ugh. I've struggled with social anxiety (among...Ugh. I've struggled with social anxiety (amongst other things) since I can remember. The fear of going red/brain turning to mush/shaking and generally looking like the idiot I was always told I was growing up (not nearly so glamorous as the lounging lady!) was constantly enough to bring it all on just by itself--especially in a corporate environment. Unlike Jon, I did go the medication route out of desperation (became afraid to leave the house too) and what a mess that was. I am finally free of meds and feel safe, and basically don't interact with people unless I have to. I've gotten a lot better with reading and learning, and realizing why this all happened. And if my blog friends were my neighbours and work-mates, I suspect I would do okay. :)<br /><br />Sorry to babble on. Been a thinking sort of weekend.<br /><br />Top notch post, Geo.CarrieBoohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05760105674950918729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7740983595962649109.post-9391117834805727522012-08-12T02:00:04.997-07:002012-08-12T02:00:04.997-07:00My ex used to say that if I had nothing to worry a...My ex used to say that if I had nothing to worry about I would invent something. She was right. Thank goodness those worrying days are behind me. Mind you I still have today to deal with. Who knows what might happen?<br />Don't tell anyone Geo but I still enjoy a pipe of tobacco occasionally.john bainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15624118202659480062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7740983595962649109.post-61821630748983230612012-08-11T20:22:56.079-07:002012-08-11T20:22:56.079-07:00Delores, I know you're not kidding. Much of th...Delores, I know you're not kidding. Much of the problem is the sort of anticipatory anxiety you described. It can topple the dominoes.Geo.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16221314320558128986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7740983595962649109.post-41745146039100119332012-08-11T20:11:24.434-07:002012-08-11T20:11:24.434-07:00I wonder what you would call a fear of anxiety? ...I wonder what you would call a fear of anxiety? I knew a girl at work who got so worked up at the thought that she might get an anxiety attack that it gave her an anxiety attack. No, I'm not kidding.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7740983595962649109.post-60816898934863203202012-08-11T19:18:05.447-07:002012-08-11T19:18:05.447-07:00Thank you, Jon. Your honest response means a lot t...Thank you, Jon. Your honest response means a lot to me. We know the sound of constant self-diagnostic machinery running in the background, like a fridge.Geo.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16221314320558128986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7740983595962649109.post-90516111638782548502012-08-11T18:59:22.861-07:002012-08-11T18:59:22.861-07:00A brilliant post and one that I can fully identify...A brilliant post and one that I can fully identify with. Anxiety is indeed a fear of fear. I've suffered from severe anxiety attacks most of my life (are they lately called "panic attacks"?).<br />Long ago they were so debilitating that I couldn't leave the house. I chose not to rely on drugs - - only on booze occasionally.<br /><br />In recent years I've learned to control anxiety simply by convincing myself that I have nothing to fear but fear itself. The very worst thing that could possibly happen is that I'd drop dead. Then my problems would be solved. And my relatives would be pillaging my possessions.Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02619128793632680659noreply@blogger.com