In times of disaster

[Alexandoy]

When I was younger, we have a family friend named Mr. Pantaleon who died of heart attack when the tree in their compound was felled by a storm and hit their house. In his panic, his heart gave up. In 2014, a typhoon was ravaging our place and I clearly saw that our mango tree was slowly slanting on the house of our neighbor. I was already panicky and was about to scream when my wife came and said that the tree had stopped slanting because it is already leaning on the house. I was assured that there was no damage and I heaved a sigh of relief. But deep inside me, what happens if the tree had destroyed the neighbor's house? I probably have to learn how to handle such situations for I don't want to have a heart attack when disaster strikes. 

 

[Natasha0717]

I constantly feel this way too, and I get angry with myself because I know I'm doing damage to myself and my own health because of my anxiety.


It's such a difficult thing to control.  We were given anxiety/survival instinct/fight or flight to protect ourselves from danger, and even our loved ones and pets that are so important to us.  But we don't know where to draw the line.  There have been times when I wasn't sure if there was actually something wrong with a situation or someone (even myself), or if there was something wrong with me.  In other words, is my cat sick?  Or am I sick?  Am I exaggerating the situation?  Or is there really something wrong?  I honestly don't know where to draw the line.  And just like your friend who got so overwhelmed with anxiety and died of a heart attack because of it, we need to be careful to not let our anxiety be the death of us.  Ironically, we're trying to protect ourselves, yet, in doing so, we could be hurting ourselves.  It's a true shame. 

 

[Alex]

There are many things in life we cannot control even though we think we can. I have discovered in life you can only plan for so much and while is can be frustrating it is all you can do. My mother was born during a civil war, and doesn't remember much, but she survived. People do, and you find strength when you are faced in such situations. It doesn't happen to all of us, but there are reasons why things happen and I won't get too philosophical, but each experience makes us stronger.


My father recently nearly died, and it was a wake up call for both of my parents. I was okay with it, but not with their lack of acceptance which led to the incident as they could have asked for help sooner. Watching your parent collapse is hard, and worse when they refuse any help and you know they need it or they will die.