Is being a prepper feeding ptsd paranoia?

[Justmehere]

Sh*t hits the fan, eh. If I die, I die. If I live, I will live. I have some emergency gear and survival plans because I live in a weather event prone area.

But, PTSD means I don’t need the stress of “prepping” on a regular basis - my nervous system “preps” me every day.

What strikes me though, @lostforgottensoul, is that you were just posting about nervousness trying to access a food bank. It seems like you get caught up in YouTube-land regarding service dogs or now prepping or worrying about trends that pop up here too.

I’d suggest taking a step back. Work on developing a steady budget to survive day to day now. Right now. Don’t avoid the problems of today by getting caught up in “what if’s” of tomorrow that may never even happen.

You have plenty on your plate to deal with now. It strikes me that you can be in a better position to survive tomorrow by working on the problems of today.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

But for a planned expedition? Being serious about it? Hell yes, that’s expensive as f*ck ...to do it smart.

Indeed it is!

As to supplies? I prefer quality, or nothing.

Agreed. And you'll need to pay for that quality. However, my issue is what else is out there, just as good but is less expensive? Take fix blade knives. Loads of great ones out there. All priced very differently. It really is that way with most stuff. I don't want to go cheap and buy junk. But I also don't want to pay more of I could have paid less for the same ish quality.

here's the basics you need...
Dead Link Removed

you can put it together for about $150
Enough to alleviate the concern without going bankrupt in the process

Thank you! Yes, don't have much money as it is and I dont see that changing in the near future.

If you are in areas with limestone

I live in Florida. Florida, all of Florida, is Limestone. That's why there's so many sink holes here.

The problem? Is that no amount of prepping is going to address the fact that you have a pain pump. That needs topping up regularly. If shit hits the fan, and you’ve got months of food and water stashed in case the end of days hits - it’s your pain pump going dry that is going to be the issue. Not just because you will become almost immobilised with pain, but because when it runs dry? No amount lf tinned food is going to help.

Indeed. That will kill me. They've straight up told me that and I had to sign that I was aware of that. It needs to be refilled or taken out. If SHTF tomorrow, I'm totally f*cked in that aspect.

otherwise why else are you prepping

Great question. I'm actually not. Havent bought anything. Just been watching prepping videos back to back wondering if its feeding into PTSD parnoia. But that's a great question for every prepper to ask themselves every now and then.

But, for the record, I'm not prepping. I'm only wondering if prepping can feed into PTSD paranoia. If a prepper has PTSD, can it feed into the paranoia and if so, how do you balance that? I thought it was a good subject.

ETA: I guess I didn't phrase the question correctly so I appologize for that so I'll try it again. If I wanted to prep and had the money to prep (which I don't), how would one go about prepping sensably and not allow the PTSD paranoia get in the way making prepping really run wild. Basiclly prepping and PTSD paranoia intertwin with each other. One fueling the other. How one prevents that. That's the subject in which I'm wondering about. Not that I will be prepping as I don't have the money even for the cheapest preps. Just how a PTSD sufferer would without symptoms getting in there.

 

[Ronin]

That seems to me as a super obvious question though? Anything that feeds your paranoia can do that, that doesn't have much to do with PTSD.

And how do you deal was also answered and common sense, by being rational and prioritizing about the needs, actual and real life and current time needs, not worrying about what if that either is not happening and if it were, would still not be your number one concern for surviving.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

not worrying about what if that either is not happening and if it were, would still not be your number one concern for surviving

Isn't that the point of preparedness? Being prepared for emergency situations. They happen all the time. Hurricane Irma only hit us at a Cat 3 and only shut off our power for a week but we still had drinkable water and for the most part were ok. If she would have hit us at a Cat 5? Different story. Hurricane Katrina is about the best example of this. How things were handled after. The point is to be prepared for emergencies. What those are differ from person to person but emergencies will happen. It may not be a nuke and may only be regional but they will happen.

Again, though, I in this is hypothetical. I have not spent a dime in prepareness. It intrested me as that's already how my brain works. My therapist said last week that I was a good critical thinker. Good at figuring out problems. So, this fits right in. I'm wondering how a PTSD sufferer prepares for emgencies that are not happening right now but can and do happen without paranoia taking over. You don't wait until a hurricane is about to hit to prepare for it. Well most do hense hurricane panic but its a bad way to do it in my opinion. So, what's the other option? Be prepared for an emgency like a hurricane, tornado, etc and be ready to "bug out" or evacuate. Have a bag ready to grab in a hurry where everything you need is already there. Equals preparedness.

 

[Freida]

how would one go about prepping sensably and not allow the PTSD paranoia get in the way

by following the guidelines of the professionals who are educated and paid to know how to do it. Then I know that I am using their experience and education of what is "necessary to be afraid of" and not my own fear to put it all together

 

[joeylittle]

So, this fits right in. I'm wondering how a PTSD sufferer prepares for emgencies that are not happening right now but can and do happen without paranoia taking over.

Basic skills application.

So, you’re a resident of Florida. Hurricanes happen. It’s logical to maintain access to potable water and backup power (batteries) for essentials. Probably enough calories for you and your animals for a week.

That’s it. And when your mind says, “what kind of knife do I need”, you ask yourself the questions: what problem am I preparing for? Is it reasonable to prepare for that? Do a thought record, or if your mind is spinning out, distract.

Just been watching prepping videos back to back wondering if its feeding into PTSD parnoia.

This is a good example of an activity that will more likely than not, start some paranoid thinking. So I’d say, do something different with your time. Like work on menu planning.

Knowing you have PTSD and are predisposed to paranoia and hypervigilance - watching these videos is the equivalent of wanting to break a food craving but keeping that food in the house anyway. If you have the option NOT to, why would you?

I'm only wondering if prepping can feed into PTSD paranoia.

Sure.

Basiclly prepping and PTSD paranoia intertwin with each other. One fueling the other. How one prevents that.

Skills.

What those are differ from person to person but emergencies will happen. It may not be a nuke and may only be regional but they will happen.

Hurricanes.

In my region, it’s blizzards. So when it’s the season for it, it’s smart of me to think about blizzards.

In the larger scheme of things (this is the DBT skill of comparison), the kinds of emergencies that can happen to folks in lesser-serviced nations than the US can be generally more catastrophic.

A bug-out bag, in the US? If you live a criminal lifestyle, and may need to suddenly go to a country with no US extradition treaty, sure. Or you’re in a DV situation and don’t know exactly when you’re going to be able to get out of there. Yes, you need a go-bag for that. I can think of other kinds of jobs, lives, where one might need that level of exit strategy.

It doesn’t seem like anything in your life or lifestyle would indicate you’d need that level of preparedness. And spending ANY money to accumulate things like that would only defray money away from savings, which is where you need it.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

And spending ANY money to accumulate things like that would only defray money away from savings, which is where you need it.

I understand that. That's why I edited in the question a bit more clear and was trying to be clear that I have not and will not spend any money on prepping until my normal daily life was figured out. That's called being stupid in my opinion. I figured it was a great topic as many of these preppers were in the military and I can bet many have PTSD and many seemed rather paranoid. To me.

 

[intothelight]

So, after hurricane Irma, I was really unprepared. I had water and some non-parishable foods I bought during hurricane panic (so it wasn't from prepping) and that was it. Being caught with my pants down when it came to a week of no power in the Florida summer heat made me want to prep and prepare.

Being prepared for real emergency situations, based upon where you live, is just good common sense. Since hurricane season has started, it is a good idea to have food, water, alternative forms of lighting; and if you have a medical condition that requires consistent medical attention, find where the evacuation shelters in your area are located that are equipped to provide medication and/or care and go there when instructed.

When I was going through my divorce and the threat of violence was increased, I had a "bug out" vehicle where I could hop in with three children and disappear for a few days. Had to do it a few times and they thought the "spontaneous" camping was great. Also stay prepared for tornadoes, snowstorms, and blizzards both at home and in my vehicle. Being prepared doesn't have to be expensive, but requires having a realistic view of the length of time and then checking and updating items on an annual basis. When you have pets also have their food and enough water for them on hand. A 5 gallon buck, plastic bags and sawdust is a real inexpensive option for a composting waste in an emergency.

Like anything else, prepping can be taken to extremes so do what is necessary for your life in the present and watch the "what ifs".

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Like anything else, prepping can be taken to extremes so do what is necessary for your life in the present and watch the "what ifs".

Yeah, I noticed that. Probablly the only thing I'll buy in the near future is a silk cock key as it's very inexpensive and is the only way to get water off the side of public buildings. It serves for an emergency or homeless. And its why I came across these videos. Preparing and learning skills in case I end up homeless. Many are transferable. But, while watching the videos I found myself sucked in and couldn't believe people spend thousands upon thousands of dollars, 10s of thousands in some cases, on preparing for "the collasp" which may never happen. I just can't see spending that kind of money on a "what if" that has been going on since 1999 into 2000 (as far back as I can remember). And then I started to wonder if preparness could or would play into PTSD paranoia. Thus the thread. Not something I can do at the moment but just a thought that I thought could make a good discussion as, in general, preparing for an emergency isn't a bad thing. Until it becomes one.

 

[shimmerz]

We had a pretty wicked problem with power in Ontario back when I was burying the ex's father. That was the summer of 2003 and I was in Nova Scotia at the time. Everyone here in Ontario was scrambling. Massive damage from a completely shut down province.
Blackout 2003: How Ontario went dark | The Star

Anyway..... although we were out of the province, I have never been so popular EVER. Because we had shit that people needed. Large stores of gas and water. We would have wanted for nothing if we had been in province. People were offering to do anything for us. They saved our freezer food, they came over every day to make sure things were in order. The list goes on and on.

The moral of the story is have shit that other people need and they will naturally share with you what they have. Bartering. That builds a network for yourself. Don't buy every thing you may anticipate you need - because you have no idea what or even if something is going to happen.

And in answer to your question about feeding ptsd. Yes. Anything that you worry about in the future (especially something that you don't know is going to happen, thus has no natural 'endpoint' for said worry, is going to poke at your anxiety. Guaranteed. That is what anxiety is. Worry about the future. So yes, I believe this issue will feed PTSD as it is terribly anxiety producing to worry about a possible issue that will possibly happen in an unknown time in the future (possibly) and if you have enough possibly you will survive....

See where I am going with this?

 

[lostforgottensoul]

See where I am going with this?

Yep, sure do.

Bartering

Yeah, a lot of preppers talk about this. A lot are like "I'll gun down anyone that dares to come close" but many talk about bartering and how that will be the biggest thing if the grid goes down.

 

[PiggyBack]

I actually go the other way. I think people are so invested in their home that they are reluctant to abandon it when they should. I live at the altitude of 9 feet in a major hurricane route. My motto is to evacuate early and often. I own nothing that I'm not willing to lose. I'd be wary of any advice that has you accumulating more useless crap.

Perhaps if you suffer from a threat that could happen suddenly, such as an earthquake, you should stock some water and non-perishables to allow you to migrate to safety. A case of water and a couple of bags of trail mix would run you $30, tops. (I personally couldn't keep trail mix in the house as I'd eat the chocolate bits in a moment of weakness).

As for PTSD, do you feel like your prepping is outside the realm of reason?