Terrible Weather Anxiety

[Lady of Longbourn]

I live in the South Eastern US. Don't know if anyone has been watching the weather but server thunderstorms are supposed to be here in a few hours and tornado outbreaks are "likely". I am right in the middle of the worst of the storm. I have 7 and half more hours of panic until the threat should be over.

Last night I seriously thought of leaving the state for the night so I would be able to cope with the fear a little better, somewhere were it was safer. After being told how stupid the idea was and irrational by my mother and husband I didn't.

I don't see it as irrational. After having near death experiences ( which is one of the reason people get PTSD), the idea of me trying to protect myself seems normal. 'Normal' people are just walking around thinking "it wont happen to me", while I am thinking it could, and am totally feeling like my life is being threaten. Which it is.

I am now in a traumatize situation. I am not worried about the threat of dying part as much as I am worried about the aftermath. I know if something happens I would never be able to recover. There would be no hope for my recover after that.

Maybe it is irrational, but can anyone understand why I am acting this way? Does anyone understand? I just keep thinking that they simply have never been in near death things so just can't understand the depth.

I'll be updating this. While I panic.

 

[intothelight]

Hi Ayesha,

Hang out here. The weather is rough in Indiana today too. You are not alone, there are a lot of us that find tornado season a very scary time of year.

(((Hugs)))

Deb

 

[Deleted member 6617]

((((Ayesha))))) Sitting it out with you too!

 

[Tinyflame]

Yes, I am implicitly familiar, lived in fear like that for greater than 7 years.

Because the worst 'can' happen, doesn't mean it will.
But I realize how it feels :(
(((((((((Hugs and prayers to all that need them)))))))))))), xoxox

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

Thank you so much for reply's. I can't begin to tell how grateful I am for that.

The more I talk the better.

 

[intothelight]

Ayesha,

Keep talking Hon. I am on line and will keep checking on you! :)

Deb

 

[maddog]

Sending you some solidarity from the otherside of the world Ayesha, and wishing I could send you some of my sunshine.

Your fears and anxieties are perfectly understandable under the circumstances. The danger is real and legitimate and can only ever be enormously triggering for you.

But it sounds as though you are taking all reasonable precautions, have support around you and are communicating your concerns and feelings, and that's the safest suite of safeguards you can put in place right now.

It's ok to be afraid and to acknowledge that, along with the evidence that suggests that you're giving yourself the greatest, and indeed a very good chance, that everything will be ok.

Am sitting this out with you.

Maddog

 

[Tinyflame]

It's ok to be scared, who wouldn't be (((((((((((((((((Hugs)))))))))))))))

Bizarre as this sounds, I used to pray to my "Grandma (Rose)", heard a weather forecaster say "There is no explanation why (one of our terrible storms) moved out- wind did not change".

You are in God's hands, and God knows you've all been through enough. He will help you-
xox

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

The threat is getting less and I am being calmer. There is something that will pass over us in the next hour, but in about an hour and half it should be over. I don't think what is left will be to bad ( maybe I am wrong) but it might just be heavy rain and wind. The news is not talking about threats in my area...so good thing I guess.

This spring and summer is going to be awful.

 

[Heather]

can anyone understand why I am acting this way? Does anyone understand?.

Ayesha, I completely understand how you feel. I used to live in Georgia with my daughter's father and there would be tornado warnings all the time and it was really, really scary.

So, your being frightened is a very rational emotion for what you are dealing with.

HUGS and more HUGS.

 

[Tinyflame]

Dear Ayesha, I am glad everything turned out ok, and hope all was well for others also, xoxox.

I don't want this to sound (or 'be') preachy- I say it only in the hope that something might be useful for you to take from it to use in the future to help you.
I actually 'screwed up'- it was more than 7 years I struggled with those fears, after going through bad weather experiences twice (7 years apart). I will say this is what has helped or what I have learned:

-others who haven't been through it likely won't 'get it'
-it will take days to unwind (now) from the stress you've been through, so be gentle with yourself
-the worry only wore me out, and left me unable to manage what 'might' have occurred
-'bad things' happen in degrees- I always envisioned the worst-case-scenario, because that was partially what I originally went through. It took almost 20 years to recognize that when the original event occurred, we received over 4 inches of rain in 45 minutes (amongst other factors), within a 2-3 block radius- nothing could have stopped damage from that, (preceeded by 36 inches of rain for 4 days prior)
-I risked my life and caused lots of permanent injuries doing what I thought 'had' to be done. According to many Specialists it contributed to a cancer diagnosis and death of a loved one (the stress). Next time I wouldn't 'think' (ie 'worry')
-it changed my life in lots of ways- left an abusive relationship, could not move (not sure if that was 'good' or 'bad' but meant to be).

I don't want to overwhelm you- know you will just be feeling grateful. I hate to see you miss all the joys of summer, 'worrying'.
I suspect there is a reason for everything- life has bad and good in it- sometimes there are 'blessings in disguise' if you can hold out long enough.
But also, the Very Worst isn't always going to happen to you and your family- but the 'worry' of it can cause problems that wouldn't be there without it.
((((((((((+++Hugs)))))))))))
xox

 

[Airplane789]

Ayesha,

I clicked here because I read 'weather anxiety' which I get around summer because that was the time of my rape but I realize this is a different situation.

I understand what you mean about how most people think 'it would or could not happen to me' while with us, we know too well that it could because it has... whatever type of trauma 'it' may be.

I'm not sure if this is a good comparison but what you said reminded me of some of my experiences. After having survived all sorts of abuse, rape, and being in dangerous places (inner city and 3rd world) as a child, I came out of it all with a sense of invincibility. I didn't have a choice, though. I was running away as fast as possible from my home town & state, to a place thousands of miles away, where there existed the threat of violence because it was just 'the hood.' But I walked around (alone, at night, no choice) with my head up, shoulders back, and a strong look in my eyes that said 'bring it.' As in, what could possibly happen to me now that hasn't happened already. Well of course something could have happened... but it didn't. I walked with quick strong steps and I made it obvious that I would do whatEVER I had to in order to protect myself. I would die fighting if it meant not getting raped again, for example. So what I think is, yes, we are more fragile in many ways... But we are also much much stronger than we give ourselves credit for. Perhaps if, God forbid, danger really did come your way again, you would surprise yourself with your instinctual ability to get yourself (and loved ones) out of harms way. Perhaps you have someone in your life whom you trust; a relative, a partner, or a friend... And you know you can count on them? I am speculating now, but I just noticed that when I could rely on absolutely no one but myself, I amazed myself with my strength... but now that I have someone to lean on I do get very anxious about possibly dangerous scenarios...

Not sure if that makes any sense but I think another way to put it is 'letting one's guard down.'

I wish you the best and may a sense of peace and calm carry you through this.

Emma