[DamienJasper]

I posted this in the Psychology forum, but that one isn't too active, I just wanted to get this off my chest. Someone made the comment that it's not their own mortality that scares them, it's watching others (loved ones in particular) suffer in the die off.



That's pretty much me to. When I told my immediate family about it, that is the immediate family for ME (Mother, Aunt and Uncle) they were receptive. I've always been looked at as eccentric in my family. But they listened and understood what I was saying, probably because I broke down about two minutes in. But point is they listened and understood. I didn't like having to slap down some of their statemtents. My mother seemed to have trouble grasping the enormity of the problem. "I'll just not gas up my car" she says." But I think I got to her. But the most touching thing happened a couple of days later when I was talking on the phone with my Uncle. He asked how things were going since we spoke (ironically, this was around easter). I said alright. (When I first spoke to them, I hadn't really slept in days and was seriously emotionally unstable I think) He said "Whatever happens, we'll stick together". That to me was a confirmation of sorts. He's an old fashioned guy and (I don't want to say simple...) down to earth. What I mean is, it would probably be difficult for a man of his small town upbrining to really get what I was saying. But that he didn't dismiss me as a looney or disregard what I said. That he says we'll stick togethe resoftened my heart. Because I believe him. This little segment of the family is extremely close. We've also got a few hardcore survivalists! (No surprise, we're in Idaho) so maybe that'll be a plus.

But what scares me? Seeing them perhaps suffer and knowing there's no way out of it. Feeling myself suffer and knowing there's no way out of it. I'm not afraid to die for myself (if that makes sense). But like I said in my very first post here, leaving my twin alone in this future world well...sucks. What scares me is the process. You've seen pictures of those extremely bony people in Africa, starving to death over the course of years. My problem (and maybe this is selfish) is seeing myself like that. Seeing my family like that. When it comes to the point that there's no going back, you will starve to death, is suicide justified? Like throwing the towel in when boxing, is admitting you can't win and ending the fight really that dishonorable?

Thanks for reading.

[rogerhb]

Having a supportive family always helps. If you are part of a couple having a supportive partner helps. Having kids means whatever you do to lessen the impact helps. Yup, that sums it up.

[Wednesday]

Forgive me for making assumptions, but you sound depressed. I wonder if you might be suffering from depression.

Comments about suicide concern me.

[cornholio]

Oil is a limited resource... We may be approaching peak oil production. Other than those facts much of what is posted here is speculation. Nobody really knows what the price or availability of oil will be in 10 years or 30 years because the interaction of demand destruction, increased efficiency, the economy and world events are too complicated to predict with certainty. There may be a recession or depression. We may have to bike or ride a bus. We may eat more simple grains and less meat. We may have colder houses and need more blankets. By knowing about peak oil you have prepared yourself for changes, but nobody knows when the biggest changes will occur or exactly how things will unfold. If this is the year of peak oil then oil output could be approximately that of 1975 in 30 years (im guessing)... While that isn't good for investments the world will still be turning and there will still be food to eat. If you prepare to be flexible and are prepared to live without luxury, and if you have a good close family you should not need to imagine starvation in your family's foreseeable future...

"We are, perhaps, uniquely among the earth's creatures, the worrying animal. We worry away our lives, fearing the future, discontent with the present, unable to take in the idea of dying, unable to sit still."
-- Lewis Thomas

[drew]

Ditto on cornholio's comments (I love the username BTW) We cannot know what is really going to transpire. Shitty things have happened zillions of times before, and will happen again in the future. Cheer up and maybe stay away from things that upset you. There are a lot of very negative people on this site who can bring a sensitive individual down. They may or may not be right btw. I believe in PO, but suspect it will be a drawn out affair taking decades to be realized fully, simply because it will cause a recession/depression that will seriously lessen oil consumption. There is ample time to earn money, learn skills, pay down debt, and live your life. Life will go on-be part of it.

Drew

[jmacdaddio]

My sister's bf is seriously depressed over PO, or POA as we call it (Peak Oil Apocalypse). The last time I visited them, the phrase "well, after POA you won't have to worry about traffic jams or x,y,x" made its way into our banter, first as a joke, but then I found out that he's letting things get to him.

The truth is, we don't know what will happen, or how it will unfold, or what combinations of technology, politics, and market forces will develop. All that is certain in my mind is that in the next decade, the easy motoring lifestyle will change, and I will need to make adjustments. Remember, PO is not the end of life as we know it, it's the end of the easy motoring, consumerist bonanza which has gathered steam over the last 25 yrs or so. I sense a growing number of people who are disgusted with the modern US lifestyle and are making personal changes which have the side effect of making them better prepared for PO. We can survive without two cars in every garage and a trip to the Bahamas put on the credit card every year.

[aldente]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('DamienJasper', ' ')I hadn't really slept in days

[DamienJasper]

Thanks for your input everyone. I just have a few other comments to make.

I do appreciate my family and having them around. I just got back from a visit with them. I blew off some homework to do it, but I had to since I'd spent about 3 hours give or take on this site. Even though we didn't discuss this topic, I want to again in the near future, especially considering everyone's grim outlooks on this winter. Being in Idaho, it gets COLD. But albente, I don't see what so wrong with making this a family affair?

I appreciate your telling me not to worry and some of your logics do soothe me somewhat. But seriously now, I can follow your logics of simplier lifestyle which I'm ALL for (sometimes I wish I lived in Iceland). But saying these things, it's like you're questioning the wisdom of someone like Matt Savinar. Did you not read his site and his arguments? These are pretty convincing statements about (fairly sudden and unavoidable) doom. Him and a host of others. We're just posters, who are we to question him and his mountains of research? (and others)

I don't understand how you could NOT get "so worked up".

Drew, this is more than just some "shitty thing". This is THE shittiest thing. Also, I'd like to hear you offer some solid reasoning as to why there's "ample time" to do these things. I'm not kicking you in the balls and I want to believe you, but you gotta convince me.

Wednesday, of course I'm depressed. Don't you read this stuff? What's not to be depressed about? I mean, read that recent thread about the Olduvi Gorge. But I don't believe it's from depression. Depression is a mental disorder, so the depression is in your head mostly. This is a real thing, know what I mean?

My brother's in the Navy like I said. He'll be coming in for his leave (a pretty long one I think.) I was worried back in May when he went out for his first deployment (he's been in for 2 1/2 years now out of 6). I was concerned because it was around the same time I became PO Aware. He was deployed to the Horn of Africa near many Middle Eastern hotspots. Nothing went down and it was pretty much a touch and go thing. Kinda like, just get to the Horn to say you went and start heading back sorta thing. He's been pissing around in little villages in Greece and Italy since then. But when he comes in for leave, instead of the whole family going to the Salt Lake Airport (about a 3 hour drive from here in Pocatello Idaho), I'm going myself and I intend to use that time to really uncork this stuff on him for the first time. I wonder how it will come out and what will happen.

Thanks again for reading guys. I appreciate it much.

Marc

[DamienJasper]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rogerhb', 'H')aving a supportive family always helps. If you are part of a couple having a supportive partner helps. Having kids means whatever you do to lessen the impact helps. Yup, that sums it up.

[drew]

Damian, I meant what I said, shitty things have happened before, lots of them. Yes this could be a worse one, and probably will rank right up there with other previous bad events, but you cannot stop the wheels of history-so stop worrying. For instance I am not responsible for millions of aids deaths in Africa-they sadden me, yes, but my life is here, and is not a cause of their suffering.

If you feel strongly about some issue try to help, otherwise wash your hands of worry since you are only one person and can't affect macro events.

I say you have lots of time because you probably do. The 79 iranian rev and subsequent recession knocked down demand for oil by ~8 million bpd and lasted 7 years before demand returned to ' 79 levels-during this time people were broke, not dying of oil induced starvation. If this year's events cause a huge recession it will knock down oil demand for a long time due to huge unsustainable twin account deficits in the US economy. I expect periods of high oil prices and induced recessions for a few decades in the future. We will alter our lifestyles, because we have no choice not to.

In this time you could learn survival skills, wean your self off oil, educate yourself, invest in renewables..... etc. There is time to live your life. BTW I turned 42 yesterday, cheer up, I certainly expect we will both be around in a few decades time.

Drew

[DamienJasper]

Thanks again.

Hate to be a leech, but I would seriously adore more input from folks. It helps me sleep.

[NugBlazer]

Damian, keep in mind that Matt Savinar's site -- while extremely well written and full of great information -- is somewhat heavy on the Doomerish side of the equation. Many Peak Oil believers don't think it'll be quite as bad as that. (Although it is of course one possibility.)

[DamienJasper]

Can't say thanks enough for the input.

I'm going to try and sleep now.

[0mar]

I got over PO shock in a few days. It's out of my hands. All I can do is try to secure my future and those who I care about. Anything outside of that is impossible so I don't sweat it.

[DamienJasper]

But the dangerous assumption is that a future of any sort even for your immediate family is even doable.

[Eli]

I don't know if this will help.

But you really cannot worry about things beyond your control. Loosing sleep over this is dangerous too, staying up for days at a time really is unhealthy and can lead to people making very bad decisions.

Seeking a physician at this point would be a very good idea for anyone who looses sleep over peak oil. This stuff is very depressing and can lead (myself included) down dark paths that result is serious clinical depression.

For me having faith in Christ is really the key. Having faith means that you are never without hope that things will be better no matter what happens.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', ' ') and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away.

[Dezakin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'F')or me having faith in Christ is really the key. Having faith means that you are never without hope that things will be better no matter what happens.

[DamienJasper]

I'm a Christian as well. But does God ever seem as far away as he does now?

Like I said, my arrival here about 6 months ago (around Easter time) found me in the throes of depression similar to this. I won't explain how I overcame it during the summer right now (dont have the time, I'm between classes right now) I'm fighting to keep from relapsing back into it, but it's proving difficult.

[Eli]

I am glad that works for you, I was talking about what works for me.

So what about bird flu? Is it just going to mean a shorter line at the post office?(joke)



$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')Its just more reactors and less jet liners is all.

[Eli]

DamienJasper


Having faith is the most important thing in the end.

It sounds like you might have an underlying medical condition that is effecting your whole out look.
With the shorter days and if you are spending long hours in class the lack of sunlight and stress can really change your mood and increase your depression.

Get an appointment with a physician and talk to them about what is going on right now. Talk to your family about it and ask them to help you.

I have taken anti-depressants before and it runs high in my family, medication is very effective in treating it.