[BryE]

I'm a latecomer to peak oil - I found out about it earlier this summer. Since that time, I've had a low-level anxiety, I wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep, I have a hard time enjoying anything that I do, I don't feel like eating, etc. - classic signs of depression.

I've lurked in these forums for a few months (this is my first post), and I've been making my personal preparations - reading books on homesteading, permaculture, and biointensive gardening (I've always maintained a small garden, but next year's garden will be impressive). I'm going to go hunting with a friend this fall for the first time in my life. I planted an apple tree in my yard yesterday.

Still, I just can't shake the feeling that everything I do is completely pointless. I worry that my yard isn't big enough, that my house doesn't have enough insulation and doesn't have a basement, that my debt won't be paid off soon enough. I'm not worried so much about myself or my wife, but mainly it's about my kids' futures (they're 4 and 8 ). If they weren't in the picture, I think I'd view the whole thing as more of an adventure. I've discussed my feelings with my wife, and she agreed with me in general but she didn't seem too concerned about it. I don't want to press her on it because I don't want her to go feel the way I'm feeling.

I can't believe that I'm the only person who felt this way when he/she first found out about peak oil. Many of you guys here seem to have accepted the situation and can even joke about it. How did you get to where you are?

[Fishman]

Man, you have to get out of the water and up on your surfboard. You have to ride this wave out. All your concerns may be true, but any step is far beyond those around you. Practice with the garden, insulate what you can, teach your kids a few skills for fun-call it crafts. Enjoy the ride too, laugh a lot.

[Aaron]

Community & Knowledge.

Try PeakSpeak some evening...

We all felt just like you do now at some point.

Welcome to the board.

this too shall pass.

[RonMN]

Welcome

We've all been there. And it sounds like you're doing all you can (and quite well at that).

All you can do is all you can do...and time will help with the anxiety ALOT! Be patient.

[Stargazer]

BryE,

There is no easy answer. Know that you're not alone. Only a few months ago, I was there where you are now. You deal with it by keeping yourself occupied and maintaining a black sense of humour.

I personally have made preparations that include giving my family the money to install a greenhouse. I've planted fruit trees in the garden and influenced them into thinking a woodburning stove is a good investment. We're now almost completely insulated from rising natural gas prices. The c/h is almost redundant now.

The vegetable patch has been brought back into use too.

The best advice I can give you is make it a priority to get out of debt. Pay off the CCs and cut them into strips. When you're out of debt, that is when you can look around at the credit-obsessed, debt-ridden wage slaves around you and laugh

Then you feel guilty for laughing, knowing that they are going to be in a horrific amount of financial pain very soon. Then you start to feel angry, knowing that when they drown in red ink, they will drag everyone but the most frugal down with them.

Seriously though, getting out of debt should be your first priority. Then don't ever allow yourself to fall back into the trap. The Zen-like detachment from the debt-ridden world we live in will balance out the depression you, I and everyone on this board feels or felt at one time.

A word of warning before you do this: It will ram home the point that a lot of things are unaffordable when you're watching actual money flow out of your account. When the money runs out, that is it! No more, until your next payslip comes through.

Get ready to go without most things that any "normal" person considers essential to existence.

The depression will eventually fade. I know, I've been there. When you're through, I can only say you'll feel like the Matrix's Neo - you've taken the red pill, and you're looking at reality from a new perspective.

You've already done a lot to help protect yourself and your family from the fallout, so take comfort in that. You've done more than 99.99% of the population already.

[zberry]

BryE,
It's a tough one, no doubt about it and something I've been struggling mightily with it for the past six months or so.
Your situation sounds very similar to mine, in terms of the age of your children (mine are 3 and 6) and wife's attitude.
Recently Matt Savinar made some comments that made me feel a little bit better. He pointed out that our brains are simply not wired to handle something like peak oil. We are totally wired for acquiring resources, acquiring energy, using energy to our maximum ability. To try to adopt (or think about adopting) a lifestyle that runs counter to that screws up your brain, to put it simply.
Unfortunately, theres no Happy Pill. I wish I had some type of mental exercises that would help to rewire the brain, but I don't have any. But at least understand that what you are feeling is TOTALLY NORMAL and to be expected.
Just in terms of the psychological implications, From the Wilderness had a really good article titled "Yellow Stars and Red Flags" that might help.
Yellow Stars and Red Flags
Peak oil isn't the only worry unfortunately, as the events of 9/11 have shown a light on some truly sinister forces that have been at work for a long time and are intent on taking away our freedoms and enslaving us.
We really are seeing a confluence of various crises that are going to severly challenge us. For what it's worth, it sounds like you are off to a good start.
Have you checked out Culturechange.org?
You are probably already doing this, but my advice is cut down on discretionary spending as much as possible, cut down on money spent on corporations like Starbucks, etc, and remain flexible because, as Ali Samson Bakhtiari told the Australian Senate recently, "In the very near future, there will be nothing like business as usual."

[kjmclark]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'U')nfortunately, theres no Happy Pill.

[NEOPO]

Yep - just a passing phase for most.
Welcome to Zion our brother.

Some of us are simply better at dealing with things then others.
My own situation is that I have suffered pain, loss and other negatives in life to a high degree and that in a sense has made me very ready for something such as Peak Oil.
What does not kill us only makes us stronger - Neitzsche

You may find some understanding in this : LINK

Know thy enemy.
Project for the New American Century








You seem beyond denial and rationalization yet we need to get to know you better to truly determine the status of your peak oil condition

The only difference between the matrix or the cave analogies against reality is that once you get to a certain point - there is absolutely no going back.

Understand that helplessness, dependence and fear are programs that you will soon find obsolete and will thereby delete.

If you choose to be a messenger then prepare yourself for mental combat as you will be met with every weapon the power of illogic provides.

Now please if you will excuse me, I must get back to saving the world from itself as Hawkman certainly cannot do it alone!!!

edit: had to remove the following image because I realized it stretched my browser
matrix agents

[americandream]

The power to change is in the moment.....not tomorrow or yesterday....the tomorrows are here...in the now.....do your bit...do it with passion......and let the tomorrows take care of themselves.

[mmasters]

I found out around 7 months ago. My head has been a bit messed up since. The past few weeks though have been pretty good. It takes a while to get over the slump.

Just think though how much it's gonna suck for people waking up when things are falling apart.

[PostPetroleumMan]

We are grieving for the lost future which we thought we had, for
ourselves and for our kids. They say there are four stages to
grief: denial, anger, depression, acceptance.

Me, I'm still in denial. I was guessing that the world's govts had
some secret plan for dealing with this. But then I came across
Bill Clinton's recent speech:

Former U.S. president Bill Clinton has urged newspaper editors to focus more attention on the depletion of the world’s oil reserves. In a June 17 speech to the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies convention in Little Rock, Arkansas, Clinton said a “significant number of petroleum geologists” have warned that the world could be nearing the peak in oil production.

That from Clinton, who was president of the US from 1992 to 2000.
So I guess they didn't see it coming after all.

Time to move on to the "anger" stage. After that, I'll be joining
you in "depression". (And I have 2 small kids too, aged 3 and 5).

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PostPetroleumMan', 'T')hat from Clinton, who was president of the US from 1992 to 2000.So I guess they didn't see it coming after all.

[quizz]

Relax (well, ok only semi-relax), Peak is the half way point. Go here for the coming rollercoaster ride:
Peak oil and Bakhtiari's 4 phases of transition

[Lore]

As old Jimmy once said “No One Here Gets Out Alive”.

What’s bothering you is the uncertainty of it all. The human animal exists for the most part in a state of ignorant bliss. Neither worrying nor considering the inevitability of his own mortality. Now that you’re sincerely confronted with these thoughts and have convinced yourself of their certainty, you’re at a loss to initially deal with it. In a way, you’ve lost the innocence that propelled you through most of your life.

Once you’ve fully accepted the premise that your life cannot be completely controlled by your actions, you’ll learn to admit that what ever happens can and will be dealt with when the time comes and that no man or woman can escape the end game. This may sound a little fatalistic, but rather than treat it as such, embrace it as the great adventure.

If there are four stages to grief: denial, anger, depression and acceptance; then before you go hunting and buy that property next door to grow apple trees, first discover acceptance. When you do you’ll learn to appreciate every precious minute of your life and that of everyone around you.

You’ve only been given so much time, learn to enjoy and do the best with the time you have.

[jupiters_release]

The United States had one of the most significant cultural histories ever, curse and blessing extremes, but it has really gone down the shitter the past couple decades from unsustainable monoculture in all aspects of life. Anthropologically, physical death means little without spiritual health and as cruel as it may sound human die-off can only be of benefit. I'm not looking forward to the dying process but I've been fortunate to have enjoyed and shared truly priceless wealth what Alan Lomax called cultural equity.

I was hooked on this site when I found it shortly after Katrina and it took about six months too for the shock to settle, and now with much deeper appreciation for what we have left I've been able to get back to what I need to do by letting go of the fear. Its tough but wishing we had more time is wasting the time we have now.

[Battle_Scarred_Galactico]

You’ll learn to admit that what ever happens can and will be dealt with when the time comes.

Thats' the way I look at it.

[BryE]

I want to thank everyone for their input.

We had some friends over last night and we spent the evening playing games while our kids played together in the next room. It was the most fun I've had in a while, and it got my mind off peak oil. I thought about it later, and I realized that friends and family, not basements or insulation, will be the most important things in the years to come. I'm doing what I can for now, and I'll continue to do what I can up until the time I need to use whatever skills I've picked up along that way. Hopefully I'll have a good night's sleep tonight.

[PhebaAndThePilgrim]

Hello to everybody from Pheba, from the farm:
I have not posted in a while. I have arthritis in my wrists, and don't overdo it on computer anymore. Besides I have had to just walk away for a while, and chill out. (of course, completely tearing apart and rebuilding antique furniture has wrists po'd right now)
Here is my experience with the p.o. shock.
I am 3 years out peak oil awareness.
The first year was just awful. I walked around in shock. I viewed the entire world in a totally different manner. I saw energy every place I looked.
I saw a life that was not sustainable by any stretch of the imagination.
I saw my 3 grandsons without a future.
I saw the end of everything I had been raised to believe in.

In 2004 I was diagnosed with cancer and lupus.
Well, guess what, the world has not ended.
Cancer is cured. Lupus is in total remission and I feel great.
I am learning not to sit around and just wring my hands over life.
Peak oil never really leaves my mind. I just don't sit around and dwell on it.
I am a farm wife, and I see signs of everything just crumbling around me.
But, I just do the best I can every day. Sometimes I fail.

My weaknesses are using my clothes dryer, and taking a lot of hot baths (for arthritis).
I drive a car, but hubby and I are saving to get me one that gets better mileage. He drives a Saturn SL1, and gets 40.2 Mpg. Not bad for a non-hybrid.
I drive a Buick Regal. We purchased used a few years ago. I really want something smaller.
When I dry clothes I take them out after five minutes and hang them up wet. Works great on wrinkles. Softens clothes, and saves a ton of energy.

Once you are P.O. aware everything changes.
Cooking dinner (electric stove, mixer, etc. ) , watching TV (electric). Laundry, (petroleum based soaps and softeners), farming (that's a biggy).

Blue pill, red pill, I can't go back. I know so much. I know too much.
Listen to the words of Gnarls Barkleys song "Crazy".

When it gets nutty I do the following:
Listen to a lot of music. Shut off any public radio.
Watch DVD television series. I love them. X-Files, Supernatural, MASH, Third Rock From the Sun, New Outer Limits(Rocks!).

I have found a way to connect to what I feel was a better time, before we totally lost our way.
I sew, (a dying art, except for quilting, which is a craft, not a skill), and I have begun to collect vintage Singer sewing machines. The machines from the 1930's thru the early 1960's were U.S. and Great Britain made, and were built to last for at least 3 generations. No throw away dispoable mentality was involved in the manufacture of these machines.

I pick them up where I can find them, and lovingly work on them until they are running beautifully. (taught myself)
These old machines outclass anything made today. No computers, and up until the 70's some models were made to be treadle adaptable. I seek out these models specifically.
I know that sounds nuts, but I feel better when I connect with these machines.
I also like to pick up old furniture and reupholster it. I feel I am saving it.
I went around the entire first year thinking I had to learn to make soap, raise all my own food, etc.
I finally realized that was not possible, then I chilled a bit, and began messing with the classic Singers, and the furniture.
I upholstered my own sofa. Cool!.
Ya just gotta do things to keep your spirits up.
There is a web site called the Needlebar that shows photos of some old Singers. Cool site.
Also, if you check it out on E-bay you will see that people who still sew are catching on about the old classic Singers. They are awesome, and ten times better than the $2,000.00 computerized machines.
My suggestion is not to try to grow all your own food, make soap, etc. Find one or two things that you are really good at, and really enjoy.
I believe that the barter system will be very important in the coming ages.
Take care everybody.
Phebagirl
PS. I own 12 sewing machines. (crazy!)

[wankmeister]

Hi BryE,

Your symptoms are nearly identical to my own. The worst part is when you try to talk to people about it, they act like you're insane.

[Ayoob]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('BryE', 'I') want to thank everyone for their input.

We had some friends over last night and we spent the evening playing games while our kids played together in the next room. It was the most fun I've had in a while, and it got my mind off peak oil. I thought about it later, and I realized that friends and family, not basements or insulation, will be the most important things in the years to come. I'm doing what I can for now, and I'll continue to do what I can up until the time I need to use whatever skills I've picked up along that way. Hopefully I'll have a good night's sleep tonight.