[syrac818]

I'm truly not trying to be an asshole here, because I realize I tend to do that around here. I'm sorry about the hard times many of you are having with this, I think we can all relate on some level.

But I honestly believe that the vast majority of people on here are predisposed to this type of anxiety and despair. When you're no longer capable to work because you believe Peak Oil will make it all irrelevant very soon - you have a problem. There is always, always a host of issues to be depressed about. If it's not Peak Oil, it's something else (bird flu, global warming, nuclear attacks, bio warfare, massive economic collapse, etc.). It's not necessarily that everyone else is unaware of it all, it's that they realize that this is the way it's always been and always will be. You don't have forever in this life. When it's taken away, you will wish didn't spend your time worrying about how awful it's all going to be.

[TheDude]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', 'O')R is too expensive, except for the western part, which is one of the driest places on Earth.

[JPL]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mmasters', 'A')s of now I'm recovering from burn out after dealing with a prolonged bad work situation and some troubles in my personal life. So anyway it made me more aware of where our limits are and that burnout is a real phenomenon when people are pushed too hard (as when emotional stress becomes overwhelming for a prolonged period of time). I really believe that PO or events stemming from it have the power to burn out vast segements of society. Curious how many of you have dealt with breakdowns or depressions resulting from being overloaded. Experiencing it really leads me to believe that a good portion of society will become frail when TSHTF (as I'm more conscious of the possibility for it within myself).

[JPL]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', '
')I keep expecting the MSM and the stooopid public to discover peak oil. I guess I secretly hope that the realization will shake people up and they will at least react. And then I can carry on an intelligent conversation with my friends. They want to talk about work, movies, music, crops, economy and all I want to do is scream "peak oil, you f@ckin numbnuts." But that gets you nowhere fast.

Everybody is too wrapped up in tv, cars, and appleby's to bother.

[BigTex]

I'll throw in a few ideas:

First, trying to emotionally and psychologically deal with something as big as PO is exhausting. Don't be surprised when you get exhausted. Just put it down from time to time and have faith that it will be there when you come back. Don't worry, it won't go anywhere.

Second, go to some yoga classes and/or learn about breathing and how controlling your breathing can give you a sense of control over your whole world.

Third, get enough sleep and eat good foods. Pretty obvious, but for some reason people don't do it.

Fourth, if you smoke, think about cutting back or quitting. You will get better mileage out of your body and your senses.

Fifth, be as kind to yourself as you are to others. If you're an asshole, think about changing your ways (even if assholery makes you happy, it takes a toll on those around you).

Sixth, cultivate a very dark sense of humor. I find that I laugh at things that make other people gasp. Everything I see on TV is just designed to upset me anyway--why not laugh instead? I am not laughing at others' misfortune; I'm laughing at what a screwed up world we live in. I was talking to my daughter last night about the Pyramids and how much effort went into building them and she asked "what did they do with them when they were done? Did people live in them?" I told her that, no, people didn't live in them, they put the bodies of dead kings in them. As I was telling her this I realized how stupid it sounds to invest that much effort into something so apparently useless. The world is full of that kind of stuff. Laugh at it. Or cry. Why are we getting rid of oil as fast as we can when we really need it for basic survival? Because collectively we are dumbasses. Ha ha ha.

Seventh, take a break from yourself. Step away from the window through which you are viewing the world. Loosen up your fixed ideas. Pretend you are an ant. Go to a movie in the middle of the day. Smile. Count your blessings instead of your curses. Accept people as they are and be kind to them (this will save a lot of emotional energy).

Eighth, listen to the music you liked when you were a kid. Call up a friend from your childhood. Watch a movie you liked when you were a teenager. Look at old pictures. Remember how you felt when you were less worn, when you knew less about the world. Drive by the house you grew up in, the high school you went to. Re-connect with the person you used to be.

Doom is a state of mind that requires one to move away from the center. Stay there too long and everything starts to feel unbalanced, even if the doom is real.

I've learned all of the above through trial and error. I am still refining most of it.

[midnight-gamer]

This maybe a little off your topic but, adopting a survivors mentality would help. Animals have a basic instinct to survive. People have gotten well away from that in our modern lives. When forced with taking action, or dying, the way to survive is to dig down deep, and try to do what is needed to live.

[Heineken]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TheDude', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', 'O')R is too expensive, except for the western part, which is one of the driest places on Earth.