[Marie]

I'm having serious concentration problems because of peak oil. It's affecting my ability to get my college work done. I can (and have) set aside a full day for studying and instead spent it online researching peak oil. This has been going on for a few weeks (since a bit before my join date). I will tell myself I have to sit down and learn these Greek verbs...or the Krebs Cycle...or whatever, but the whole time my head is teeming with "What if we invade Iran?" and "What if we start using massive amounts of coal?" I can't seem to find any motivation to complete the task at hand, because it seems unimportant in comparison to the approaching apocalypse.

From what I've read on this forum, I'm not the only one who has experienced this problem. I probably need to quit PO-ing cold turkey, but I can't work up the will to do it. Peak oil is always on my mind, and I'm always drawn to the computer to read peakoil.com or the Times or whatever. Unfortunately, the knowledge to be gained is literally limitless. Even if I stop reading this forum, which takes up an enormous amount of my time, I still feel the compulsion to keep up with every bit of news religiously, every day.

I am aware that I have a tendency toward OCD, but it's never been as debilitating as what peak oil is doing to my life now. How can I stop? I can't seem to draw myself away.

[savethehumans]

First of all, Marie, what are you majoring in? If it's something that would've gotten you ahead in THIS society/economy, part of your problem (besides the First Shock effect of learning about PO) may be that you sense that college may NOT be the place you should be--especially since we're at the brink of PO and economic collapse.

If this is true, you need to start asking yourself questions. Like:

What are my skills? What do I like to do? Can this be applied to a post-peak world? How? What other skills would be useful, that I could probably learn? Are there others in my area who know about PO and want to prepare for it? (Meet Up Groups, for instance) Can I talk with them, work with them to set the foundation for a post-peak community? How's my financial situation? Am I in debt? (If so, GET OUT OF IT, like YESTERDAY!) How will all this affect my family? Friends? (DON'T try to tell them about PO--always frame your suggestions in a "shouldn't we do things to save money, and be prepared for financial collapse" mode. They are more likely to listen to you that way.) What can I do about it?

Now, if you're majoring in something that will be useful/helpful/essential in a post-peak world, then DON'T let your First Shock be an excuse for avoiding your school work! Some of the stuff you're required to study may well be useless--but you never know. Culture and knowledge are tricky things--the necessary may become moot; the trivial crucial. Besides, study teaches you to apply yourself to a project, how to analyse things and solve problems, how to think. All of that would be good to have in ANY world, not the least being a post-peak one!

The important thing to remember is you should prepare for what IS coming, not what would've come if we'd been able to be Business As Usual. If it fits the future, pursue it. If it's part of a world system that is dying, don't. And always do what you've done here, which is to ask fellow PO'ers about what to do/whether your plans fit. We're all here to help each other!

Hope this helps, even if only a little. Meanwhile, you've got summer break ahead of you. Think, act, research, plan wisely. And give yourself a break, too! You can see from this post that I take PO very seriously. Yet I will also be found painting ceramics, working puzzles, playing computer card games, sipping coffee in my favorite coffeeshop. Without these breaks, thinking about the end of the world as we know it will drive you crazy--for real! Balance--mental, physical, psychological--has GOT to be there in the years ahead...starting right now! And stay in touch. Let us know what you're thinking/doing. WE may help YOU; YOU may help US by doing so!

[Marie]

Thanks for your thoughtful response.

I am going for a BA in Classical Studies and a minor in Nutrition. When TSHTF, I will be able to laugh bitterly at the parallels between the fall of the Roman Empire and the fall of the American Empire, all the while understanding the mechanics of my own starvation (that was a joke...I think). I do feel some despair that my field is not practical, but you made an excellent point in your post: learning to think and process information IS practical. That provides me some comfort. I only have a year of school left, and I think I should finish. I've come this far, and I would be met with immense resistance from my parents if I dropped out now. If TSHTF soon, finishing may not be possible, but I can't predict the future.

You say action is the solution, and I agree 100%. I intend to spend this summer preparing. I feel paralyzed, and the solution, I think, is to get up and do something.

[UIUCstudent01]

Savethehumans refer to a post-peak world, but what is the post-peak world? Financial collapse - sure, fine, dandy. But, as a young-student, I don't exactly know what that entails even now...as well as the effects I have to prepare for (from a student perspective, I can't just go start a small farm - it's not exactly the way I have ever percieved myself living).
From the optimists to the doomers, it doesn't seem like this big catastrophy is about to hit - everybody is business-as-usual. I read a bunch of science sites and they have 'break-throughs' everyday with hydrogen and other fuel cells/batteries. Although rampant unproductive consumption will be cut down, it doesn't mean it's not exactly the return to agrigarianism - the focus could be put on food and necessary transport pretty easily. + Coal and nuclear have potential - although, I'm really worried about the environmental effects of them. (Really, lower yields of crops when we begin to turn to back to 'sustainable' realities. I suspect genetic engineering can't solve weather problems.)

It seems like its the end of unproductive jobs (service economy?) + using a precious fuel rampantly. A good thing I guess. Economic collapse is worrisome - did students in school during the depression continue? Was there an increased drop-out rate? Could many of them not be able to afford it?

Problem is, I am usually one to think about one problem at a time and try to see all possible effects. Mostly, it's been in regards to video/computer games. I've been 'obsessed' with PO for a little while - at first, it wasn't something big: something to worry about in 2014. But then the dates and the years got to be earlier and earlier - and news in MSM tended to justify the theory - the anti-PO claims seem as laughable as the Anti-Climate Change ones. And so, I know I'm obsessed like Marie. But, then again, I use up time that I would have otherwise put into video games (although, those seem easier to stop and start to do homework).

The most striking thing about PO is that it 'proves' more-of-the-same is not the way of the future. I'm obsessed to find out what is going to be the future 'How-the-World-Works'. The one sure thing is that there will be uncertainty. But with PO, the uncertainty is increased 100x.

Stopping my rambling, now.

[aldente]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Marie', ' ') Peak oil is always on my mind, and I'm always drawn to the computer to read peakoil.com or the Times or whatever.

[Nano]

I don't know about the others, but my PO-obsession lasted about a month. That was a month of incredulity and simply being quite a little scared! After that month I told myself: If thousands of 18-year-olds could muster the spirit to take the beaches of Normandy in WWII, who am I to gibber and complain about a little PO! More striking for me: about 1 billion people around the world live dangerous lives of hunger and terminal poverty RIGHT KNOW, something I've never even experienced!

I say: fear begone and let's put a little trust in intelligence, foresight and just plain keeping a stiff upper lip. Be thankfull you know what you know this early in the game: We know what's coming and we know we'll have to deal with it. Evolution has selected us to adapt and struggle for survival for tens-of-thousands of years. Those genes and that strength of will are still in there somewhere, beyond the current softness, weakness and exagerated sensitivities. Trust your primeval fortitude and courageous soul and let's get it on!

Much easier to concentrate, and even laugh again, since then. No more trouble concentrating on work, learning and even loving. Some aspects of those even improved! I feel I have become a better man since realising PO.

[Tapas]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Marie', '
')From what I've read on this forum, I'm not the only one who has experienced this problem. I probably need to quit PO-ing cold turkey, but I can't work up the will to do it. Peak oil is always on my mind, and I'm always drawn to the computer to read peakoil.com or the Times or whatever. Unfortunately, the knowledge to be gained is literally limitless. Even if I stop reading this forum, which takes up an enormous amount of my time, I still feel the compulsion to keep up with every bit of news religiously, every day.

[Nano]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Tapas', 'A')fter learning about Peak Oil, I stopped watching mainstream media completely.

[Tapas]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Nano', '
')You should keep watching it. It is the best way to keep yourself informed on what the 'sheep' around you think! That's usefull information right there! I try to keep abreast of both the mainstream news AND the underground news. Knowing how they differ helps to make money on the stockmarket and in preparing for peak oil effectively.

[linlithgowoil]

there really isnt much to research no peak oil - really. all the stuff i have read is re-hashed mking hubbert stuff. all you need to know is the simple fact that oil discovery peaked in the 1960's, and roughly 40 years later, you get the produciton peak of all that oil. also - it resembles a bell curve, so people that say oil production can climb forever are wrong.

another good thing to know is about mega-projects. we are covered for demand and natural decline up until about early 2008. after then, we've got problems because mega projects take at least 5-6 years to get going (maybe 4 years at a push), and there are practially zero mega projects after 2008 to offset decline and cover demand increases.

thats all i need to know about peak oil. the actual cold hard facts, without looney lefties running around telling everybody that only a billion of us are going to survive. how the hell do they know? its all conjecture.

[killJOY]

An analogy for peak oil obsession is, I think, grief. When you lose someone, you can't NOT think about it. It's with you forever. Eventually, such grief incorporates itself into your life and you go on. It's a myth that you ever "get over it," or that there's a certain number of so-called stages that you have to go through. Psychobabble. You're "obsessed" because it's a critically important issue and is affecting the way you view the world. Call it becoming mentally prepared for disaster.

[Aaron]

Just because you are paranoid does not mean that something isn't out to get you.

Is it still OCD if it's real, or is it a survival strategy?

Maybe everyone else has IRD (Ignoring Reality Disorder)?

And you are sane and normal with an appropriate reaction?

In the final analysis, you should finish college, and enjoy the experience.

What if you are part of the last generation who gets to go to college?

[JoeW]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Aaron', '
')In the final analysis, you should finish college, and enjoy the experience.
What if you are part of the last generation who gets to go to college?

[Pops]

Hi, Marie, I’m Pops and I’m a Peakaholic!

I just checked and I’m down to 3.63 posts a day, which is pretty good since it used to be 6 or 7!

After 9/11/01 I became a serious news junkie. I felt like I had kept my head in the sand far too long, and although I had known of the concept before, that was when I started digging into PO more. I work at home and when I’m working I click on “View Last Post” every 10 min. or so.

I’m the type that likes to get up and try to fix a problem, what is hardest for me – like everyone else, is figuring out what the problems are going to be. That is where this site come in, hashing out the possibilities. Unfortunately I find it hard not to read through every silly post!

Although I believe the transition to a low energy world will proceed over years if not generations and I’m certainly not looking forward to it, I still click on PO every morning, bleary-eyed, to see if Kiddie or someone has posted a story titled:
Saudis Announce Aramco Out of Business – Gahwar Dry!

IMO it’s very unlikely the world will come to a screeching halt in the next year but if it makes you feel more confident get a 72hr kit together, stick some water in the closet and ramen noodles in the drawer – remember, emergencies come in all sizes.

Above all, try to pace yourself and get your work done – you owe it to yourself to get your degree!

[Marie]

Such good advice here. No doubt I'm going to take advantage of the opportunities afforded me and finish college (unfortunately I will graduate with some nice student loans; I have scholarships but the parents and I are splitting the rest of the bill). Ignoring Reality Disorder, I like that....and "interesting times," indeed.

[pilferage]

If you're really worried...
Buy a bicycle, take some self defense classes, start aggressively saving money, and learn how to fix your own shit. You should be fine. Our society is not going to collapse overnight.

[OilyMon]

I've directed the momentum peak oil research has given me into a plan for my future. I've gone back to school, and am studying physics and math. If it hadn't been for peak oil I would have probably continued to work as a computer programmer (ironically, the job as a programmer was what afforded me the time to surf the internet, and the expense of going back to school). Direction of the energy PO gave me was important as I have stated in other threads. It gives me a sense that I may be able to make a difference, and that my education has a definite end goal - to understand as much about the world as possible, so that I can make the most informed decisions about PO as possible.