May God bless all those who have already been in Hurricane Sandy’s path and those still in its path.
In our area of Virginia, we’re being told that wind will be the big concern, with some rain mixing in. Heavy winds can cause power outages, so we’re being told to prepare for that.
My husband and I went to the big box store today and stocked up on nonperishable food. We already had a good stockpile of batteries. When we lose power, we still have water—just not hot water—but we still stocked up on bottled water in case there’s a problem with that.
I’ve even written out the number of the electric power company to make it easier to find to report a power outage if it happens.
Larry is planning on doing some errands tomorrow to get them out of the way ahead of the biggest effects of the storm.
So we are prepared as much as we can be.
Am I feeling anxious?
Yes.
Is it OCD anxiety?
Some.
The idea of the power going out does increase some of my contamination OCD concerns. At least we’ll have water, but I worry about the lack of hot water.
But is there anything I can do about that? No.
I can’t control the storm. I can only control how we prepare for it.
Times like this are a good lesson for me.
- I learn that anxiety can actually be a reminder to get ready for something, to prepare.
- I learn that too much news on TV can actually be counterproductive to me, as I find myself getting more nervous and experiencing an information overload.
- I learn that once I’ve prepared all I can, I might as well focus on other things.
I hope you’re safe wherever you are, dear readers.
Do approaching storms or other natural disasters make you anxious? How do you deal with it?
No, storms do not make me anxious - in fact, I don't really worry about it until it arrives (which may or may not be a good thing). I'm a little nervous about this one though, so we'll see!
ReplyDeleteI hope you stay safe and that your power doesn't go out (or for too long). Take care of you two.
Thanks, Amanda. And I hope it doesn't adversely affect you, either.
DeleteWe don't get many storms out here. I think I had some anxiety about a possible flooding last year but then I was excited about it. I hope you guys will be okay. It's good to be prepared even if nothing to happens.
ReplyDeleteKristina, Thank you. Yes, I like being prepared, even if I don't need it.
DeleteI will be thinking of you! And hoping the best for you. And can I just say I lived in NC during Bertha, and I was SO worried and SO upset, I put myself in a coma of a sleep and slept through the entire thing!!! And it was a damaging powerful storm, I heard nothing! lol What anxiety can do to us is amazing! ♥
ReplyDeleteShannon, thank you. Anxiety truly is amazing, isn't it? I will probably not be able to sleep.
DeleteWe don't get storms like you have in this part of the Netherlands where we live. But we have had a few minor earthquakes and they scared me a LOT! They were truly minor, but I'm always afraid one day we might have a big one. I was so worried about it that it kept me awake at night. And there was an OCD ritual attached to it, I had to think "no earthquake please" over and over again when I did lay in bed at night.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't deal with this fear very well, but since I have antidepressants again the worry is fortunately less.
Hope you all make it safe through this storm!!
Thank you, Klaaske. I'm glad your worry has lessened. We had an earthquake here last year--not bad where we lived, but it gave us a jolt!
DeleteBe Safe Tina!!! I know about hurricanes here where I live. God be with you and your family.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Deanna
Thank you, Deanna.
DeleteBe safe and I am thinking of you all.
ReplyDeleteWe lived in Corpus Christi, TX which is smack dab in the Gulf of Mexico and prone to hurricanes almost every year. We had to board up the windows and evacuate so many times I lost count. I think we would have stayed a few times to ride it out, except we had children and to put them in a potentially dangerous situation would have been stupid so we always evacuated. It was interesting because you learn to take with you what means the most,is not replaceable, and fits in the car..like photo albums. I was sad driving away because I always felt we could come back to nothing but my biggest fear was to come back and have to do a "clean up". Then when we lived in San Diego we had earthquakes and even small ones convinced me that all my stuff moved, like pictures on the walls and it was a OCD nightmare.
Will be keeping you all in my prayers.
Thank you, Krystal Lynn. I can see how priorities about what is important get clearer when you have to decide what to pack in the car to evacuate!
DeletePrayers to you...we're bracing for it, too. Like you, we expect power outages but that's about it. Fingers crossed!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jean, and prayers for you, too!
DeleteI'll be thinking and praying for you during the storm Tina!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Keith, I appreciate it.
DeleteI hope that you don't lose power. Thinking and praying for you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Elizabeth.
DeleteStay safe, Tina. We're thinking of you. We have friends and family in both the D.C. and NYC areas, and we're very concerned.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I can't sign in under my name and web address anymore, so I think this will show up as "Skyyogi." This is Nadine Feldman.
Thank you, Nadine. I hope you friends and family are safe.
DeleteI fixed the blog so you can sign in under your name again. Sorry about that!
We are also bracing for the storm. I find watching the TV reports to be the worst for anxiety. They, of course, focus on the worst possible outcome in the most hard hit areas.........so anxiety provoking, and I don't even have OCD! We try and be prepared and then forget about it. Am thinking about you, Tina, and hope it will all pass quickly.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Janet, and I'll be thinking about you. TV reports definitely hype up my anxiety, too!
DeleteNever had to deal with a hurricane, but numerous earthquakes (when living in Japan & then in the SF Bay Area). With a storm there can be a warning, and often time to prepare. An earthquake is sudden, and for me terrifying - such as my "big one" on Oct 17, 1989 Bay Area, a 7.1 magnitude.
ReplyDeleteBest thing to help my anxiety is to have a prepared plan of action for the expected, and unexpected. I always try to have bottled water, and non-perishable food in my home - and I also have a 72-hour "survival" kit, just in case.
Please stay safe, sending good thoughts and prayers your way!!
Thank you. Your preparation techniques sound good. I can't imagine being in a bad earthquake. Scary!
DeleteI'm mostly just worried about the power. Cort is having an asthma flareup, and is using his nebulizer 2x a day right now. If we don't have power it's going to be a problem :-(
ReplyDeleteLisa, I hope you don't lose power. I'll be thinking of you and yours.
DeleteHey Tina. We are actually starting to get hit with it now in southern NH. The lights have flickered some and I'm expecting to lose power soon. The loss of power definitely works on my contamination OCD as well. But, what can I do? Hopefully you are ok through the storm.
ReplyDeleteSunny, I hope you won't lose power. Stay safe!
DeleteI have been lucky that I haven't lived in the direct path of a natural disaster thus far. It looks pretty scary. It's especially alarming to see tonight's pics of Manhattan; anywhere with a heavy population like that - is especially scary.
ReplyDeleteRebecca, I've been lucky, too, and really feel for those in harm's way. You're right--it's scary.
DeleteSafe hugs and protection to you Tina during this time.
ReplyDeleteThank you--all is well!
Delete