Has anyone noticed? Please see details?

Question

Do you feel, (or you aware), that increased stress in daily living, & chaotic world affairs have contributed to heightened fears/responses to things that would not have impacted you in the past? I've lived in California most of my life, but the 5.6 earthquake at 8:04p tonight stirred me in a way no other earthquake has. I was rocked like a ship in a violent storm. Do you think that the conglomeration of concerns makes us more vulnerable to apprehension?

Thank you, the old dog--but natural disasters happen everywhere, & I wasn't isolating the question to earthquakes.

Doc Watson--yes, everyone responds from their own experiences, & the more personal stress, the less vulnerable. Seems I didn't clearly articulate that I was referring to cumulative stresses that aren't necessarily personal. Perhaps better to have posted in psychology. (Don't forget the "BIG" fire in S.F. was caused by an earhtquake.)

Pat K--last paragraph; interesting insight. Perhaps this psychologist (me) needs a vacation?? (This isn't the widespread "virus" I thought I perceived? Perhaps??)

canon4peace--your last paragraph has come closest to the real focus of my question. Thank you!

Three have referred to "post traumatic stress disorder." As a psychologist, I'm very familiar with this "term." I'm not referring to "post;" but to ongoing, & increasing concerns about the world, & the frenetic lifestyles required by so many, just to keep their heads above water.

Just so you all know, I never give thumbs down.

I'm overwhelmed by the thoughtful & caring answers I've just seen. While the question was intended to discover if anyone else felt the same, this is perhaps more about ME than I realized. You've helped me to balance the scales between dark undercurrents of concern about the world, & people in my own life--& the influence of my injury. I want to assure my friends I'm not depressed, or have anxieties. This was simply the first time I had "held onto" a moment, the possible consequential impact of threat to myself & my kitty. I ponder reasons when I'm not "myself." (They are so seldom!) I wish I could "highlight" the threads in your answers with which I connect most. I hope to make some comments before I choose, always so difficult to do! THANK YOU for your insight.

This old question seems wearing thin. I ask so little, & will take some liberties (!) in making a few more comments.
Doc Watson>As I emailed you, it was an earthquake that caused the great fire in S.F., but the earthquake wasn't my focus, & I cannot compare myself, or others, to the terrible times in history that you mentioned. They were also not as worldwide as the stresses we feel now. But, thank you for your answer.
Moon>Thank you for your kind wishes!
For those who responded to my primary reason for the question:
pollyanna>In MUCH of your answer, & especially in your last line, "...I feel we are more vulnerable to apprehension now." (By the way, I will be 35 1 January 2008!)
Sharhrizat>An excellent analogy of the strings of the guitar. "...relentlessly subjected to things...the higher the stress/tension, the bigger the snap & aftershocks." (Since the aftershock, I'm not worried & my somber feeling has passed.)

Sirus>"...conglomerate of concerns" & "...more impacted by the frenetic & stressful.." lives we lead..." YES. "spin" cycle also expresses this well.
Ace gazpacho>Overloading circuits is precisely what I was questioning of others. (I also need a pleasant holiday!)johnfarber>A wonderfully concise answer regarding the increasing complexity of our world, & our awareness of it that makes us more vulnerable to apprehension.
Goldberry>All very wise, & indeed an individual response; I've always coped with that over which I have no control, this was the first time I "felt" a message that perhaps there is simply too much stress. Kindness, love & support are indeed important, & perhaps because I need to be strong, I don't evoke that.
Zelda>Stress IS (or can be) a bottle that fills up in our frenetic lives without our even being aware. Thank you for your thoughts about my "injury," & hugs for me & my kitty!
phil8656>Again, stress isn't always noticeable until it hits us.

The "breathing" isn't crazy. I often advise it. This wasn't an anxiety attack, however. It was a frozen few moments of reality.
achenbreakin>Beautifully stated. I highlighted "A connecting thesis that tells us why we & nature have almost fallen apart."
slsbd200>I'm glad that the answers have changed your perception, & thank you for sympathizing with Californians. I'm sleeping well now!
shahbarack>Impotence is clearly the core of frustration to me. I do the best that I can, & take action when I can, but I will never meet my expectations. (Wishes?)
I can only choose one answer. If you've had the patience to keep up with my details (!) I hope you understand that I wanted to let you all know the value of your answers. Beyond my expectations.

Answer 1

Hey Gypsy!

I think I know what you’re getting at. It’s like the metal strings of a guitar tightly wound, and subjected to external conditioning such as rusting and relentless strumming; and when you strum them a little too forcefully, they snap, followed by a great twang afterwards.

The wires are always under stress (or in the guitar strings' case, under tension) in normal conditions; it’s how they work, and strumming on them shouldn’t cause them to snap. But when too many things happen to them all at once, they have no other options but to snap. I guess it is the same with us human beings.

We deal with stress, consciously and oftentimes unconsciously in our daily lives. On a normal basis, we usually have other things in life that could help alleviate some of the stress, especially for those who know how to manage stress. But when one is relentlessly subjected to things beyond one’s control, I guess there will come a time when the mind simply snaps, and the effects from it will take a longer time to subside, just like the twang of snapped guitar strings indicating the aftershocks resulted. The higher the stress/tension, the bigger the snap and aftershocks.

I don’t even know if I’m making any sense here. But I play the guitar, and I was able to see some relation.

I hope you’re alright, Gypsy. I’m sorry to hear about the quake. I know how worried you were about one happening right now. Take care, friend.

Answer 2

You are absolutely right. The whole thing started for me when Bush stole the election in 2000 and then right after 9/11. It got to the point where I would almost never read the New York Times, because it was supporting this deceitful rhetoric. My TV news outlet was a Canadian program (which no longer is available to me.) I have noticed how our lives have taken on a very frenetic and impersonal quality, though it is not there in all of my very close family. We don't spend any worthwhile time together. I think that a lot of us (myself included) are living with a constant but low level of anxiety.
My chiropractor explanied that you should think of stress as bottle that fills up from any source. It can be physical stress from injury, allergies or illness, or mental stress from the job, from financial problems, from a rocky marriage, or anything else.
I used to think that somehow the West Coasters lived a much more stress-free and healthy life style. However, it's not really true any more, because the same international and national chaos and craziness are affecting them. Now you have wildfires and earthquakes to deal with and it can become terrible.
I am sorry you went through this and I hope it will all become normal soon. I hope also that you are recovering quickly from your injury. I know you are a psychologist and you probably feel you are supposed to be strong for others, but we care about you too. Lots of (((((((HUGS))))))) for you and your cat!

Answer 3

Generalized anxiety certainly can result from highly stressful daily living, compounded by a world in constant crisis.

Usually though, it is an individual reaction rather than a syndrome characteristic of a large group. An exception , of course is combat in war resulting in a Post-Traumatic Stress Reaction. That often affects many members of the armed services and can result in overwhelming anxiety which lasts for years.

But as far as I know, Americans in general are not a lot more anxious than they have been on the average over the last few decades, except during a major crisis like the Cuban missile crisis.

It seems more likely that your particular lifestyle has made you more susceptible to the anxiety and apprehension you describe. So you may want to consider that possibility, and see how you personally can better cope with stress, or actually reduce the amount of daily stress you subject yourself to in your life. There is very little we can do about world events, but there is a lot that we can do about our own personal lifestyle to keep our stress level within reason. Helpful basic approaches include getting enough rest and sleep, eating a balance diet, engaging in regular recreational and social activities, and obtaining regular exercise.

Perhaps your exaggerated anxiety response was a warning sign that your personal life-style is becoming too stressful for your own good!

Answer 4

If one takes the earthquake as symbolic or indicative of being "shaken up" (and one need not for my observation to still apply), then the "conglomerate of concerns" to which you allude are definitely part of the cause...we (the masses) are more and more impacted by the frenetic and stressful lives we lead and hear reported to us from elsewhere across the globe. It seems we are in the "spin" cycle and (like the laundry at the end of the cycle) all tangled together in an energetic, chaotic mass (mess). Some time ago I personally bowed out of the media circus, feeling the stresses of darkness descending--no more tv newscasts, no more newspapers (all of which, incidentally, are owned by moguls of manipulation, stringing us along and infusing "fear" into our lives--both for profit and to board the Conspiracy of the Few train for enslavement of the masses --oops! Did I just say that?). I have found a kind of peace in the inner temple where lovingkindness and compassion override the terror and fear that's being spoonfed to us as a means of having us look to a savior (the State, the Feds, the One World Government, Big Daddy, whatever...). The "outer" holds illusion only; the "inner" brings tranquility/equanimity. I am Sirius

Answer 5

Strange, but true. The more be become disturbed with the chaos and never ending violence that encircle our lives, the more frantic the ground below us and the sky above as seem to be. Losing this struggle for peace, we now feel nature as harmonizing with our fears and commotions. It no longer rests in its calm wonder and scenic perspectives. It’s either warring against us for the intrusions we’ve done,..or joining us in our troubled journey.
Nature is beginning to react the same way as we do. There must be a relative explanation to our growing fears about its unpredictable wrath and retribution. A connecting thesis that tells why we and nature have almost like fallen apart.
Are we getting its message clear?..Or have we become too stubborn to take a halt from all our unnecessary anxieties;..letting our frustrations and anger shake us to our cores? The frightening events fronted on the papers each day overpasses all the structural uplifts of what some people brand as success. The ‘world of make-believe’ studded by celebrities of our time somehow reroutes our senses away for a moment to forget,..to get amused,..and to laugh;..but, for how long? Our tired feet always brings us back to our reality doorsteps---feeling scared all over again.

Answer 6

I think it is basically a balancing act...how much stress we have...how well we cope with it...when we have too much and/or cope ineffectively...we have distress...and that I believe is an individual response...which is very fluid and ever changing...we know from Behavioral Theory that when an organism has some control over the stressful event, either in preventing it or ameliorating it that the effects of stress are less harmful....Also there is an anxiety model that views a process in which an event occurs, there is a thought (mental assessment) about the event and this results in an emotional response....we have limited control over an event occurring while we have considerably more choice over the way we assess the event and it is at this part of the model that we can modulate the level of stress/distress....there are many variables that contribute to one's balance of stress/coping....how we coped yesterday may be different than we do tomorrow....and when someone is very "stressed out," I know that ..."but for the grace of God, there go I"...for it can happen to any of us at any time....and I cannot say enough about how kindness, love and support from others helps us cope...even with little things on a daily basis....and so....the balance is maintained......

Answer 7

Ah, how to account for the mysteries of the human mind! I think a mass of concerns not dealt with promote anxiety - and we then attach it to the nearest available peg as it arises. Sadly few are proof against unreason. I was awake myself all last night between short nightmares, for no good reason - and presume it was some unconscious response to having a transfusion all day today (or getting up early for it!). Nothing could be sillier, surely. After some critical thought, I believe that it was a projection of my unease about not being capable of control of my own body and life these days, rather than any specific concern over the transfusion. That sense of impotence is the core of anxiety, as it is often too of anger, I think. The solution is to pick some issue, or issues, you feel you CAN do something about (usually in concert with others) and DO what you can.

Answer 8

Each of us responds primarily from our own personal experiences.

I, too, have lived in California now for a number of years. I was sound asleep when the Northridge Earthquake hit. It was so powerful that it actually threw me out of my bed. Was it that stressful to me? Of course it was. But only far as long as it took me to learn that I wasn't hurt, my house wasn't caving in and my neighbors were also okay.

Well, my friend, there are many different kinds of stress and some stress effects us differently. I deal a lot easier with natural calamities than more personal ones.

I spent two tours in Viet Nam, came home basically unscathed, then became an Air Marshall. I just accepted the war as part of being drafted and the skycop job as a way to pay my bills. Neither of these experiences were as stressful to me as when I learned my young wife had cancer.

Personally, I think dealing with and living through such stressful experiences make us less vulnerable.

The people who lost their homes to the fires last week are probably wishing they were 'only' hit with an earthquake instead of a fire.

All I can think to say is to try to keep everything in perspective.

We seem stressed out by the world we live in. But is it worse than Europe during the Black Plague? Or even sixty years ago? Imagine what our parents and grandparents went through during WWII. Or the years before that during the Great Depression. Imagine being a Jew in Germany in 1938. Or living in India when the tidal waves hit land.

Answer 9

I could possibly share my experience of feeling 'distressed' due to the continuous radical changes we are seeing in world affairs those are affecting us directly (Oil price increase and terrorists threats etc) as well as indirect stresses since we in Bangladesh has come to believe that a militarily and economically powerful India would one day devour us, their tiny neighbor. See, we treat China as a good friend of Bangladesh since our common enemy is India (lol).

By the way, some 5 years ago I was diagnosed to be suffering from GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) as I used to worry much about the future of my company, among many reasons, my ex-biz partner was playing some dirty-tricks for which we both are now down with court-cases as well as financial losses.

So, I thought I may find some good answers here and surely my perception has changed reading a lot of good suggestions for how to cope with daily stresses created by our surrounding events, which are sometimes beyond our control.

Your question is timely and we sympathize with the victims of recent fire in Southern California as well as the earthquake that jolted your part of the area.

Have a very best sleep and sweet dreams too!

Answer 10

I agree with you, the better it gets, the better it gets, and the worse it gets, the worse it gets, unless of course one figures out what is the cause of this law, the law of attraction. Knowing the law enables one to create the life that some have just kinda blundered into and yet others have learned through study.
As an aside about the wildfires, I have lived through two of them in Ca. and could tell you many stories. One of my friends cashed in big time when one of those fires destroyed the huge house he had just bought. He had been forced to buy top knotch insurance due to the immense size of the structure even though it needed al lot of repair and the fire came before he had the chance to make his first monthly payment resulting in his being able to replace it with a huge Spanish Colonial mansion of a house with the insurance settlement.
A conglomeration of concerns not only makes one more vulnerable to apprehension but more vulnerable to negative creations due to it.