The me no one knows - SI warning

E-vac plans can be good @AlwaysMyself

Each x mths CFA members attend where I live, provide presentation plus help every person, who attends, to have e-vac plan applicable for them.

Some things CFA members mention are feasible or possible (no relevant for here).

no info about community evacuation/emergency centres have been provided in my area or in other areas close by. Plans focusing on humans only. To have personal e-vac plan involving somewhere safe to go and take pets, when have no friends and family wouldn’t help, is impossible.

To deal with panic attacks, depends where I am.

things I do (have done for yrs) is focus on and slowing my breathing, can be having to push through whatever is causing panic attack, focus on my cats.

I hear a number of people with anxiety and panic attacks say that pets are good for helping to refocus and breath through until they are calmer. 😊 i love that animals can be that. 🥰

2 cats means... one for each hand? 😉 one for in breath, one for out breath? 😅 (now im just being creative).

When i had my panic attack episode a year ago i learned that laughter gives temporary relief. So i would find a tv show that can reliably make me laugh without me needing to focus (for me, that was Would I Lie to You. Which was on ABC iView) and when i felt the panic rise in me, id put an episode on my phone and watch/listen whilst trying to breath slow deep breaths. And itd still feel anxious until something make me laugh, then i would feel OK until i stopped watching it. But hopefully by then i had someone else to talk to (eg could do whilst waiting on a phone line?)

Hello lovely! @Flutterbug9,

Just wanted you to know I am not ignoring you!! If you could see my open tabs right now - my gosh. haha I am sure @Jynx is the same boat right now. 🥴

How are you feeling overall?

And do you have any updates surrounding the fires? Are your property and cats safe? 💛

Hi @AuntGlow Info on emergency services website for my state by approx 9pm showed no warnings or anything. Fire was downgraded few hrs prior to that.

experience triggered nightmares and flashbacks on scary experience I went through few mths before my 6th birthday, involved fire that caused huge devastation to large area. Drive to childhood town would usually taken approx 1hr maximum, took many hours of driving and my parents concerned we weren’t going to get home.

@AlwaysMyself The most severe my panic attacks became at one stage was similar to agrophobia.

Thought of having to step outside the “4 walls” …. Having to walk short driveway to go to my letterbox. I would almost be physically sick.

exposure therapy with lots of time and lots of failed attempts I finally could get to end driveway, then end of the small court. Then local shopping centre etc.

thinking of being more than xxx distance away from comfort zone causes panic attacks to this current day

@Cuddlebear

Hello @Flutterbug9 sweetheart, how's things going for you today? ❤️

@Flutterbug9 I didn't realise you had/have agoraphobia. That would have been so difficult - and I imagine still is difficult, especially if you can't do/get something locally. Or the idea of having to evac to an unknown place.

I think you are amazingly strong for persevering through that to slowly expand the range you were able to go from your house, and reclaim your ability to go to the letterbox, go to the local shops, etc. 😍. Even the "failed attempts" -- the will to still try, to still attempt is strength.

@AlwaysMyselfas I’ve mentioned in different post, my thread title says it’s all. Remember you thinking it only relates to me masking. There is a lot more about me than that.

Didn’t have the heart to mention your thoughts are only a “drop in the ocean”

xx% of my life did involve masking, different circumstances than you might have thought about. From young age, raised to be seen to fit into whatever role I needed to fulfill

”the me no one knows” going all the way back to a preschooler

I am still grateful for the opportunity to know you @Flutterbug9 @, and to start to know the "hidden" you that no one knows. 😊. I take this as an honour and privilege, not a right

Sorry if it felt that i was assuming the hidden part of you was only what was similar to myself. I wasn't assuming that, more than i can only comment on the aspects that you mention and at the time most of what i knew of your story or situation was of those things. I didnt mean for it to sound like it was limiting you to that; I'm sorry - accept a hug as a sign of my genuine caring?

Preschool is a very young age. I'm sorry you experienced things even at such a young age that meant it was safest to mask and adapt to play the role others expected/needed of you. ☹️.

If masking back then, at that age, helped you survive then I am glad for your skill in doing so to ensure your survival and being "safer" (acknowledging that this does not mean you were "safe" - but just slightly more safe?). That was a very brave and strong child to be able to do that. And even a wise child to see that it would help protect whilst dependant upon others.

@AlwaysMyself “Me no one knows” covers

- aspects of my past I dont share with everyone for few reasons including having shared in the past and not been believed

- aspects of my past I’m not comfortable sharing with anyone

- aspects of my past I was raised not to talk about ***

- aspects of my past I dont remember

- aspects of my past where door gets unlocked as part of something some else says or things that happen (eg recent bushfire)

- aspects of my past that don’t fit into above eg parts of GD

-non MH aspects which conversations don’t flow for things to be shared

*** I’ve found, in general, people read those words and think of SA, something I have never experienced. Was raised with similar wording though eg no one else is to know

preschool child who knows decision will be made each and every day what clothing she will wear. I already knew not to ask for something different

I saw on other thread you mentioned an aspect of your past. Can’t even imagine how horrible that would have been. I’m so sorry you experienced that. Sending virtual hugs. If want/need to talk about what happened, I’m a good listener. If don’t/cant, 100% no issues

lots of things don’t know about each other, for variety of different reasons.

I didn’t know you have support groups you attend

I share similar thing as interested in learning about other people, their hobbies and interests, health aspects on all levels. Due to comments from customers during my work life I’m aware my life experiences (knowledge I gained from 5 yo) has positive impact on my views, levels of acceptance etc. having an aunt bedridden due to MS and this being “normal”, I’ve grown up with different way of viewing things plus an interest to know and understand more and more