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This word ‘fear’, what does it mean?

It’s something created by lesser mortals than you, P. Don’t concern yourself.

No, I have never done this but now that you have told me about it, I am soooo going to give it a try. It could change my life:-)
A good strategy for those of us who tend to worry a bit. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Thanks

Great, Franki! We’re all about the life experiments here. Please report back when you’ve tried it!

I’m sorry to say I’m not a big risk taker. I like my comfort zone, though I do get envious of those who frequently (or even not so frequently) step outside theirs and greet new adventures head-on. You inspire me, Robin! I truly hope I will have the nerve to flip off the switch once my babies are no longer babies. First, though, I guess I’ve got to stop making excuses, like “I have babies!” (;

Yeah, I definitely understand that, Kelley. Of course, some would say that having babies in the first place is taking a risk! Some of us can only handle puppies . . .

Because I …deal with (that sounds weird, but I wanted to use a word that wasn’t “suffer” or “victim of” and that’s what I came up with) sort of grand mal anxiety and panic attacks, I sometimes can’t find the switch that turns it all off, but I kind of have a… mask? Made out of ice?

Okay, writing this makes it sound all dysfunctional and stuff. But when I have to, I can just sort of fit this imaginary ice onto my usual seething and flailing mental self, and become calm. I haven’t managed to turn off the physical manifestations of panic, so you might see that my clothes are wringing wet and my hands are cold, but I’m able to function until I can set the ice aside.

I think what you’ve got going on is called “bravery.”

Tanita, thanks so much for sharing that. I’m so sorry you have to deal with that, but how fascinating that you’ve learned to cope with it that way. I love the image of a mask made out of ice–that’s really amazing. You’re a toughy–that’s all I have to say! Bravery takes a lot of forms, and yours is one of them.

Tanita, I too deal with grand mal panic attacks, so I totally get what you mean…I can’t find the off switch either. But when you learn to do stuff in spite of that, and not let your idiotic idiosyncratic brain chemistry (because that’s really all it is, on the molecular level) stop you from living your life…yeah, I might be shaking, crying, gasping for breath and drenched in cold sweat, but doing whatever it is that I was scared of, living in spite of it, that’s the best feeling in the universe. I’d say it makes the victory all the sweeter.

Idiotic idiosyncratic brain chemistry. I just realized how horrible that sounds and I meant no offense to anyone.

Elizabeth, I love this. Thank you–and Tanita–so much for sharing. It’s important to know what goes on in other people’s minds, and I always appreciate hearing how you and others succeed in spite of whatever complications life has thrown at you.

And I’m sure no one took offense. It was just excellent alliteration.