The Worry List
 

I was reading Earl's thread about the commercials and I thought - HEY - is nobody worried about things like Yellowstone blowing ??? No offense to you Earl - I understand how annoying some commercials can be !

Soooo, this is my official Worry List - please feel free to add your own worries. I am not including my "Health Worry List".

1) WARS
2) Economy
3) Yellowstone blowing
4) Global Warming
5) Terrorists
6) Asteroids headed toward Earth
7) Tsunamis
8) Worsening hurricaines / bad weather in general
9) Pandemic - possibly Bird Flu
10) Toxins in our food / in our air / in everything around us
11) Clean drinking water
12) December 21, 2012 ! :eek:
13) Safety of our newly elected Pres. and his family
14) Food supply and civil unrest if our economy should fail or due to major disaster
15) Money - enough said
16) Will I ever lose this weight ?

OK - so there is my doom and gloom list of worries - I could have started a thread about everything that I am thankful - and there is MUCH. But this just felt good to type it out !!!!

Oooopppssss - I thought I was in the Stumble In. I posted in the wrong area - I guess I will worry about that now... :(
Snoods

Moved to Stumble Inn for you...

One less worry to think about.:D

I used to worry about everything, as if it was up to me to do something about it. Now, I don't watch the news, if I can help it.

I found, in my older age, that worrying was all such a waste of time and grief. It never solved anything and probably was a big trigger in my getting MS.:mad:

I try not to sweat the small stuff or drive myself nuts, worrying about the big stuff.

I do pray, every day, to the only real Power, to please, do something about it......so, I guess I do worry, but hand it over to Him.

My biggest concern is your #11 concern - Clean Drinking Water.
We are still waiting to get drinkable water. We have been living off bottled water since September when we found out our street and the surrounding streets had high levels of arsenic in our wells! :eek: After our little problem is fixed, then I can start worrying about all the bigger issues. :( But I don't have any to add to your list, you covered a lot more than I would have listed.

This thread reminds me of an email I recieved the other day . . .

"I just want to thank all of you for your educational emails over the past year.

Thanks to you, I no longer open a public bathroom door without using a paper towel.

I can't use the remote in a hotel room because I don't know what the last person was doing while flipping through the channels.

I can't sit down on the hotel bedspread because I can only imagine what has happened on it since it was last washed.

I can't enjoy lemon slices in my tea or on my seafood anymore because lemon peels have been found to contain all kinds of nasty germs including feces.

I have trouble shaking hands with someone who has been driving because the number one pastime while driving alone is picking your nose.

Eating a Little Debbie sends me on a guilt trip because I can only imagine how many gallons of trans fats I have consumed over the years.

I can't touch any woman's purse for fear she has placed it on the floor of a public bathroom.

I must send my special thanks to whoever sent me the one about poop in the glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet sponge with every envelope that needs sealing.

Also, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason.

I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny Brown) who is about to die in the hospital for the 1,387,258th time.

I no longer have any money at all, but that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Bill Gates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program ...

I no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out for me, and St.Theresa's novena has granted my every wish.

I no longer eat KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes or feathers.

I no longer use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day.

Thanks to you, I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward an e-mail to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.

Because of your concern I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.

I no longer can buy gasoline without taking someone along to watch the car so a serial killer won't crawl in my back seat when I' m p umping gas.

I no longer drink Pepsi or Dr Pepper since the people who make these products are atheists who refuse to put 'Under God' on their cans.

I no longer use Saran wrap in the microwave because it causes cancer.

And thanks for letting me know I can't boil a cup of water in the microwave anymore because it will blow up in my face...disfiguring me for life.

I no longer check the coin return on pay phones because I could be pricked with a needle infected with AIDS.

I no longer go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with a perfume sample and rob me.

I no longer receive packages from UPS or FedEx since they are actually Al Qaeda in disguise.

I no longer shop at Target since they are French and don't support our American troops or the Salvation Army.

I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number for or which I will get a phone bill with calls to Jamaica , Uganda , Singapore and Uzbekistan .

I no longer buy expensive cookies from Neiman-Marcus since I now have their recipe.

Thanks to you, I can't use anyone's toilet but mine because a big brown African spider is lurking under the seat to cause me instant death when it bites my butt.

And thanks to your great advice, I can't ever pick up $5.00 dropped in the parking lot because it probably was placed there by a rapist waiting underneath my car to grab my leg."

:D

I agree with Sally, I don't bother worrying about much these days.

Cherie

I used to worry about a lot. To the point of having an anxiety disorder. Irrational thoughts, you know?

Then I got diagnosed with a disease that isn't going anywhere. It changed my way of thinking completely, and actually resolved a lot of my irrational worrying.

I do my part to ensure that my life, and the lives of others, is the best it can be (heck, I don't drive a car, I don't litter, I turn off my lights when I leave rooms.. little things that add up), but I don't let the 'buts' 'what ifs' or anything else I can't see clearly in the future occupy my daily thoughts :)

ROFL - OMG - that is so funny Cherie !!!
I started my list sort of half in jest because I do NOT just sit and worry about those things (I am far too busy living life) HOWEVER, they are in the back of my mind as real threats.

The funniest thing about your post was that I do NOT like to touch the remote control when I travel these days, nor do I like to sit on the bed spread. I DO use a paper towel when I open a public bathroom unless I can just push the door open with my foot, I NEVER sit my purse in the floor of a public bathroom anymore, I DON'T use saran wrap in the microwave, and... I no longer boil water in the mirowave !!!!

LMAO - that pegged me !!!! Not all of them - but a bunch of them !!!! ROFL

And... BTW - I have also been looking into alternatives to deodarants and I recently ordered a special brand of Coconut Oil, recommended to me by a friend who is a massage therapist - to use instead of lotions (with chemicals) on my body !!!

I guess I am a Kook !!! I have watched "Armagedden Week" all week long on the History channel - I must have O'D'd on disasters !!!! ROFL

And yet another to add to my list...
Biological Warfare !!! :eek:

Snoods

I have seen all those shows and I wonder about a number of your items listed, but with most of those worries there is only so much you can do to fix things or to do your part, if you do that at least when the earth implodes from a meteor strike you can go poof knowing you did your part to help the green house gases:rolleyes:

how about getting bedbugs from a hotel stay.

or having to go to a hospital and getting an infection.
i have a lot of what if hospital worries. and where are all the new nurses going to come from as the boomers retire?

....

I don't worry about things I can't change. But mercy! I do worry about getting the things I can change done. I often think about the serenity prayer and try to follow it. My New Years resolution was about this very thing.

Now, if I had to choose a worry it would be like Judy's. I worry BIG TIME about Jim or anyone I love going into a hospital. If it can be treated at home I fight like crazy to get that done because of Mrsa and infections like that.

My only worry is if I am able to get to Lexington at least every 30 days to see the grand kids!

I just commented the other day that I should have studied to be a nurse. Then there would be NO question about me getting into the US ;).

I never watch the news, just seeing what it does to Dh is enough for me, and I delete all the forwarding emails, they really get on my last nerve, I guess I have enough drama and trouble right here in my own little world to worry about things I can't fix! Just trying to stay sane takes up much of my time, I just do what I am able and leave the rest to others that can handle it better!
That list was funny, I guess because most of its true:)

You've hit a lot of very worrisome events. I have 2 to add....

1. Peak Oil - the theory by Hubbert that oil production will or has peaked and that global demand has out paced supply. Since food, medicine, transportation, refrigeration, etc., all rely upon oil, some believe this will lead to resource wars (Iraq), thinning of the heard due to war, starvation, disease, and the downfall of man as we know it; and

2. Republicans in any position of power.

(Sorry about No. 2...but it is terrifying)

I'm a Democrat, but I know some mighty fine Republicans.:)

I also worry about Sandy, who keeps getting run over by that Bus..:D

:D Me, too! She didn't look too good after that last hit! :p

I read through this to see if anybody had come up with something to worry about that I hadn't already thought of. I didn't think so.

Way back, when I got my first VCR, I used to stay up until it was done taping. My son asked me, "Why don't you just set it and go to bed? What do you think is going to happen, anyway?"

I answered, "Duh! The tape is going to get stuck, the VCR is going to overheat and start a fire, and we're all gonna die."

I'm a little better than that now.

This is attributed to Mickey Rivers:
"Ain't no sense worrying: If you have no control over something, ain't no sense worrying about it -you have no control over it anyway. If you do have control, why worry? So either way, there ain't no sense worrying."

To quote James Thurber (Probably said wrong by me, but is gist of what he said:
I think largely about small things and smalley about large things."

Things have to within my control to worry about.

I share the irrational fear of fire with my father, and his mother too has the same irrational fear.

His way of dealing with it was unique, and I've taken a somewhat similar approach. When he's going on a trip (for example) he'll have a neighbor watch the house (for burglary etc), but he'll tell them, "If you see smoke... pour gasoline on it!!".

He deals with his fear with humor, and I think it's a rather smart approach to some types of worry and fear.

I think I have a rational fear of fire.

I imagine a few of the fears are so instinctively buried deep in our brains, i also use humor to deflect things

Great thread - thanks for starting!!

I too am a great worrier. I always seem to be worrying about something whether it is myself, some friend of mine, a relative, the enviroment, my pets etc. I try my best not to worry about everything but that's just the way I am unfortunately - I guess it comes with my Type A personality.

I do think about the good things in my life too though - I think it is sooo important to have a "happy balance" and to think about the things that make me happy and the things that I am thankful for. It's soo important to think about the good things in life as it helps you through the bad times and gives you something to focus on and reach towards!!!

The main things that I am worried about at the moment are:

My health (RSD, Dystonia, Arthritis, HMS etc)

My nanan - she lost her husband (my grandad) 7 weeks ago and is finding it pretty hard to deal with

My Aunty, Cousions and her family - my aunty lost her mother last Friday and my cousions lost their other grandad 7 weeks ago so they are finding it VERY hard to deal with!

Hospital Appointments - it seems as though I am forever juggling hospital appointments around my school, mums work etc

Flying - i'm scared of heights and am due to fly to Vegas on the 1st March for 5 days and it is an 11 and a half hour flight from here :eek:. Also, i'm not sure how my leg will react as I haven't flown much since RSD

My friends - I worry about each and every single one of you and hope you are all having a great day and will find something to ease your symptoms real soon!!

Death - I know it sounds silly but I am REALLY scared of death!! I've lost 3 of my beloved family members in the space of 7 weeks and it really scares me!

Terrorists

Money - we don't have a lot of money and I am always worrying about my mum getting into debt from having to pay for my hospital bills, fuel to get us there etc.

School Homework - I have tons of homework to do and so little time to do it in!

This is a great thread - thanks for starting it again!

I forgot one.

I'm somewhat afraid of how I'll die (less so now that I know that it'll likely be quick any way you go as once the heart stops you have seconds til you pass out) but more afraid that there is no God. Don't get me wrong I have faith. I believe. But, if there isn't a God that would really suck and thats kinda scary. You just get snuffed out. Nothing else happens. Just lights out? Kinda anticlimactic don't you think? Scary and disappointing. I always figured that no matter what happens and no matter when my time is cut short with family and friends that we'll all see each other again some day and that this place isn't the end of us or our relationships. The idea or threat of not seeing loved ones (my boys!) again is scary.

Again, I have faith. I believe. But, that doesn't mean the fear is any less at times.

Do we have some of "these" mom's here?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxT5NwQUtVM

Don't worry, be happy. :)

Cherie

I hear you, Strk, about worrying about death. I try not to fret about it, because it is inevitable, but I do think about it. I'm 68, so, I probably think about it more than you.:D

I believe in the spirit world. I know that the spirits of our loved ones are there. I believe in God and hope that He orchestrates the whole thing.

I don't pretend to know how the whole thing works, but believe me, they are out there. guiding us and waiting for us to join them.:hug:

Interesting thoughts, strk. It sounds like you WANT to believe, but you don't really have "faith".

I don't know what happens or where I will 'go' when I first leave this earth, but I do think my soul and wisdom will come back to earth at some point.

I also think that whatever I didn't learn in this life, I am going to have to go through again in my next life. :eek:

So, I tend to focus my "worry" and energy on LEARNING all that I can before it's too late . . . as I surely don't want to experience some of these lessons again. :p

Cherie

I need to add some of these other worries to my worry list - HAHAHA because I already worry about some of them but forgot to list them.

Funny thing is, I USED to be a big time worrier, but after losing my husband - I don't worry as much -- now I "ponder" things.

Somebody mentioned "irrational" fear - that is a biggy for me !

I have an INCREDIBLY HUGE fear of "Granddaddy Longlegs" !!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: Those things scare me to death !!!

I know they are not actually spiders - but they LOOK like a spider - a big one and I know they can't hurt you unless you eat them - apparently they are poisonous but cannot bite people so you would have to eat them (I need to look that fact up - to make sure it really is a fact). BUT - they are FIERCE looking !!!

I am mortally terrified of all spiders and do WORRY about a spider getting near me !!! :eek: And I have had more than my share of spider bites here in TN but never feel them bite. They are SNEAKY !

Now that's unfair....You had to mention spiders..:eek: The daddy long legs don't scare me but the centipedes do...eek!!! Some of them get pretty dang big and you haven't completely lost it, until you wake up to one in your sink or bathtub, when they come out for a drink.:eek::eek::eek::eek:

I feel a nightmare coming on....Thanks Snoods...Not..:p

Cherie,

I really do have faith. Part of faith, however, in my mind, is realizing that logically things may not add up and that there is an argument for not believing. Its realizing that those arguments exist and still believing that shows you have faith. I'm not saying this describes you but some appear to believe that if you recognize any doubt or question God's existence that you lack faith. I often wonder if those who don't question His existence or acknowledge the arguments against Him really have faith as they have asked the question so how do they know the answer. Again, not saying thats you. Just saying that my acknowledgment of how it would suck if there were no God isn't evidence of my lack of faith.

I think when I meet him and we have a chat, God will readily admit that he didn't do the best job of eliminating our fears and doubts about His existence (wars, death, sickness, the Bush administration for 8 years, etc.).

Geez, see how it all comes down to politics? C'mon. Every Democrat questioned their faith at least briefly after "W" was elected and then shockingly re-elected. Did we all lack faith? Or was our faith shaken for a moment in time? Shaken not broken.

Cherie - Thanks! That was just too funny.

I have to say that after taking microbiology in nursing school and doing some independent study in micro at the college, I became more "aware" of the microbe world. Working in the hospital added to that.:p

Mind you though, I am not obsessive about. I never in a million years would have freaked about a bedspread in a hotel room. Being too clean though has many downfalls. In fact, I just read an article in Scientific America about overly clean/sterile environments and brain tumors.

I love reading Steven King. He has a way of tapping in to our primal fears and presenting them in a way that is just on the edge of reality. I read his book Dreamcatcher when I was working at the hospital. The book had a viral component to it. So, one day I was going down to the cafeteria to get something to eat for lunch. I turned the knob on the stairwell and there was something wet on it.:eek: I freaked because all I could think about was that book. LOL Needless to say, I lost my appetite and immediately went to wash my hands.

Like Judy and Sandy, catching something while at the hospital would be a big fear for me. As a hospital employee, you go through orientation. As part of this orientation, hand washing and the importance of such is taught. Additionally, every year infectious control employees go to each department to do a yearly training. It always, always amazed me how many employees would NOT wash their hands after using the restroom (yeah, you heard me right), sneezing, coughing, etc. It blew my mind.

I have a very private relationship with my maker and do not participate in (or personally agree with) organized religion. I live by high personal morals, but they are not based on anyone else’s interpretation, or social rules dictated by some man-made institution.

I don’t give any credit or blame to GOD for what man has done (or not done), and never look outside myself for evidence that he exists.

Based on my belief-system, I don’t have any preconceived notions of where we will go (and ONLY if we do “X”) . . . so there is plenty of room for fear of where I might end up. I do have complete faith that there is a much bigger picture then what I am able to fully appreciate though ...

I guess I just believe what will be will be ~ and is MEANT to be ~ even if some things are very hard to reckon with along the way. :cool:

(No offense intended to you or anyone else . . . just offering another way to contemplate your fear, strk.)

Cherie

I'm wondering if people who worry a lot, want to stop? Do those worries cause you anxiety?

I HATE worrying, so try every technique possible to stop . . . but maybe some people are ok living with it? :confused:

Cherie

Really? All 150,000,000 of them?

Or do they worry about not worrying anymore? LOL

I have a niece, whom I am convinced, is not happy unless she has something to worry about - some major crisis in her life - this total drama queen.

Drives me crazy - I can only take her in small incriments of time. Funny thing is, when she doesn't have a crisis - I don't hear from her, but those times are rare and many of the things she worries over (in my opinion) are "manufactured" worries just for the sake of worry.

Kind of a pathetic existence in my opinion but some people need this in their lives for some reason - perhaps attention....

Right now i'm worried about how I'm gonna get to the bathroom....my scooter batteries just died....:Help: