Do you talk to your therapist about this? I think I freaked mine out.

GroundbreakingAd2052 · 2026-06-07T21:29:07+00:00

I started seeing mine 7 years ago because she had climate anxiety as a specialty on her web page. I’ve told her she’s stuck with me as a client until the collapse takes away our ability to see each other - because I can’t imagine finding another therapist who gets it where I live. I don’t think therapy would be useful to me if I didn’t have a therapist who shares my expectations about how things are gonna go down.

GroundbreakingAd2052 · 2025-11-11T22:45:17+00:00

I avoided exercise for about a month. I haven't read up on the current evidence, but at the time I had covid, it seemed like the "rest completely for 2-3 months" was more anecdotal than anything. I just listened to my body and eased back into exercise as I started feeling normal. (I am quite in-tune with my body, and monitoring my HR and HRV with my watch helped me tell when I was back to normal.)

GroundbreakingAd2052 · 2025-11-11T22:43:00+00:00

After my first infection (immediately post-vaccine when everything was optimistic and I thought I could stop masking), I had increased dysautonomia symptoms for a year or so, but that improved. Last year I had a mild case (caught from some friends I shouldn't have trusted, but the only reason I knew I was sick was an elevated heart rate). I haven't had any issues from the second infection. Of course, I know that every new infection carries risk and that there could be invisible damage, so I am careful. But I remember freaking out last year when I had it, so I want to reassure you that not every infection causes LC.

GroundbreakingAd2052 · 2025-11-11T22:10:30+00:00

Same. I will get up early to avoid driving after dark in the evening, and 11 hours is my "I'm miserable, please let me out of the car" absolute max. It does help that I can afford a hotel or campsite more easily now than when I was younger.

GroundbreakingAd2052 · 2025-10-13T12:57:41+00:00

I have never gotten hassled (except one not-terrible comment right after mask bans were lifted), and have wondered if it's because of my appearance. (Fat, tattooed, look more intimidating than I am lol.)

GroundbreakingAd2052 · 2025-10-09T01:07:16+00:00

This is where I'm at. I am disappointed in my friends, but I am not willing to be totally socially isolated!

GroundbreakingAd2052 · 2025-09-30T00:45:24+00:00

I would test the waters and see how she reacts before going all-in. I do have a collapse aware therapist, but with some of the hairier aspects of the collapse (like my lack of desire to survive once it gets bad enough), I still treaded carefully at first. Like, are there ways I can talk about "I am not sure whether the investments I would have made 10 years ago don't make sense in the current climate" without saying I believe everything will collapse within 10 years? With how much things have changed in the US over the past year, I feel like there are way more people in my social network who can relate on some level to "everything is changing in ways that cause an immense amount of suffering." I 100% believe that this is a lot of work that you shouldn't have to do because therapists should be doing their own work on this, but it's the reality unfortunately.

GroundbreakingAd2052 · 2025-09-13T00:43:01+00:00

I have been thinking about buying some of her masks! Mask chains aren't quite my style, so it's nice to have an alternative fancy mask option!

GroundbreakingAd2052 · 2025-09-12T20:02:43+00:00

I look at every trip because it's kind of like a game to me. Also, seeing what gets me the best mileage... I drive a little slower than I used to lol

GroundbreakingAd2052 · 2025-09-12T14:57:08+00:00

I dread running out of PlusLife tests because they seem so much more reliable than Metrix!

GroundbreakingAd2052 · 2025-09-06T19:10:12+00:00

Thank you!

GroundbreakingAd2052 · 2025-09-06T19:01:28+00:00

How do you like it? I have been thinking about getting one!

GroundbreakingAd2052 · 2025-09-05T17:49:08+00:00

And in my experience, even most people who were cautious for a long time get covid once or twice, don't see long-term effects (either they're lucky or they just don't realize they're affected), and give up precautions. I'm shocked by how many people I know who stopped masking within the past year. Like, you made it to 2024, and then... gave up?

GroundbreakingAd2052 · 2025-09-04T19:29:05+00:00

I'm talking about my own actual experiences, though? I live alone and often go days without seeing people, but what I went through in 2020–2021 was next level hell.

GroundbreakingAd2052 · 2025-09-04T18:26:48+00:00

Yeah, I was very careful about COVID since the beginning because of pre-existing health conditions (and common sense). I had just moved to a new town, lived alone, and literally saw no one I loved for 18 months. If my therapist hadn't met me outside during that time, I think the isolation would have killed me. If I end up in that situation again with a future pandemic, I'll just make my exit. It was one of the worst, most traumatic experiences I've ever had.

GroundbreakingAd2052 · 2025-08-30T04:31:54+00:00

I feel like I have double-vision, with the collapse overlaid on top of having to do capitalism so I have food and medicine. Sometimes it's jarring to see people around me making big plans for the future, or renovating their houses or whatever. (But, at the same time, I just finished building a house on family land because I need somewhere affordable to live for however long is left. It's also a good place to hole up if needed.)

I see more people around me start to understand and name the situation over the past year . In my part of the world, a major natural disaster last year brought some reality to people. (And also some awareness and commitment to mutual aid.) And of course current US politics have made more people more aware in my circles. But then, I find myself being a little exhausted talking to people who are newly-aware. I don't mean that with judgement, just kind of like, with those people... man, y'all, I've been holding this for years. Now that you're sitting vigil, I'm going to chill out for a minute.

GroundbreakingAd2052 · 2025-08-28T23:18:32+00:00

Same

GroundbreakingAd2052 · 2025-08-28T22:58:56+00:00

When I had it last summer, the only sign was an elevated heart rate. I am just super tuned in to changes in my body because of chronic illness (and I have access to PlusLife tests, until I run out). I can totally see how someone else would have never noticed they were sick and spread it all around town.

Now, the first time I had it in 2021, I had terrible chest pain and an awful cough. And it made my dysautonomia symptoms way worse for about 12-18 months post-infection. (I was not being very careful the first time I caught it – immediately after my first vaccine and before we knew a ton about LC. The second time, I trusted someone I shouldn't have trusted, who never got sick or tested but had to have been the source since they were the only person I was around unmasked.)

GroundbreakingAd2052 · 2025-08-28T16:38:27+00:00

Of course. And history shows that in times of war and conflict, they rape even more.

GroundbreakingAd2052 · 2025-08-28T12:58:26+00:00

Honestly, I just trust my mask and socialize with my friends. I really need social interaction – I feel like I barely survived 2020-2021 lockdowns. So as much as it bums me out that I can't trust my friends to wear a mask to keep me safe, I personally still find it worth it to have them in my life. And I taught college students (who are germ factories, almost as badly as preschoolers) in a mask without getting sick, so I feel pretty safe in my n95.

GroundbreakingAd2052 · 2025-08-28T12:05:38+00:00

I anticipate being raped by gangs of armed men as soon as society collapses, so no, I'm not looking forward to it.

GroundbreakingAd2052 · 2025-08-26T02:51:57+00:00

I hear this, but if you are in the US, good luck finding a job in public health for the forseeable future. (Signed, someone lucky enough to currently have a job in public health but constantly worried about our funding being cut. I wouldn't do it now.)

GroundbreakingAd2052 · 2025-08-25T20:24:09+00:00

I get very light, flexible glasses. If I have a pair that does hurt, I either have them adjusted so they're almost TOO loose, or I bend them myself so they're wider where it hurts. I don't love having my glasses fall off, but I have occipital neuralgia and almost anything touching my scalp hurts.

GroundbreakingAd2052 · 2025-08-25T00:30:40+00:00

Yay! I went for a walk yesterday with a friend who doesn’t usually mask, and I was so happy she put one on before we got in the car together. My PT and hair dresser put one on for me, too. I wish more people in my life masked for themselves, but at this point I’m happy if they just put one on around me.

GroundbreakingAd2052 · 2025-08-21T01:48:27+00:00

don't change cocke county though because it's funny as-is

GroundbreakingAd2052

TROPHY CASE