natural disasters

[davesprettylady]

Ever since I was really young I have been absoluately terrified of any sort of natural disaster; tornado, volcano, hurricaine, tsunami, earthquake. My fear centers around being left alone, I'm afraid a natural disaster will strike, killing or seperating me from everyone I love. I remember being a little kid and having panic attacks over it almost nightly. For a while I got pretty good about it, it was something I was able to ignore so I wasn't anxious about it all the time, but they seem to be happening much more often these days and the fear is resurfacing. Anyone have any ideas on how to cope with this fear? I never brought it up while I was seeing a therapist because I'm kinda ashamed of it...:-/

[davesprettylady]

I don't see a therapist anymore. When I did this stuff was sort of on the "back burner" anyway. It won't be until at least March before my insurance plan will allow me to see one and even then I'm not positive it will.

[JGF25]

Hi there.  I think that a lot of people have fears like yours.  But let me ask you this, you are seeing a therapist which is great but how can the therapist truly help you when they don't know what is going on?  I can promise you that you cannot tell a therapist anything that they haven't already heard from somebody else.  And what you are "ashamed" of is nothing to be ashamed of.  Like I said, we all have fears.  I have OCD and if I told you all the irrational things I thought, I'd be on here forever.  But when in therapy, I told them everything even things I was embarassed about, things that I thought they would find disgusting or disturbing.  They didn't find my thoughts to be any of the above.  They were all common OCD thoughts and because I told them they were able to help me.  

So make a point to tell your therapist what is really bothering you right now.  Write it down on a notecard now while you have time so that when you get in there you won't forget anything.  

Let us know how it goes...I think you will be surprised at how much it will help you to get it off your chest.  My best....