Hurricane is approaching and my stress levels are crazy

cee134 wrote: »

Someone just tried to call me from Jamaica. I don't know anyone in Jamaica. I did not answer. I wonder if it was the hurricane?

Answer it and put him on hold.

OP, kudos for you for evacuating! Too many are ignoring the evac orders, IMO. Sadly, I think there are going to be quite a few tragic stories because of bad decisions.

Yes, evacuating sucks...but it's better than staying put, riding out the storm, and finding yourself in trouble because you underestimated the situation. In 2004, I had to evacuate for Charlie (I live in an evac zone on the west coast of FL). When it landed south of us, I had wished I had stayed home until I talked to my neighbor who ignored the evac orders and he said it was harrowing. Though I'm not sure it was much better in the hotel I was in that was less stable than my block home built to Andrew standards. Ever since then, I just know to evacuate when they tell me to go.

Exercise is a good way to relieve the stress. I also like to sleep, when I can (especially since I often stay up all night when there is a storm pushing through...hate storms at night because I can't see what is going on).

For me, I also like to stay in the know...so much so that I pretty much obsess about the weather when there is a storm in the area (I did the same in VA over snow storms too). However, knowing what I'm facing helps me feel less out of control. My favorite storm tracking site is Mike's, since he links to just about ever other site out there - http://www.spaghettimodels.com/ . I get a bit frustrated with some of the local weathermen, and like to run the models myself, etc.

Also, preparations make me feel less stressed. I know we're not expected to get much other than TS force gusts in my area, but I've got my water stocked (been through a previous minor storm where we lost water for 3 days), have plenty of food, and brought in the loose items from my lawn (even though my neighbors haven't). I have an alternate game plan, should the forecast change drastically (which it looks like it won't), and I did need to leave.

And as others have said, now is not the time to be hard on yourself food-wise. Honestly, my evacuation boxes are mostly filled with lots of comfort food. Just give yourself a break for this period of time, and when you are through it, get back on track (just be sure to log, so you can track what you ate). Give yourself an added measure of grace while you wait at your evacuation location, and also once you have to start to deal with the clean up afterwards since that can be stressful too. Keep busy to keep your mind from overthinking things.

To all in FL, GA, SC, NC...keeping everyone in my prayers for safety, security, and peace despite the storm.

My daughter lives in Palm Beach Gradens and glad she got out..headed to Tampa to wait this out!

I lived 4 miles inland on the Connecticut coast for both Sandy and Irene, neither of which were hurricanes when they hit us. Both times we were without power for over a week. Have moved away from the coast now, but would definitely evacuate if there was any chance of a hurricane hitting anywhere near us.

Stay safe & get out of there as quickly as you can. I'm worried cause a friend of mine is down there for work & it's stressing me out that something could happen to him as well.
I hope everybody makes it out of there safely & anyone that stays there will be safe. Thoughts & prays to everyone that's going to be hit by this hurricane.

PlaydohPants wrote: »

GnothiSeauton23 wrote: »

Cutaway_Collar wrote: »

My biggest problem would be being unable to deadlift.

So far 113 confirmed deaths in the Caribbean because of this storm...

is that enough dead for you to lift?

264 in Haiti

One more hurricane name to add to the retirement list. This is a deadly storm and I wish everyone would take the evac more serious instead of riding this out. Death total is 377 including the Caribbeans so far.

cee134 wrote: »

Someone just tried to call me from Jamaica. I don't know anyone in Jamaica. I did not answer. I wonder if it was the hurricane?

Naw they are probably trying to scam you with you won the lottery or you owe the IRS.

ARE YOU OKAY

Sitting out the hurricane now. Started by cooking steak with sautéed mushrooms so my steak didn't get wasted if power went out. Then went to online shopping, the stores may be closed but Amazon can have new junk to my house on Saturday. Then I got bored of online shopping and tried on clothes in my closet to see what fit with my newest weight loss, then took new pictures. Don't know if these are actual stress relievers, but it's kept me occupied. Don't think I can sleep with the banging going on, plus 1 of my cats got outside and I can't find him. Well he used be a neighborhood stray so I guess he knows how to tough it. Good luck to all. I got 2 days off of work with pay, and I'm going to need the extra time to take all this wood down.

Radar is showing the back part of the storm will be making landfall at 7 this morning.

We're good too. No power and will be tropical storm weather until tonight, but the main part is gone.

good news from the few of you.