Problem

[blpurdom]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., "jenP_97" <jenP_97 at y...> wrote:
> Oh, Sinead, I'm so sorry that you're having this problem.  I know 
> it's probably a little too late for my good thoughts to come your 
> way, but when you read this, you can know that I sent them!

Sinead, it's dreadful that your so-called "friend" showed you 
something so disturbing!  I used to work for the National Board of 
Medical Examiners preparing tests for medical and nursing students, 
and some of the photographs we put in the tests were HIGHLY 
disturbing, especially to folks like me who were hired for things 
other than medical background (the only job I've had yet where a 
knowledge of Greek and Latin has actually been helpful).

My father, who was in part of India that are now in Pakistan during 
WWII refused to go see "Saving Private Ryan," no matter how good 
everyone told him it was.  So did my mother's brothers, one of whom 
was at the Battle of the Bulge.  I think people who have really 
experienced horrific things have no desire to view these sorts of 
things as "entertainment."  But because we do need to go on somehow, 
the human brain comes up with coping mechanisms, such as split 
personalities, which people have who have experienced really 
traumatic things; their brains just don't want to believe it 
happened to them, so they become other people, and in effect it 
DIDN'T happen to them.  Getting disturbing images like this out of 
your brain is very tricky, because the more you think about not 
thinking about it....well, you know what I mean.

> Of course, now that I'm married and have a kid, my worst nights 
> are when my husband is out of town for some reason or another... 
> and the house noises scare me.  Especially after 9-11, I was 
> having nightmares about people coming into the house and doing all 
> sorts of bad things 

When my husband is out of town, I'm fine usually (that's why we have 
a burglar alarm).  But one time I believed I heard the squeaky 
swinging kitchen door open (right below my bedroom) and then I 
thought I saw a tall person's shadow in the doorway of the bedroom.  
When all is said and done, I was probably dreaming all of it, but I 
totally freaked out, called the police, woke up the kids....

> I read at LEAST 5 books that weekend - all during the wee 
> hours - to keep my mind off things.  All books with happy things 
> in them. :)

I think HP books are very good for this!  Also Dave Barry.  And 
once, when I had bad dreams and couldn't get back to sleep, I 
watched videos of "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" because there's 
absolutely nothing sillier, and it is set in such a different place 
that I'm taken out of my rather ordinary life (and not so ordinary 
fears).

> If you're at a friend's house, then if you need to, go get the 
> dog!  An animal always helps!  Don't just wait for him to jump on 
> your bed... open the door and call him!   

Oh, pets always help.  My cats both curl up with me to sleep when my 
husband's away, and it's very comforting.  (Just the large cat 
sleeps with us when he's home; I think the little one is afraid of 
being crushed--she's only five pounds).

> Jen (who is mortally afraid of anything creepy, and won't even 
> open the covers to her husband's copy of _IT_ - even though she's 
> read plenty of other Stephen King books... in the daytime...)

My husband can't convince me to read anything by Greg Bear.  I have 
to keep reminding him that HE'S the one who says that reading GB 
gives HIM nightmares!  So why would I want to?

Sleep well, Sinead!

--Barb