Fear and the Future Human Condition

[HJuniper]

This is something I have literally been thinking about all day long.
A girlfriend and I were discussing our parents'/grandparents' post traumatic stress disorders.  Her father was a child in England during the air raids and my opa drove on the front line of WW2 for the Red Cross.  Both suffered severe anxiety for the rest of their lives.

Anyhow, there are a lot of things I don't have to fear as I sit comfortably in my chair typing at my computer...but I have completely irrational fears.  I am not in danger, but yet, silly fears make me feel flight or fight-y.  My girlfriend feels the same way.

Are we, as humans, evolving into becoming paranoid and fearful, not just for our lives, but for miniscule little things?  Are we evolving into a race that has become dependant on chemicals, whether it be natural or synthetic?

Does the media have more control in this than we'd like to admit?  Fear being a fuel for consumerism?

It just seems as though everyone I know relies on some form of substance in order to function daily (anti-depressants, anti-anxieties, alcohol, marijuana, harder stuff)

How's that for a disjointed topic?  Thoughts?

[bethoc]

I don't mind admitting I'm on Lexapro.  I fought it extremely hard trying to avoid this kind of dependance but life was just becoming so overwhelming.  It felt like this giant mass of pressure and weight kept pushing at my mind.  I would feel like I got one issue resolved and then the next minute 3 more problems would pop up.  The sad part is that they were completely out of my control.  I just couldn't handle all the negativity being thrown my way.  I agree that there are too many environmental heartaches we hear about all the time.  Too many murders and school shootings.  Too many natural disasters to keep up with.  I have found that if I don't turn off my radio and TV every now and then I'll cry myself into a coma.  Don't feel alone,  it's hitting everyone hard on this planet in this time and age.

[HJuniper]

I was the same way about not wanting to take an anti-anxiety.  I am the type of person who liked relying on yoga/meditation for relaxation but then, around 2002 or so, I couldn't handle it all.  I take Klonopin.  I have to be careful not get addicted to it, though.
Oh, but I do love Klonopin!

[HJuniper]

Is it a coincidence that exactly just as I was re-reading my post on Klonopin, Jodie Foster said she was using Klonopin in this movie that is playing in the background?  Weird.
Anyhow, I rented the movie The Mist and really enjoyed it.  Usually, Stephen King movies of 2000 and on suck, but this one (same director as Shawshank Redemption) really, really was good.  The "villain" was made to look superficial in order to uncover the TRUE horror of the movie.
I have not read the novella, but it is apparently very true to form.  Now, I want to read it (I have about three books in que beforehand, though)
So, that said, the Mist explores exacty what fear can do to a small population of people-- turning against, polarities, etc...
I was scared.
It kind of proved my point inside my own head.

[Shadowsociety2]

This reminds me of a 8th grade essay i wrote. It was on the fact has today's society made us so safe that if something were to actually go wrong would we even know how to deal with it.It just does make one think.

[Juggalo]

I too suffer from those unexplainable fears.  I personally feel its that damned evil media.  I don't even watch tv anymore except when someone else is watching and I'm in the room.  Too much BULLSH*T! LOL  That and I feel it could be all the bad feeling floating around the world today.  I think that this has an effect on everything in a "not quite there" kinda way.  I used to us marijuana and alcohol to deal with this kinda stuff but kicked them both. YAY!  I should be on an antidepressant of somesort but ain't.  I was on them when I was younger and didn't like them.  I am on Seroquel though for me bi-polarism.  All this addiction and mental disorders runs in my family. Lucky me.  I feel sorry for my children.

[Tolkus]

I would have to agree that the media does contribute to these fears reporting only the bad news mostly because that's what sales. And any news that say's it's biest is lying, all are pandering to who their advertisers are pandering to, think about it and turn it off for a while and you'll see things will get better. I for one take nothing never have, always been very level headed even when very young. My grandfather was in the D-Day invation and got wounded on the beach, the only thing he ever said that bothered him was fling back over the channel, siad he felt safer with the Germans shooting at him. When you watch the horror movies take in mind that you do have to suspend reality, in reality most situation in a horror moive would not happen. I truly think that the main fear of people is the fear of dying, think about it, the bad news on t.v. is death horror movies is death that fight or flee is ancent instint to avoid death. Come to terms that yes you are going to die deal with it and forget about it. Life gets a little easyer. Also understand you can't help the world and people will do stupid things that get on your nerves. Acceptance is the main key. Acceptance you can't control everything, there is no point worrying about things you have no control over or people you can not influance. Just be a shinning example and let people see it you would be surprised at how many people you influance then, unknowingly. My take 

[Juggalo]

^^^I like it!