Jan252011
Is Prepping Depressing? 5 Ways to Cope
Guest post by Ranger Man who blogs at SHTF Blog.
image by Samael Kreutz
Prepping is different from other pursuits in that it can easily lead to burnout. People that correctly identify the need to take reasonable preparations do so out of a recognition that modern society operates on a very fragile social structure, that there are serious economic or environmental concerns that could impact one’s quality of life, or a variety of other legitimate concerns. People new to prepping are particularly vulnerable to prepper burnout. Before long, you find yourself focused solely on negative, doom-is-imminent news articles. The apocalypse begins to seem like it’s right around the corner. You start purchasing extra food and equipment and begin to think that’s prepping is too expensive, and you’re so far behind where you want to be that it may not even be worth prepping at all.
Prepping burnout happened to me, at one point leading to a year long break from my survival blog. I was beginning to see the world through an apocalyptic lens, seeing only the doom and gloom in the evening news, wondering what the future would hold for my children, and feeling frustrated that if the SHTF tomorrow, my family and I would be in trouble because we were far from ready.
imabe by basykes
Before long, things like tending the garden became less of an outdoor, leisurely activity that produces good tasting quality food to one that focused on high calorie crops and continual garden expansion to allow for more food production (and consequently more work). What started as a hobby quickly became a chore. Prepping as a pursuit became an unfulfilling burden.
Five tips to avoid Prepper Burnout
I learned a few things from that experience that I now offer as suggestions for any of you that may be on the verge of prepper burnout.
- Take a break. This may sound obvious, but if you’re in an anxiety induced prepping frenzy, it’s not obvious. Taking a break when doom is everywhere and your preps are close to nowhere doesn’t pass the logic test. But if taking a break until the doom clouds lift and you’re able to see more clearly, more positively, taking a break makes perfect sense. A break may mean the difference between committing to a long-term, slow, incremental preparedness track that you make progress on and crashing and burning because you went too fast with too much.
- There are two sides to any story. While there is plenty of bad news that could lead you to think all social order is on the verge of collapse, there are plenty of news articles that support just the opposite idea, that people are good at their core and when disaster strikes, people come together. Find a balance in the news you read.
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image by www.CourtneyCarmody.com/
Prepping – when done right – saves money.
When people first begin prepping they may get overwhelmed at the list of preparedness items they feel they need. This can be overwhelming and zap one’s ambition. Focus initially on preps that help you save money. A case in point is food storage. Begin with building a pantry that stocks food you normally eat. Go “grocery shopping” in your pantry and leave the house to go food shopping. When you do this you are able to buy in bulk and restock when items go on sale – saving you money. Home food production (gardening, chickens, etc.) is a prepping goal that helps you save money. Debt reduction itself is a prepping goal. Less debt means less money squandered on interest payments. - Prepping is empowering. There is nothing like the feeling of taking control over your own family’s safety and welfare, ensuring that their basic needs will be met even if catastrophe strikes. Rather than bring you down, prepping should bring you up. We can (and should) do our part to help bring awareness to circumstances and events that threaten our collective welfare, but the actions won’t have the fast and immediate effect as prepping for those events should they come to fruition.
- Prepping is freedom. As a nation and as individuals, we are dependent. We are dependent on others, whether on the large-scale commercial farmer hundreds of miles away, dependent on the truckers that move the food, or dependent on the grocery store to stock the shelves, we are dependent. We are dependent on Saudi Arabia’s oil that helps fill our cars with gasoline. We are dependent on the electrical grid. Even if you live off the grid, food and supplies that reach stores are dependent on it. You will never be completely free from these dependencies, but prepping brings you closer to independence and more self-reliance. This should make you happy, not depressed.
Do you find prepping depressing? Are you on the verge of burnout? What works for you to overcome those feelings?
Read more by Ranger Man at SHTF Blog.
© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.
(34) Readers Comments
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SALT/ OIL/ VINEGAR/WATER /CAST IRON /CHARCOAL/ DRY FOODS
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I hope I didn't make it seem like I disagreed with your article. Quite
Survival Survey: What is your #1 stock-up item?
there is other stuff you can take for your stints 1 of my best friends
Survival Survey: What is your #1 stock-up item?
soap is no more dangerous to make than cooking dinner if you a careful
Jamie
Thanks so much for posting this – it's a solid reminder I've needed on more than one occasion when I let all the bad news overwhelm me. So far two things have really helped me keep my mental balance. (1) I maintain relationships with friends/family whose skill sets balance mine, so I know wherever we stand when the SHTF we'll have a solid combined skill and knowledge base to work from. (2) I purposely focus on all the things I can do now that I couldn't do when I started prepping. I have made progress and being grateful for that goes a long way towards self-encouragement and renewed motivation.
Lynda
Great column. Prepping can be depressing only if you allow it to be or allow yourself to be a victim. I've been seriously prepping for almost two years now(actually prior to that since we in New England have wait a minute weather), and when I occasionally find myself overly anxious I reel it back in. We can't predict what the future holds. I'm mostly concerned about the economy and it just makes sense to adequately stock up as a hedge against inflation.
I think there's a correlation between being frugal and living a simpler life and the prepping mindset and if you look at these as a challenge rather than an obstacle you can be ahead of the game. Don't worry now and treat prepping as a goal and way of life. This ensures that you worry less should it become an absolute necessity.
Hope this makes sense.
Ranger Man
I think your 2nd paragraph makes perfect sense. When prepping becomes more of a lifestyle it becomes incorporated into who you are and less of a stress-inducing quest.
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Christy
As a somewhat new prepper I went through the burnout quickly. But when I finally sat down and started looking at what I had to take inventory of, I had all the basics for the first aid kit, all the basics for 6 months – a year of food stoarge, so I wasn't as bad off as I thought I was. So we have actually been prepping and never knew we were. That lessened the depression alot
Ranger Man
I think the majority of people new to prepping come to it based on a series of disconcerting news events that make them nervous about "what if" scenarios that could impact their families' safety. When you come to it based on fear, it's inevitable that diving into more fear will lead to a depressing perspective, but after you break through that, you realize prepping is empowering. At least that's what happened for me.
Kathy
Great article! As a new prepper; but not new to a lot of the philosophies involved in prepping (debt reduction, growing one's own food, purchasing in bulk when items are on sale), articles like this are a big service . I try to reflect on what I have accomplished and don't spend time obsessing on what I have not yet done. It does not mean those "things not done yet" are never going to get done, but that there is only so much that *can* be done at one time, or even in a timeframe. I still feel that even though I don't have as much water and food what I do have will still be important. I have casually talked to friends about at least having a 72 hour emergency kit and BOB ready and I have yet to know one person (and I have a lot of friends) who are ready in any way shape or form for any local disaster we might encounter. It is actually quiet terrifying to think out of loosely 100 people I have quired none are prepared other than maybe having at least 2 weeks worth of food on hand (if that). Most don't.
I feel you need to keep prepping goals realistic and as you reach each milestone on your prepping list say "at-a-boy" or "at-a-girl" and keep moving forward on that list. Don't waste energy on the depressing aspects.
I think what ever is accomplished is probably still much more far ahead than the average Joe (or Josie) in most suburban communities.
Ranger Man
Thanks for the positive feedback,
rainygardener
A few months ago, I was severely depressed over prepping, but not because of the work it entailed, but by all the conspiricy theorists I was listening to and all the same conspiricy stuff on You Tube. I felt like, there is know way I have any control over the types of things I was facing. I finally got some space from that stuff and decided to just be a small homesteader and focus on that. I can't fix the world government or the galaxcy, but I can just try to live my life as best I can and stay focused on that.
Ranger Man
The conspiracy theorists bring a bad name to prepping. They make preppers seem fringe and extreme, when in fact, we're far from.
MasterPo
Granted and true.
OTOH, an idea is only a "conspiracy" until it happens.
Seriously, Rainy is right in that there always are factors and forces that influence your life you have no idea about and even if you did have little control over (can't control the weather for example). I think it's natural to get down about lack of control but not unusual and should be put behind you as quickly as you can.
ravenwolf
What helps to keep me from burning out is I made prepping pretty much second nature. If I need a can of beans, I buy a can and pick up two extra on top of it. I have gotten to the point where I don't even think much about it, I just do it.
Zack
Being relatively new to all of this, prepping runs the gambit of all types of emotions, depression certainly being one of those. Overwhelming has probably been my most experienced emotion! But as you do research into things, there's tons of doom and gloom out there. One of the benefits of mainstream media not covering much of it, is that it's easy to turn off. If I feel like I'm letting it get to me, I'll take a break from the blogs and websites and focus on the reason we choose to "prepare."
The unknown is scary – and there are thousands out there who think they can predict it and are quick to tell you why you should be afraid of it, and if you throw enough darts, you'll eventually hit the bullseye. But the fact of the matter is no one knows what will happen tomorrow and what effect it'll have on you personally. We prepare so that if and when something out of our control happens, our family is in the best shape possible to weather the storm for as long as we can, and each month that passes, our capability increases, and that is not only exciting, but liberating. A little at a time starts to add up!
EMP, solar flares, hyperinflation, New Madrid opening up, Yellowstone exploding – there's plenty out there to get you depressed if you dwell on it enough, but we prepare, not for those events per se, but for our family – to keep them safe, the keep them healthy for as long as possible no matter what happens, and focusing on that helps us wade through the doom and gloom.
Ranger Man
Overwhelming – for sure – especially when you look at all that you "have" to learn and all that you "have" to acquire. Step-by-step, row-by-row, gonna make my preps grow!
Stephanie
I try to be mindful that it is all His plan. With that in mind, I just do my best to give him something to bless!
Emerson
From the book of Proverbs (Ch.6) just for reference. There is a big difference between preparing and hoarding. I agree that it is all in HIS plan, but that does not mean we should not prepare. Prepare and you will be blessed in more ways than one, just remember to be a good steward with what He blesses you with!
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! 7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—
11 and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.
Mike in Virginia
Although I do sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed, prepping has also made me much more thankful for what I already have because I am so much more aware of what life would be like for myself and my family without it. So in that sense, I don't feel depressed at all… God has blessed us with so much, and for now at least I'm able to recognize it and be truly grateful. While continuing to prep, of course.
James
Life is all about finding balance…being a prepper is no different. If we don't take the time to slow down and fully enjoy the now, then what are we prepping for anyway? Your life might not ever be better than it is right now this very moment…take the time to enjoy it.
rainygardener
Wow, james, you just gave me a ah hah moment. You are so right, thank you.
Red
Prepping never even crossed my mind – unless, of course we are talking about not running out of lipstick or eyeliner! Then I came across a blog post one day that asked me what I would do in an extended emergency such as a power outage that lasted for weeks instead of hours. It was then that I realized how totally unprepared I really was. Not only did I have nothing in my pantry, I didn't even really know how to cook. My husband and I sat down and came up with a plan. We made a space for our food storage, we made lists of needed supplies and food and then we both started to learn how to cook! We have only been at it for a few months, but we now bake all of our own bread, we know why wheat is so important and how to prepare it and cook with it. We have signed up for a cheese making class in a neighboring town too. We have a long way to go but we are determined. As far as burn out goes, I can see how that could happen. I guess that's something else to prep for
Thanks for a great post.
MasterPo
Timing of an event has to be considered. Putting aside known, reasonable threats that are probably more geographically based (propensity for tornados, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes etc where you live) the vast majority of recent people to prepping (including myself) are more interested in it because of what they (we) see predicted with the national economy. Estimates are all over the place from a matter of weeks to a couple of years. But no one is predicting sunshine and lollypops at the end of this rainbow. Add in events in other countries that are along the same path we are – just a little more a head perhaps – and people are afraid.
*IF* the dire predictions are correct (50/50 on any given day) as are the time frames for such events then there simply isn't the time to slowly aquire materials and supplies over the course of years.
Rena H.
I just started “prepping” in earnest a couple if months ago… We had already gotten rid of our debt (except the house) simply b/c it made good sense and I have been a “grocery -gamer” for almost two years. I saw The Survival Mom on Glenn Beck and aftr checking out her site and clicking through some links it was “on”! I have found myself getting stressed over all the things I feel we still need and J worry all thermos about our extended family, none of which are prepared in any way… And most of which I think snicker behind my back that I’ve lost it… My DH even thinks I’m going over board…he recently asked me what this was all a out and after trying to explain and get him to read up on what happening in the world, which he didn’t xo b/c he has a strong a ersion to watching or reading the news, I finally just told him to humor me, “maybe I’m going through my mr-life crisis”, since we weathered his a few years ago, he is now dubiously humor me…just last night he finished building shelves all around our extra storage closet for me, and he didn’t complain one bit.
As for flipping out and getting overly stressed , made much more likely since I read “One Second After” , I just pray alot and make a list and keep an invetory of what we have and what we need. The inventory has been the best because as I add more food , can by can, my spread sheet keeps track of the servings and calories, so I can see my “days worth of food on hand” numbers go up slowly and my “needed” numbers reduce. This let’s me see I am making progress, slow though it may seem.
Just keep at it and decide I your mind that every litle bit is Moravian you had before and God is I control, so if TSHTF before you are completely ready , God already knows how ready you are, trust Him to fill in the gaps.
Rena H.
Can you tell I typed this on my iPhone? Sorry if some of it doesn’t make sense, I couldn’t go back and re-read it before submitting
)
Amy
Thanks for revealing that, Rena! Once I read your explanation, it gave me a hoot to look back through your post! And don't laugh . . . I'm typing this without my GLASSES!
MasterPo
"God already knows how ready you are, trust Him to fill in the gaps."
At the same time, don't bet the farm on Him to drop a box of MRE's at your door step.
Lynda
Make prepping into a positive experience and not a negative one and only communicate with like-minded postive people, not the doom and gloomer crowd. Particularly the ones who claim that all your efforts will amount to nothing. They are best ignored.
Hawaii Honey
Thank you to Lisa, The Survival Mom, for this blog. When I start to get overly anxious about what's going to happen, I take time to read Lisa's blog and have comfort in knowing that there are other's out there making their way in the prepping world and doing the best they can do for their families. Thank you to Lisa for practical solutions for prepping, for suggestions, ideas, plans, etc. She has been a real comfort for me! But I do also have flashes of scenes from ONE SECOND AFTER in my mind and that creates a lot of anxiety. Plus I live on an island and that creates BIG TIME anxiety since we get everything by boat or plane! But when I really start to get lazy in my prepping, I think back 3 yrs. ago to meeting Hopi Indian Sage Grandfather Martin Gashweseoma, who predicted 9/11 five years before it happened. When I have the least bit of doubt that this country is in for a terrible disaster, I think back to listening to this wise and blessed man assuring the audience that "this will come to pass." "Prepare now, this will happen, " he kept saying. He also said that we must all PRAY and that prayer often changes outcomes.
I pray a lot!
Bets'
Since I absorb so much news and so many details during the week, I give my self 'no-news' weekends. I'm much more relaxed than I was 2 yrs ago when I was internally freaking out every minute over all the new information I was waking up to. I had the blues big time, but like every good human, I learned. I made lists, checked others lists, began stocking up and began to enjoy life again, feeling more secure, without feeling like everyone thought I was crazy.
This weekend, Chicago is getting hit with a monster storm, and I still remember the storm of '67 so I'm totally ready for it. And Lisa, your words,'a ½ tank is an empty tank' had such a powerful impact on me. It makes all the difference. Enjoyed seeing you on the Beck show. GMTA!!!
Bets'
lol, I meant a half a tank is an empty tank. Apparently alt abbreviations don't work here!
Roxy2711
I went through a prepping burn out about 9 months ago, not necessarily from prepping, but from all the things I was reading in the news and blogs. I was online for hours at a time reading, getting stressed out and having anxiety attacks. I finally had to cut the ties to the survival websites for a few months to gather myself and decide (with my husbands help) that we were going to prep to get us towards a more self-sufficent life, not prep out of fear. Looking back, I see that I was diminishing my quality of life being so scared of what might happen, that I didn't appreciate that life that I had. Now, I try to stick to more positive blogs and websites (such as Survivalmom.com and OurEventualHomestead) that focus on prepping/being self-sufficent as a lifestyle to embrace, not a punishment to brace for.
TheSurvivalMom
Yep! A lot of us have been there and done that! You were very smart to take a break and evaluate why you\’re doing what you\’re doing. Fear can be helpful because it gets us going, but it also zaps us of mental and emotional energy. I\’m glad my blog has been a good source of non-stressful info for you!
ScoutMotto
Wow, I did not know this article was so old. Lew Rockwell posted a link to it yesterday. I am glad they did! I'm one who has looked for whatever preps I could find, or anything to keep in stock at home, from TP to vinegar to food to ammo to….you get the idea. I have probably a year's worth of food stored for now. I personally believe one key to avoid prepper burnout is to spend some money on something enjoyable. Prepping and practical is very wise, but now and then we just have to do something that isn't prep-related. Buy something for whatever your hobby is, such as a new musical instrument or new art supplies, or whatever it is you enjoy creating. That will help bring things back into perspective.
Bev
i completely agree with you Scott.I have Lew Rockwell in my email every day and some days some of the articles are gloom and doom, I also listen and watch Alex Jones, who also gives you both the pros and cons of whats happening around the world but especially here in the USA. I've been prepping for a few years now, from canning to storing but now have to get into medical supplies and yes, hobby things cuz even if the SHTF youll have to relax at times (hopefully ) i still dont have the basics like flour in bags stored up, sure a few but not what we'll really need, but little by little I'll get there. Not sure if I have a year's supply cuz we have kids and grandkids who hopefully will be joining us if things explode (prob literally!!) I'm finding a day away from the computer is wise also, keeps you in a more positive mood! Yeah i too was surprised to see this article was so old yet it fits in these times too! All take care and keep prepping and good to try to convince others around you to do the same so they wont come after you and your family later–they can turn from friends to hungry desperate people fast if it means survival!
Family First
well, I hit the wall .. we were prepped to the hilt and I suddenly realized how dysfunctional we have ALL become. Look at us! Preparing for disaster, yet our "representatives" are still in power, accelerating the machine that is destroying our lives. It's all so sick.
So we sold everything and moved to a country that is peaceful and beautiful, with no GMO foods, clean water and air, no threat of war and out of the line of fire from US enemies and any fallout, has a very very strong banking system, and no corruption.