Using Humor to Combat Fear

fureverywhere

fureverywhere

beloved friend who will always be with us in spiri
Location
Northern NJ, USA
I hate to drive. Really, I mean I do it but the traffic around here is nutso. You're putting your life in your hands every time you go out. Tonight I was going through the reservation. Not a major highway but still pretty chilling in spots. I was almost through when my " service engine" idiot light went on. My car is a beater so it might not mean anything...a wiring short perhaps...but enough to make me nervous.

Then in the store the thought flashed. What if there was suddenly a shooter situation? As I got back in the car it was dark. New fear...what if a deer races in front of my car? There have been bear sightings too. Okay now I'm just trying to scare myself. So I made it ridiculous. The gunman is a terrorist hiding in the woods waiting for me to drive through. Then the car breaks down, just after it hits a full grown buck. The bear comes and yanks me out of the car after mauling the terrorist.

Happy trails...
d0c4f6ea58eae8d6d644cc34c4efd839d6534b4e630519e96003471992979827.jpg
 

It could just be a loose or faulty gas cap too. There are auto part stores by me that will run a free diagnostic check to see what the problem is with a walk-in request. Don't be afraid, sounds like you've been watching too much news. :love_heart:
 
I hear you. I don't like driving either but it is a necessity. I worked nights years ago and drove some real bombs and I hated when I ran into car problems! I assume you made it home safely, hope the car problem isn't too serious.

Speaking of humor, and no, this isn't exactly funny either but the advice is absurd. I received a notice in the mail from GM stating the year and model of my car may have a condition where the accelerator pedal can break off at the stalk just below the housing. It would not be possible to operate the accelerator once the stalk has been broken off. (Ya think?) Then they say do not take your vehicle to your dealer unless you believe your vehicle has the condition as described above. (Do they expect me to push it there?). Oh, but the good news is that GM will repair it within 10 yrs or 120,000 miles. Phew! Now I don't have to worry! Thought it might be a joke at first but it's on their letterhead.
 
I went there Carla. A crowded intersection and my brakes failed. My BRAKES ARE NOT STOPPING HOLY CRAP. The police person who pulled my car out of the roadway had to almost fold to the floor. It would have been funny if not so very serious. But I am braver. The worst case scene except a bear destroying me. I got through it.
 
I pulled into a parking slot at the mall once and put on the brakes. HELP! MY CAR WON'T STOP. I'M SCREAMING AND PRESSING SO HARD THAT THE INSTEP OF MY FOOT WAS PURPLE LATER....STILL WON'T STOP. AYYYYIIIIIIEEEEE!!!!

Then I realized that I WAS stopped and the car next to me was backing out, instead of me moving forward. It's amazing what your eyes/mind will trick you into believing. I was absolutely done in and could barely walk on my foot.
 
Then I realized that I WAS stopped and the car next to me was backing out, instead of me moving forward.

I've felt that one too. Usually your eyes start playing tricks when you're sleepy. Like misjudging the curb and smelling burned rubber a few blocks. Danged curb jumped out there and attacked my tires. If they tested my night vision they'd probably pull my license. On the bright side, I don't have to worry about getting a pilot's license in this lifetime;)
 
jujube said:
I pulled into a parking slot at the mall once and put on the brakes. HELP! MY CAR WON'T STOP. I'M SCREAMING AND PRESSING SO HARD THAT THE INSTEP OF MY FOOT WAS PURPLE LATER....STILL WON'T STOP. AYYYYIIIIIIEEEEE!!!!

Then I realized that I WAS stopped and the car next to me was backing out, instead of me moving forward. It's amazing what your eyes/mind will trick you into believing. I was absolutely done in and could barely walk on my foot.
Click to expand...
I am sorry Jujube but I had to laugh. That happened to me in a mall parking lot. It really felt like I was moving. Funny now but it was' t then.
 
I do not drive at all at night unless it is an emergency! I don't like Interstate Highways also, like to take the back roads. In my 30+ years driving in Atlanta traffic, I have seen too many wrecks that were caused by drivers that were either driving too fast or driving too close or both!
 
It's crazy but maybe something to do with being older and realizing our own mortality. In my twenties I did the parkway with my lunch beside me no problem. If it slowed a bit I could touch up my makeup too. The turnpike was no fun but I could do it. Now all I have to hear are the morning traffic updates.

Tri-state and every fifteen minutes or so they cheerfully report...Garden State and a wreck cleared from right lane. Police activity on 1 and 9. A major crash ten miles down, rubber neckers for the cleanup down the way...expect an hour to your commute...now to the Sportsdesk.
 
I’ve seen some pretty amazing things on the roads over my 37 years as a state trooper. I remember just getting on the turnpike and the car in front of me was on fire. The driver didn’t even know his car was burning. Then there was the time when I passed a car in a pullover area on the turnpike, which, by law, you are only allowed in that area in case of an emergency. About a half hour later, I came back that way, only going the opposite direction and the car was still sitting in the same area, so I swung around and pulled up behind the car. I didn’t see anyone behind the wheel, so I walked up very cautiously with my holster unsnapped and my hand on my weapon. There was a couple in the backseat laying down and they weren’t sleeping. Need I say more?

Unbelievable!
 
fureverywhere said:
I hate to drive. Really, I mean I do it but the traffic around here is nutso. You're putting your life in your hands every time you go out. Tonight I was going through the reservation. Not a major highway but still pretty chilling in spots. I was almost through when my " service engine" idiot light went on. My car is a beater so it might not mean anything...a wiring short perhaps...but enough to make me nervous.

Then in the store the thought flashed. What if there was suddenly a shooter situation? As I got back in the car it was dark. New fear...what if a deer races in front of my car? There have been bear sightings too. Okay now I'm just trying to scare myself. So I made it ridiculous. The gunman is a terrorist hiding in the woods waiting for me to drive through. Then the car breaks down, just after it hits a full grown buck. The bear comes and yanks me out of the car after mauling the terrorist.

Happy trails...
d0c4f6ea58eae8d6d644cc34c4efd839d6534b4e630519e96003471992979827.jpg
Click to expand...
If you could write that as a story but substitute teens that would probably be a story Steven King could turn into a movie.
 
I use humour to combat fear all the time. It seems to be a good healthy distraction but it doesn’t always work.
Some people view it as belittling situations but you can’t please eveyone, might as well please yourself.
 
911 said:
I’ve seen some pretty amazing things on the roads over my 37 years as a state trooper. I remember just getting on the turnpike and the car in front of me was on fire. The driver didn’t even know his car was burning. Then there was the time when I passed a car in a pullover area on the turnpike, which, by law, you are only allowed in that area in case of an emergency. About a half hour later, I came back that way, only going the opposite direction and the car was still sitting in the same area, so I swung around and pulled up behind the car. I didn’t see anyone behind the wheel, so I walked up very cautiously with my holster unsnapped and my hand on my weapon. There was a couple in the backseat laying down and they weren’t sleeping. Need I say more?

Unbelievable!
Click to expand...

I guess they didn’t need much privacy.
 
911 said:
I’ve seen some pretty amazing things on the roads over my 37 years as a state trooper. I remember just getting on the turnpike and the car in front of me was on fire. The driver didn’t even know his car was burning. Then there was the time when I passed a car in a pullover area on the turnpike, which, by law, you are only allowed in that area in case of an emergency. About a half hour later, I came back that way, only going the opposite direction and the car was still sitting in the same area, so I swung around and pulled up behind the car. I didn’t see anyone behind the wheel, so I walked up very cautiously with my holster unsnapped and my hand on my weapon. There was a couple in the backseat laying down and they weren’t sleeping. Need I say more?

Unbelievable!
Click to expand...
Well, at least they weren't on a park bench.. or picnic table.. :eek:
 
911 said:
I’ve seen some pretty amazing things on the roads over my 37 years as a state trooper. I remember just getting on the turnpike and the car in front of me was on fire. The driver didn’t even know his car was burning. Then there was the time when I passed a car in a pullover area on the turnpike, which, by law, you are only allowed in that area in case of an emergency. About a half hour later, I came back that way, only going the opposite direction and the car was still sitting in the same area, so I swung around and pulled up behind the car. I didn’t see anyone behind the wheel, so I walked up very cautiously with my holster unsnapped and my hand on my weapon. There was a couple in the backseat laying down and they weren’t sleeping. Need I say more?

Unbelievable!
Click to expand...
Really quite believable. I don't know how many times when my wife & I had emergency sex. OK claiming it was emergency was to avoid problems.
 
The funny part was that when I interrupted them to check their ID’s, I saw that they had different last names, so I thought they were just friends. I asked them how long have you two known one another? The man said “Oh, about an hour.”
 
911 said:
The funny part was that when I interrupted them to check their ID’s, I saw that they had different last names, so I thought they were just friends. I asked them how long have you two known one another? The man said “Oh, about an hour.”
Click to expand...
Some hours are better than others.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top