Panic
Panicking was not encouraged in the house where I grew up.
Just as well really since there were so many critical situations to deal with along the way.
We were the ‘Come to’ house, yes, everyone assumed they had free passage to bring their troubles to our door.
Anything from cut knees
To falls from trees
Jobs lost
Pipes burst by frost…
Can we have some water
My son needs shoes
We have no food
Can I use your phone
‘I can’t go alone!’
Yes! Please, I’d love some tea.
It’s a broken hip
Martha fell and split her lip
John fell down stairs
Mary had a stroke
I’d love a drink, but I’m really broke.
Will you read this letter
She is not getting better
The baby died before it arrived
She will be looking for me
Can you feed the kids their tea
Screaming, shouting, ranting and railing, waste time, use energy and distract from the situation.
First responders at an accident will tell you: Those making noise are not critical, deal with the quiet ones first.
With advanced age people are more inclined to sweat the small stuff.
Noises in the night. Driving in busy traffic, or sometimes crossing the street can become like a task of major proportions.
The thought of falling, or dying while alone are often unspoken nightmares, but there is help at hand. A Personal Alarm can give reassurance that help is on hand when needed. With a Personal Alarm Service friends and family are only a button press away.
I found it amusing that the topic of Panic was chosen for us this week by the ever calm Ramana. I think you should move along in single file, with no panic, to see what he and the other active members of the Loose Blogging Consortium have to say on the subject: Anu, Delirious, Maxi, Maria/Gaelikaa, Maria SilverFox, OCD writer, Padmum, Paul, Ramana, Shackman speaks, The Old Fossil, Will Knott.
shackman said,
September 21, 2012 at 1:08 pm
The come-to house eh? And I find the fight or flight response at my age is more of a duck and cover response as flight long ago left these gimpy knees.
I too found it interesting Ramana brought this topic to the group. Ramana paniced is something of an oxymoron from the resident Mr Laid Back.
Delirious said,
September 21, 2012 at 1:31 pm
I really like the idea of having a “panic button”. I think most people use their cell phone in this way, but I don’t carry a cell phone. Maybe this will encourage me to carry one!
Marianna said,
September 21, 2012 at 2:43 pm
Did you write the poem, Grannymar? You are a wordsmith.
Re. panic button - for anyone who is interested, there’s an article on my blog about how to find an unbiased medical alert review: http://changeofheartstresssolutions.blogspot.ca/2012/09/stress-seniors-and-care-decisions.html.
Grannymar said,
September 21, 2012 at 3:00 pm
Shackman - ‘Come to house’ it was. We mopped brows, wiped tears, patched up wounds and put drops in eyes or ears. All the while we were making tea and baking bread or cake to with it! I suppose we were far to busy to have time to panic!
Delores - I have recommended the panic button service to many frail elderly women who are living alone. It can work from a pendent around the neck or from a pull cord in every room in the house.
Marianna - I have to admit that it is all my own work. Thanks for the link to the Medical Alert Review. I am sure some of my readers will appreciate it.
Dianne said,
September 21, 2012 at 3:08 pm
Panic from the God Pan, a badly maligned fellow. Dianne
Grannymar said,
September 21, 2012 at 3:13 pm
Dianne - Our interpretation of panic is a long way from Pan Pipes.
Rummuser said,
September 21, 2012 at 3:42 pm
You are right that I am not prone to panic Grannymar and I am flattered that you and Shackman both have noticed this. From January of 2011 I have seen a panicking old man constantly saying “I want to die” but panicking at the smallest discomfort. Eventually, we had to slip in medication to calm him down. I have seen that panic first hand and I can assure you that it was not pleasant.
Nick said,
September 21, 2012 at 3:52 pm
Those of who are only subject to mild panics are lucky. For someone who has serious panic attacks (maybe lasting for hours), it’s no joking matter. They feel utterly helpless and distraught. And the attacks come on for no apparent reason, right out of the blue, whether encouraged or discouraged.
wisewebwoman said,
September 21, 2012 at 4:15 pm
Place
All
Niggling
In
A
Crypt.
XO
WWW
Grannymar said,
September 21, 2012 at 5:53 pm
Ramana - It is not easy to watch anyone suffer and you have seen more than enough for one lifetime.
Nick - I realise that I am indeed fortunate not to suffer from serious panic attacks of bouts of depression. Falling on my face is enough for me at the moment.
WWW - Wise words, good job I didn’t do that for real a few weeks ago!
blackwatertown said,
September 21, 2012 at 11:45 pm
@ Dianne - it hadn’t dawned on me that Pan was the source of it all.
@ GM - excellent poem. Really impressive.
paulo1 said,
September 22, 2012 at 1:31 am
Brilliant, that got me right where I live.
Brighid said,
September 22, 2012 at 6:40 am
Himself’s family home was always the go to house…utter chaos…with lots of love.
Grannymar said,
September 22, 2012 at 7:44 am
BWT - Thank you. I wish I had thought of the pipes of pan, the music would have been more soothing than Ramana’s choice!!
paulo1 - Do you live in a ‘Come to’ house?
Brighid - We didn’t quite have the chaos, but we had plenty of caring.
Maxi said,
September 23, 2012 at 10:53 am
Love your prose, GM. Sounds as if there was never boredom at your house. Two of our kids are firefighters; they would agree with you about first responders.
Screaming, ranting, etc. waste time; had never thought of this but it’s true.
Blessings to you ~ Maxi
Grannymar said,
September 23, 2012 at 3:13 pm
Maxi - Thank you. We had a lively household with a large extended family often visiting and neighbours who needed help in a variety of ways. We were taught from an early age, never to turn someone away in their hour of need.
The Laughing Housewife said,
September 25, 2012 at 3:43 pm
We are the come to house in our neighbourhood. If we haven’t got it, we usually know how to fix it. And by ‘we’ I mean. of course, ‘my clever husband’
Grannymar said,
September 25, 2012 at 4:11 pm
Tilly _ In our house mammy was the fixer person. I remember watching as she changed fuses, replaced washers in taps and even the element in our iron. She was a quiet wonder woman back then.