For those us not concerned with the Book of Revelations and other religious type things, here's an explanation for our concerns. We are suffering from "anxiety-related disorders."

http://www.apa.org/monitor/jan99/ok.html

"I'm okay and you're okay, but not so sure about Y2K

The year 2000 is already triggering anxiety in people who fear accidents and disasters.

By Lisa Rabasca APA Monitor staff

When the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31, 1999,no one knows whether the world's elevators, planes, cash machines and other computer-operated equipment will continue working properly. For people with anxiety-related disorders, this uncertainty is already triggering fear and stress related to the year 2000, according to several experts on anxiety.

'For a subgroup of people with anxiety-related disorders-characterized by a general sense of unpredictability and worry about the future-the year 2000 will become a significant focus,' says David H. Barlow, PhD, director of the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Boston University.

And because no one really knows what will happen next Jan. 1, there appears to be some legitimate reason for concern, which feeds the anxieties of people who have difficulty dealing with unpredictable and uncontrollable events, says Barlow. "

-- pshannon (pshannon@inch.com), January 19, 1999

Answers

The article ends with this gem:

"...it can be helpful to remind people that the year 2000 is an invented fear. Consider this, he says: Our year 2000 will be the year 5760 on the Jewish calendar, 4698 on the Chinese calendar, 1421 on the Islamic calendar and 1922 on the Indian calendar."

I'd laugh, but the idiocy of the article depressed me too much.

If I keep repeating that it's not 2000, it's really 5760, then all will be well. Can someone tell the computers that also?

-- Steve Hartsman (hartsman@ticon.net), January 19, 1999.

Uh duh....I believe it follows logically if you have an existing anxiety disorder that something such as y2k potential failures might cause your disorder to show it's horns more prominently. Does that mean we all suffer from anxiety/panic disorder? I think not :) Insinuations suck though.

-little bit crazee, Other Lisa

-- Other Lisa (LisaWard@aol.co.), January 19, 1999.

"..people who have difficulty dealing with unpredictable and uncontrollable events.." Wonder what the clinical term will be for DGIs at rollover describing how they're dealing with unpredictED and uncontrollED events.

-- Lisa (lisab@shallc.com), January 19, 1999.

Sorry folks, but that's the final straw! With thanks and acknowledgement to Chuck (who drives in the night),

< RANT MODE ON >

Who gave this looney ishkabible Lisa Rabasca the idea that she should be heard and not seen? This garbage convinces me that the "APA Monitor staff" is the janitors who clean the computer terminal screens at the Anonymous Prophets' Association!

In our society, "X" (pronounced 'ex') is an unknown quantity and a 'spurt' is a drip under pressure. All to often the letters P H D actually mean 'piled higher and deeper. An inordinately large number of people with those letters after their name are so desperate to justify their own outrageously obscene reputations and imagined but fervently held "turf" that they unwittingly reveal their own connection to reality to be as tenuous as a three year old's grasp of existentialism.

Here's a NEWS FLASH for these genuises of journalism and anxiety:

FEAR IS NOT A BAD THING! In Her infinite wisdom, Mother Nature gave us fear to help us survive. Fear has a POSITIVE survival value and is to be USED, not avoided.

STRESS ENHANCES PERFORMANCE! Mother Nature figured this out a long time ago, but these, soon to be weeded from the gene pool morons, will not have a clue until it's simply too late.

In their own anxiety over advertising revenues, performance evaluations, peer approval and personal insecurities, these emotional leeches vainly attempt to soothe their own intellectual and professional fears by trying to cause the emotionally less scarred and calloused among us to accept the idea that lacking our mother's solace we should allow them to lead us off into a never never land of unending dependence on their advice and evaluations which would more properly be directed into the closest toilet.

< /RANT MODE >

Of course, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. (thanks to Dennis Miller for the inspiration)

-- Hardliner (searcher@internet.com), January 19, 1999.

Not to rub it in, but did I or did I not predict this in my posting Game Time: The Bug That Failed ? They're just a little ahead of my schedule, that's all...

We have exposed the unscrupulous motives that underlay the media's mid-1999 espousal of "y2k panic syndrome" and "y2k preparation disorder" as major psychopathological conditions requiring pharmacological attention ...

-RC

-- runway cat (runway_cat@hotmail.com), January 19, 1999.

You're freakin' A I'm anxious. um um um um um cant sleep.

-- Type r (sortapreparin@polly.anna), January 19, 1999.

Could we draft Don Knotts as our national y2k spokesperson?

-- aunt bea (...@....), January 19, 1999.

Well, as a psychologist with a "piled higher and deeper" type of degree, I'd like to say the APA Monitor doesn't speak for all of us. Perhaps the authors of the article (whom I've studied with in the past) need to check into the concept of DENIAL a little more carefully. I was angry when I read that article as I fear it will mislead people into doing nothing. My guess is that these academic types are so busy researching "anxiety" that they have not checked in to reality! At least the Monitor is not a widely read paper - mostly goes to professinals. Let's hope the mainstream press doesn't pick up the article. Regards, ben

-- ben (benalurker@usa.net), January 19, 1999.

Well then I have a way out! I am not responsible for my behavior. I am suffering from an anxiety disorder called "Y2K dysfunctional disorder." (which includes the following and feel free to add to them): My diet is filled with carbohydrates (rice, noodles, beans, Idaho Potato Flakes, Twinkees, etc), and my diet has altered my behavior. I am also suffering from PMS, another behavioral disorder brought about my inability to cope with womanhood, and to make matters even worse, I am post-menoapausal (hit that 48+ age), hot flashes, mood swings, crying, I'm not beautiful anymore, etc. With these behavioral disorders, anything that I say or do will not be held against me in a court of law! Who can I sue? I'm totally stressed, no telling what I'm going to do!

-- Panic (Panic@Disorder.com), January 19, 1999.

Ben,

Thanks for speaking out. It is apparent that you are not one of those who suffered intellectual emasculation in the process of getting educated. I am more than a little reassured by your post.

I share your hope about the mainstream media, but I also suspect that it wouldn't be that big a deal if they did pick it up. It would appear that few in the general population are listening. . .(or can read)

On another note, since you've let the cat out of the bag so to speak, how about giving us your perspective on the psychology of Y2K in general, or whatever you feel is important about the situation?

With regards and respect for a doctorate that is attached to a mind functioning in the real world.

-- Hardliner (searcher@internet.com), January 19, 1999.

No Hardliner, you're not wrong. You have 100% right on.

PS, 39 minutes into Billy speach and I'm puking violently, not only at the rhetoric, but the joyous response he receives from the other mindless drones in attendance.

A sad, sad, sad day.

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), January 19, 1999.

1922! 1922!

You mean in 78 years we gotta do this all over again!

Its enough to drive ya crazy!

-- (jerkenbeck@aol.com), January 19, 1999.

And one more thing, I'm suffering from Big Willy Wee Wee Syndrome. He drives me crazy! I just can't stand the thought of going into a drug store and looking at a cigar! DISGUSTING! PERVERT! He gives me such perverted thoughts! I didn't listen to him tonight because I knew his nose would grow longer and longer and then the next thought I would have is a dildoe! I am losing it folks, really losing it! Please God, deliver me from this Y2K, PMS, sugar high, Clinton Sex, syndrome, I am ready to crack!

-- Panic (Panic@Disorder.com), January 19, 1999.

Does this mean we aren't in Kansas anymore ??

-- Mike (mickle2@aol.com), January 20, 1999.

I just got back from having lunch with a psychologist who is a friend of mine. Guess what? She is preparing.

Some of the points they make in the article may be true. If you are anxious and distrustful by nature, Y2K could drive you over the edge.

However, the implications that fearing that Y2K will be worse than a winter storm is "abnormal and unjustified" is total CRAP-OLA.

I especially like this part. "Practitioners can emphasize that even if there is a problem, such as the water supply temporarily shutting down, there is reason to believe people will act appropriately." What is appropriate behavior under those circumstances? Sit at home and die of thirst? Is that any more "rational" than hunting form water?

-- Sue (conibear@gateway.net), January 25, 1999.

Thanks for giving your conter-view Ben. It just goes to prove what we were discussing on another thread; that denial and the ability to "grasp the big picture" run across all professions and all levels of education.

Hardliner, my husband who's in construction, loves to boast he has a PHD...as in plumbing, heating and demolition ;-D

Panic, ROFL! Get a grip! here, blow into that brown bag...

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), January 25, 1999.