All hope Gone

[Overcomer88]

Two weeks ago....sept 18 hurricane Maria hit my beautiful country Dominica... The nature isle of the Caribbean....been coping very well ...had one break down since.....but today went to one of the few supermarkets still up and now my chest is tight....neck,shoulders are in pain from all the tension...and just feel so drained

[Agora1]

Overcomer88, I am sorry for all the people who were hit horrifically by the hurricane. I would think the devastation of it all hit hard today causing your anxiety to manifest 10 fold. Something keeps us afloat when bad things are happening, it's only when it's over do we tend to fall apart at the seams. I hope coming to the forum can help you some in our comfort and caring way. This forum is shared by people who know what it's like to suffer emotionally. What you went through is a physical visual as well. One step at a time in coming together again. You are safe and that is what counts more than anything else. Take care of you xxx

[Overcomer88 in reply to Agora1]

Thank you so much your words are comforting..... This is the heaviest I have felt ever.....one day at a time

[Agora1 in reply to Overcomer88]

xx

[Binkynoo]

Hi overcomer88

Big hugs to you and I hope that you will find the strength within you ,and put into good energy ,so you can enjoy each day now. deep breath .thinking of you x

Binkynoo

[Isaack]

I'm sorry to hear about what's happening over there. I pray that god will be with you and don't lose hope. Your going to make it through this!! Your not alone. Don't lose hope

[Overcomer88 in reply to Isaack]

I won't lose hope...thank u

[HearYou]

Dear Overcome88,

You have the right name, because as Agora1 wrote, once the aftermath of immediate danger passes, the fallout hit's our anxiety and sorrow. But anxiety will begin to ease as you have control to turn to your plans to overcome the damage of Maria.

I have found Agora1 to be a very caring and intellectually gifted woman. She can see through all the hurt and anxiety and depression, straight through to the outcome of that pain. And we all need someone like her to realistically see the dawn after the dark. Thank goodness some Think Tank hasn't pulled her away from us. She is rational while letting the rest of us hurt for a while when we need.

You will see that Dominica will work with you to reclaim her beauty just as Puerto Rico will after Hurricane Irma made a direct hit on her, then within weeks, so did Hurricane Maria. Our Commonwealth of the island of Puerto Rico almost seemed to disappear. If there is a Garden of Paradise, the Caribbean Islands are it's birthplace.

I was on a ship when Irma was active, and no way to go around her to reach home port. The captain of the ship is a descendant of Vikings and lived up to his heritage. He skillfully guided the largest passenger ship in the world to stay behind Irma and in front of Jose for over two weeks. There were no safe ports. I saw what Irma did to Haiti, St.Martin and many of the island nations in that Garden of Paradise.

All we could do was silently look. There are no words, so I will offer none. Please let your anxiety turn to grief. Mine did. The beautiful, no,...the magnificent, Caribbean we saw just days before appeared gone.

(Remarkably my home in Florida was spared). Then the announcement came while the ship was still dodging Irma. The passengers on that huge ship of over 7,000 people were silent, some cried and some told others to be quiet. Then many gasped or applauded as we listened to the Captain of the Oasis of the Seas announce that Royal Carribean Cruise Inc was sending ships to the Caribbean with food, water, supplies and building materials and bringing people back to Florida for safety. That was before we even knew when we would ever make it home...or what we would find.

So you and your Dominica will both rise again just as the Phoenix. This is not the Caribbean's first rodeo with hurricanes. You will both be stronger and more beautiful as you slowly recover because the world cares. Hurricane relief funds are coming from as far away as England, and from many private US companies and the US Government and just plain people like me.

I just returned from the Caribbean again on that same ship one day ago. Irma and Maria are gone, but your (and I like to think my) islands still stand waiting for the world to see just what they can do with the help that has come.

Glorious. Maybe we shall meet some day and celebrate together. In the meantime, you are in my thoughts and love, and together we will both keep our anxiety in control. xxx

[Agora1 in reply to HearYou]

Beautifully said HearYou from someone who saw the vengeance of the hurricane and what it can do. Like anything else in life, unless you experience it yourself, it is difficult to feel the anguish of the people affected by this. You stayed strong throughout and weren't afraid to go back again. It takes courage to do that. May your words of confidence spread unity and belief that together we are strong and can accomplish anything. Thanks for sharing your story with us. May you always be kept safe while traveling xx

[HearYou in reply to Agora1]

Thank you Agora1 , but who said I wasn't afraid to go back again on the same ship? With hurricanes beginning to form again?

I really was thinking about telling my husband we needed to change our business schedule and skip that trip. But then thought, no, I needed to get back on the horse, or I might be feeding my anxiety too much . Am glad I did that. But it was not an easy sail. Was on the largest cruise ship in the world, and we had to avoid scheduled ports as the wind was too strong to be safe.

Only stopped in Nassau where four other ships were already in the harbor. We watched what we thought was impossible. The Captain managed to gently ease this mega ship into the only available tight space between her sister ship on one side and three large ships on the other.

The wind was too strong to lift a seriously ill passenger by helicopter, and the medical transport ship would bounce the patient too much.

So this descendant of Vikings did what had to be done. The patient left the ship on a stretcher and placed in an ambulance. Only then did the ship eased out of its very tight mooring, and passed a scheduled port later as there was not sufficient time to stop.

That ill passenger came first.

My anxiety actually reduced by watching, with many of the 7000 other people on the ship, the Captain do the impossible. The five ships were so close side by side they look like one enormous ship with one continuous deck.

I didn't always believe facing my fears helped control anxiety. Do now.

[Overcomer88 in reply to Agora1]

Yes thank u...this reply gave me chills.....thank you so much.....yes do come back to visit when u come back... It shall be even more beatiful

We are so thankful for all the relief sent to us from America to England... To even Colombia and Venezuela!! Its amazing what Gods People can do

[mooner04]

I was in Cuba a few years ago when a hurricane hit. The beautiful people there somehow managed to find the strength & will to recover and I'm sure you & your compatriots will do the same. My heart & spirit is with you and your people.

[Overcomer88 in reply to mooner04]

Thank you

[CSusan]

Dear Overcomer 88,

I understand what you are going through. I live in Houston, Texas; Hurricane Harvey caused massive flooding in our city and southeast Texas. Harvey dumped >51 inches of rain over a 4 day period in August, and our house flooded for the first time. Homes that never flooded had several feet of water and cars were submerged in flood waters. Rebuilding homes and businesses will take several years.

We won't be able to move back into our home until December at the earliest. Experiencing such an event is overwhelming; it takes its toll physically as well as emotionally. Additionally, our kitty 🐱 has been sick and we've been making frequent trips to the vet's office.

I am grateful for the kindness and generosity that everyone has shown us during this difficult time. Even when I'm not feeling positive, I make an effort to enjoy the little things in life, i.e. birds singing, babies smiling, the sun shining.

I think feeling tense and anxious is a normal reaction; I certainly have those feelings.

[Overcomer88 in reply to CSusan]

Yes...how terrifying it must have been for you....and to think just some weeks ago we were praying for Houston Texas....I have family there....to them now calling to find out how we down here are doing....time heals....this too shall pass