Does your reaction to PC reflect your usual temperament?

I think it does even though i'd like to say it doesn't.  I've come to know myself pretty well over the years and I am a fear-based person.

ed

 

Yeah. I'm an irrational optimist. From the beginning I just expected everything to be fine. I educated myself, read Walsh's book, lots of blogs promoting different treatments, talked to different doctors, but it never occurred to me that I wouldn't be fine. Two days before my surgery, as I packed the car for an overnight business trip, I spent some time stressing about how tough it would be to keep traveling and working if I had uncontrolled incontinence. Then I did a few kegels and dismissed the fear.
Yes, it was irrational to be totally unconcerned. But it is who I am and it turned out to be true. Things went irrationally well.
Perhaps "Happiness is being too dumb to know what to worry about" (Ziggy).
Mikey

I faced PC just about about like I faced my gallbladder blowing up on me, "darn, well there goes my weekend in the shop."

and then proceeded to blame all future health problem on the last crisis.

My PSA anxiety has always been based in the fear of the unknown. Until the test results are and while the outcome is still a mystery, I am a bundle of fears and a mass of, "what ifs" flow unwanted through my brain.

Once the 'what ifs' are settled, I just go to the shop and make things. Or write comments here.

Peace,
Andrew

Mel,
I like to think of myself as mild mannered and easy going although my wife and grandson call me a dictator so my view of "self" is probably wrong. During a few life threatening events I learned to put "fear in a box" and operate with ,"high anxiety" and sometimes controlled rage until the situation was resolved. I always managed to resolve the issue in my favor until PCa
. Sure, I won a federal suit and am devoting much effort in support of "screening" and other efforts. At my age I don't fear PCa since I'll die of a heart attack or another cancer. My dad died of a heart attack at age 61 so I wonder why I'm still standing..I've had a great life and wife so I have no regrets.
To answer a question, I don't believe that I could lock "pain in a box" and I don't want to find out; I'm really a wuus!!
Bill

Mel,
I think there are two distinct issues, anxiety and the behavior that corresponds to historical behavior. Everyone's brain goes through the exact same process that are sequential and predictable; the only difference is the time of response and the intensity of response.
My response to major life changes has always been rather quick, minutes or seconds, before I start making a plan of action that always puts the long term objectives ahead of any short term objectives. That plan always includes gathering information about the situation that I will need to make long term decisions and the steps I need to take. I tend to look at these life's issues as challenges to be overcome rather than insurmountable obstacles.
Anxiety is a different issue; it is symptom of discomfort. We will always have anxiety, fear of the unknown or the fear of failing. Fear of the unknown can be overcome with information and experience, and fear of failing can be alleviated with a well thought out plan of action. This doesn't get rid of anxiety, just makes it easier to deal with.
The more of life's major changes we encounter the faster we are able to process and deal with the changes. The brain can be trained to adapt to change and reduce both the time needed to process the change and the intensity of the emotional response to it.
This is the major purpose of basic training in the military, to reduce the response of change paralysis from hours or minutes to sub second. It's a lot easier to make major changes in a Tech Company where people are used to rapid change than in a company that has been doing business the same way for a generation.

The predictable and sequential responses to change are:
Loss; manifests fear, caution and paralysis.
Doubt; manifests resentment, skepticism, resistance and blame.
Discomfort; manifests anxiety, confusion non productive behavior.
Discovery; manifests anticipation, energized, decision making
Understanding; manifests confidence, pragmatism, realization of benefits
Integration; making the change a part of your life, satisfaction.

The major difference in how we react is the time it takes to go through the stages and how long we are stuck in a particular stage. it could be for a second or years. I think Sonny and Tony are the best example of ones who have reached integration stage and successfully made the change caused by this disease a part of their lives in a productive manner.

I would say it does. I was pretty much waiting for this diagnosis since my father died of prostate cancer in 1978. I took it in a matter of fact way, doing research as I always do when trying to solve any problem or project that comes my way. I'm more into short term goals and just getting through this recovery period is really all I dwell on regarding Pca. However, I can only assume that if I had not appeared to have done so well, I may very we'll be experiencing frustration and disappointment. It's the luck of the draw and that of the surgeon as well.