I am a prepper. Not quite a crazy doomsday prepper. I haven't spent my life savings building a bunker 40 feet under my garage, but I like to be prepared. I keep a few months of non perishable food on hand, many hundreds of litres of drinking water, many gallons of stabilized gasoline, a gas generator, a wood stove with lots of wood to burn, a couple of "go bags" at the ready... & my pride & joy: My emergency solar backup power system. It's kind of a hobby for me.

But I just got thinking today about this... Does my need to prep come from a need to feel safe, possibly due to being violated in the past? Do I over compensate now because I had no protection from bad things as a child? It's a really safe & sensible hobby I think. It means that in a power outage or major catastrophe my wife & I will likely be ok. Sure beats drinking, gambling or collecting Star Wars toys, from that perspective!

Anyone else here identify with this?

LP

Yes. I think it probably comes from that.

It's good to be prepared. But our lives are so intertwined with the communities we live in that subsistence without the community becomes questionable.

Yes, I too chronically feel unsafe. I was not safe as a lad.

Puffer

Wow, LP, I never even thot of that.

I've lived most of my life in an area vulnerable to hurricanes and, because of experiences like weeks without electricity, have gradually increased my preps over the years.

I have a genny, gas, solar lamps and crank radio, large water jugs and a month of MREs, plus the usual nonperishables. During hurricane season the car's tank is topped off weekly. I have wondered if I'm going "prepper" or - at least down here in the States - if it's a post-9/11 overreaction, but never linked it to needing to feel safe as a child.

Excellent, unexpected insight. Thanks.

Mmmm, it because your abuse but its not a bad way to find Cathersis. At least you will be prepared for anything

...Got me thinking... Most of those guys on "Doomsday Preppers" may have had crappy childhoods.

what an interesting theory

.......I usually watch that show & think "Man, is that dude ever messed up!!!" When a CSA survivor thinks someone else is really messed up, I think that's telling of some sort of trauma in their past... Be it CSA, PTSD or maybe some other sort of trauma or mental illness. I'm super mentally ill & I think I'm getting good at spotting others.