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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Please delete me from your email list</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=garranosayahoo.com href="mailto:garranosayahoo.com">garranos</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU
href="mailto:GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU">GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, September 20, 2003 3:39
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Almost - pre-Camino
jitters</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>There are not may people who will openly admit to having suffered a full
on panic attack, and for those who haven’t suffered one, I'm sure it would be
difficult to understand what a traumatic life-changing experience it is! For
people who have suffered so, the use of the word panic is a strong one. For
example the expression "don't panic" can in itself induce a feeling that
one may do so. <BR><BR>I prefer words like apprehension, anxiety and fear.
These are also strong words, but they can sometimes be empowering. It's all
about the individual, and how he or she relates to those words. I'm no
head shrink, but anybody who sets out on the Camino and crosses the Pyrenees
without feeling a little bit apprehensive and nervous is either emotionless or
unwise.
<P class=MsoNormal></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>In unusual conditions apprehension itself can
have many short-term benefits in meeting difficult situations. I was very
apprehensive when I set out on my Camino. So much so that I felt physically
sick. When I arrived in SJPP I was still fighting with my emotions, and if it
wasn’t for the spiritual adventure and challenge of everything… known and
unknown, visible and invisible, I would have turned back. </P>
<P class=MsoNormal></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>After a good nights rest in SJPP I felt recharged but I
still felt apprehensive. Not because I was worried about crossing the
Pyrenees. I’d been there before, and in many ways it reminded me of my
playgrounds, (The English Pennines and hills and mountains of Wales.) I was
more concerned about whether I’d make it to Santiago? Whether I’d
overestimated my fitness? Whether I could cope with six weeks of footslogging?
Whether I was carrying too much kit, etc?</P>
<P class=MsoNormal></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Judging by the amount of offlist post I’ve received
concerning pre Camino anxiety, I think it’s quite natural to feel apprehensive
before setting off! I would also like to point out that there are lots of
other factors that make considerable contributions to those feelings of
apprehension. Things that we often overlook like: lack of sleep, dehydration,
fitness, morale, illnesses and injury.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>If it helps, those feelings of apprehension soon evaporate
in those first few days!</P>
<P class=MsoNormal></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Ultreya – Jason<BR>Moderator Ultreya.net<BR><BR><B><I>Sally
Haden <hadense1948aHOTMAIL.COM></I></B> wrote:</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">So
I wondered if there are any of you who wanted to share any experiences that
would help those of us who "worry"!<BR>Peace to all<BR>Sally<BR>Lancashire,
UK</BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
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