Here's another poll!

Yesterday my A-nonnie DH was driving us through the Singapore traffic. As is the norm, we got cut up by taxi-drivers, had people pull out in front of us without indicating, had the car in front stop suddenly on double yellow lines to let someone out (in 4 lanes of traffic), and had a bendy-bus decide it wanted our lane before we'd completely finished with it.

DH was cool and calm - he does this for an hour twice a day. I've been here 3 years and I was still clutching the sides of my seat and holding my breath through every near miss. DH laughed at me for being so nervous.

When Rebecca (blogger and fellow O-nonnie) came over to Singapore, we spent a wonderful evening with Accidental Chef (O-sec Hunter), comparing personality traits. AC listened in calm astonishment, being unable to relate to any of our nervousness.

So here's my poll. DH is a non-nervous A-nonnie. Bec, myself and another O-nonnie friend are scaredy cats, and AC is a calm cucumber. What are you, and does being a nonnie make any difference?

I am normaly a calm A nonnie, but since I am also a HSP(highly sensitive person), I can switch to being nervous if my life gets too busy. I make a true effort to try to simplify my life, and not be nervous.

...hmmm it depends on the situation, mormally I am merely calm .....only nervous when overwhelmed and here I take immediately a bunch of magnesium and so that enables me to stand the situation  

but I can be choleric...yeppers..... but much less than in my youth   orrr much better it converted into accidity in words ......to play with words is fantastic ......

I voted calm.  Even HSP as I am, I manage to take most things in stride as long as I keep my life simple.

I did have a harrowing driving experience last week though, that left me upset for hours.  I was on my way to work, going about 60 mph, coming up a hill.  At the peak of the hill is an intersection, at which this oblivious driver pulls out right in front of me.  Either he didn't see me or didn't care if I hit him.  He stepped on the gas (the back of his car dropped like 6 inches from the pull) and I stepped on the brake, leaving a pair of skid marks 4 to 5 times the length of my car (I miss anti-lock brakes), and a matched pair of flat spots on my front tires to boot.  I came within a carlength of hitting him, and half a second later on the brake and I would have.  I don't get road rage, and I didn't then either, but it shook me up pretty bad.

I jump at anything.  I put on the imaginary brakes all the time when I'm the passenger in a car.
Our hot water heater is in our bedroom closet.  It is on a timer.  When it clicks on in the morning, I involuntarily jump half out of my skin.

I hate driving in the city with everything rushing at me.  I prefer highway, suburb and country driving.  I voted nervous.

When it comes to being in a car with someone else driving, I get nervous easily.  I think it is from not being in control and from losing a friend in an accident. Usually I am calm and deal with things as they occur (and get shook up later, after the incident is over)so I guess it depends on the situation.

Gee drive55, glad to hear you are ok! Scary! Now that you mention it, I voted calm, but they didn't have a category for 'calm till your 16 year old drives out of the driveway'. If that was a category, I'd have voted "nervous!".

Quoted from RHTeacher

When it comes to being in a car with someone else driving, I get nervous easily.  I think it is from not being in control...

This is my mother to a tee...

Quoted from RHTeacher

Usually I am calm and deal with things as they occur (and get shook up later, after the incident is over)so I guess it depends on the situation.

...and this is me, in most things.  If I'm in a tense situation/confrontation with a person, I stay calm externally, but inside, not so.  I'm not a "quick wit" in an argument, preferring to think about what I say before blurting it out.  Hmm, maybe I should have voted "nervous" instead.

Yerba Mate makes me calm.  

I tend to stay uptight pretty  much ... well, mostly all the time.  It's a chore for me to relax because my nonnieness and ADD and being an HSP (which probably all go hand-in-hand) make me edgy when I'm around a whole lot of noise. It's always very noisy around here, so I tend to be nervous a lot.  Yerba Mate, like I said, makes me calm.

In fact, I now drink a cup before I go shopping.  Normally I tend to zone out in stores because it's overwhelming and there's too many choices and the music and people make me zone out, unless it's somewhere I go very, very often.  Then I can concentrate better.  Anyway, when I drink a cup of Mate, I can concentrate on what I need and my trip is much faster.  I'd be willing to bet that a teacher would have less problems from her ADD and ADHD children if she gave them a cup of tea before school every day, with parental permission of course.  Wouldn't that be a neat experiment?  I just know what it does for me.  My ADD goes away when I have a cup.

Quoted from dawgmama

Gee drive55, glad to hear you are ok! Scary! Now that you mention it, I voted calm, but they didn't have a category for 'calm till your 16 year old drives out of the driveway'. If that was a category, I'd have voted "nervous!".

I used to sky dive and that was less nerve racking than when my son 1st learned to drive.  

I guess I'm more nervous with the unknown. I had some traumatic situations as a child & young adult & maybe I react somehow.
I also don't like pain, so erratic driving surely would make me nervous!!
If I'm in a situation & I don't know how it will be resolved, I am uneasy. But if a friend is going thru a similar thing, I'm all over about encouraging them that it will all work out!
I didn't vote officially, but I think I'm in the nervous category!
S S & L,
Mrs "T"   O+

RedLilac, you crack me up! I wasn't as nervous when my daughter started driving. He is more easily distracted, must be all the half-naked young ladies walking around now that the weather is nicer!

You used to sky dive? How cool!

I know a guy who totaled a really nice truck because he turned to look at a girl while he was driving.  He hit a telephone pole.

Quoted from Ribbit

I know a guy who totaled a really nice truck because he turned to look at a girl while he was driving.  He hit a telephone pole.

Yikes! "Keep your eyes on the road, your hands upon the wheel" as the song says.

I rotated my tires yesterday evening.  It was interesting.  The two front tires (which were, admittedly, almost worn out) had cord showing on those flat spots, and both had little gobs of rubber in the center tread line from where the friction melted the tire during the slide.  I put those two on the back!  At least if one blows out, it won't be as difficult to control the car as it would be if they were on the front axle.

I put nervous, but would have preferred to see 'high strung' perhaps. I much prefer to do the driving.
I am often awesomely mellow, and can get quite tightly wound up over some things. I'm not one or the other.
drive, glad you're okay.  

That gives me an idea for a thread.  What kind of car does everybody drive?  I'll call it "From Point A to Point B."

If I could live in the Yukon, far from the mass lunacy of mainstream civilization, I would.

Yes, I'm a nervous nonnie.

Also, I drive a little green Toyota.  It's inhabited by the spirit of a "Rosie the Riveter" named Olga who owned it just before she died.  She watches over me in traffic, and inspires me to keep the car running good.

I'm a much less nervous nonnie since I moved into this new home, away from a certain former roommate.

Quoted Text

I'm a much less nervous nonnie since I moved into this new home, away from a certain former roommate.

Was that "certain former roommate" of the "long eyelashes" variety?

I voted for my 13 yr old A nonnie daughter.  As she matures she's starting to be able to control her fears and nerves a little but a couple of years ago, boy did we have dramas - she worries about everything!

Quoted Text

I voted for my 13 yr old A nonnie daughter.  As she matures she's starting to be able to control her fears and nerves a little but a couple of years ago, boy did we have dramas - she worries about everything!

Awwwww... Poor little rabbit.

Quoted from 521

Was that "certain former roommate" of the "long eyelashes" variety?

He may have had long eyelashes, but it didn't help him have an amiable temperament.  Evidently.

Quoted from 521

Was that "certain former roommate" of the "long eyelashes" variety?

I didn't notice if his eyelashes were long, because I was distracted by his tongue lashes!

Quoted from Ribbit

He may have had long eyelashes, but it didn't help him have an amiable temperament.  Evidently.

Exactly.  I moved out Friday night, and by Sunday the acute stress of moving had already been counteracted by not having to deal with sharing a home with that guy.

drive,

Oh, so it was a guy roommate.  Yeah, those can come to fisticuffs pretty easily.  I'm always amazed at how some guys are... my college life was full of roommates that, honestly and truly, belonged in cages or something.

Ron, he probably would have beat me up, if it had come to that.  Between years of sickliness, a bad back, and no experience fighting or wrestling, I wouldn't have been much of a match.  It's disconcerting to worry about being the target of physical violence from someone you live with.

Quoted from TJ

tongue lashes!

it's not nervousness, but merely an inner tension what i dislike mostly.....

That is me too.

I find certain foods help me deal with that inner tension and others make it worse (usually stuff I shouldn’t be eating anyway).

RedLilac perhaps should we augment our intake of L'arginine
seems to be a question of a bit lacky NO in our heads.....
I'm still taking now 2x500mg's a day......so normally that should be enough....

I used to take L'arginine a long time ago.  I’m always switching around for one reason or another.  Maybe I should pick some up again.  I just did a Google on foods highest in it and I had to go a ways down the list to find compliant items, but the list is very long so I can find some good ones.    I could just concentrate on eating more of those during nervous nonnie episodes.

I might try some L'arginine and magnesium. I've been a nervous nonnie since the day I was born.  I've lived in Manhattan for 7 years and I have to find my quiet spaces in the city otherwise I'm on edge constantly.  Washington Square Park is my sanctuary. I read ERFYT on the benches their and the other day several people came up to me and asked about the book!

wow Sharon, you'd be the angel to give some BTD-lessons ........btw the l'arginine and magnesium stuff is a good idea ..... I use magnesium in highest amounts and it seems my body needs it ... .....fine for all kinds of nervous things working with Louise Hays method is also very fine for me and of course autogenes training nach Schulze as well..........
btw...working with the power tube means to produce a form of antistress aminoacid..... it's prooven....

if worry means nervous than I voted incorrectly.  I do worry, if I don't hear from my children, when I'm suppose too, and there grown.

Or is that just being a Mom?

I don't know my secretor status, but I fit the bill for Nervous Nonnie to a T

time to invest in a secretor test and be done with the guessing,
don t you think?

I'm nervous and anxious almost all the time and my identical twin sister is one of the most calm people I know, it kind of drives me crazy.

Since everyone is telling driving experiences, I was pulled over a couple weeks ago for nothing, I accidentally had my brights on. The cop suspected that I had been drinking (which I had not at all) and I started to get really, really nervous when I thought they might do a roadside test on me. I was actually shaking so bad, I could hardly stand up when I got out of my car. The cops made up their mind that I was on something so they handcuffed me and took me to the station for further testing, it was terrifying! Everything came out completely clean... I'm not sure they could believe that. Its a funny story to tell now but, to tell the truth, I haven't really driven since, it makes me nervous anymore.

sorry you had such a bad experience!

How do I Un-vote? I forgot "nonnie" means non-secretor, not non-taster.

cripes  

I'm horizontal!!

get your mental exercises done daily and you will wonder how calm you will get...I always do my short repetitions when I remark that I'm going to overdrive in my mind...here Louise Hay always helps me out

I see its also a question og the hpa-axis....take care not to get overloaded with adrenal hormones, especially not for us, the AB's.... got my tests done with a wonderful colleague and also by Global Diagnostics...wow I've to calm down it seems... ....as usual too intense....= nonnie-likehow would I be able to change this  ......

Isa...horizontal...is so laid back almost asleep...
Now that's how I see me compared to someone like Joseph....but you've actually met me; how did I come across to you?

Remember the police officer was doing his job, what he thought was best by what he seen, try some deep breathing exercises and relax, get in that car and drive and when you see a police car near you remember you did nothing wrong and keep driving at the right speed, you can do it.

Janetli I found out... you are completely normal and not at all too calm or whatsoever... no sleepy-pill ... and a very nice lady as well .........

Quoted from Amazone I.

get your mental exercises done daily and you will wonder how calm you will get...I always do my short repetitions when I remark that I'm going to overdrive in my mind...here Louise Hay always helps me out

I see its also a question og the hpa-axis....take care not to get overloaded with adrenal hormones, especially not for us, the AB's.... got my tests done with a wonderful colleague and also by Global Diagnostics...wow I've to calm down it seems... ....as usual too intense....= nonnie-likehow would I be able to change this  ......

Yoga darling.    

Debra

you see she gets me always by my legs ....maestra roostersis tried this and found out terribly boring..... prefer to go for a walk into nature ....

I'm somewhere in between, to be honest - I've recognised that I can now usually think more clearly without panic, when I've been in stressful situations that I've had to deal with alone (husband away etc)
But having said that, if I haven't slept well or eaten compliantly for a while that makes a big difference.. If that happens, these days, I feel like there's someone else completely different in my body
BUT I am nervous even now, of whether I fully have got it right re my status (Gatherer or Explorer ) I thought finding out my secretor status, would finally determine that
I didn't have the book handy & misremembered something...now checking, I am unsure, becos of reactions I have had to various foods on both lists... As I said in another thread...I'm too scared to even eat the yummy organic parsnips I paid top dollar for... in case they cause a reaction

btw..... using gemstone is amazing as well...since decades I use an amitrin to calm down and stay well... it works....

Nervous driver.  I hate driving.  I'm always happy when a capable driver is willing to take over the wheel.  I'm anxious in traffic or around unpredicatable drivers.  I get frustrated.  On the other hand, when traffic is calm I'll sometimes zone out and arrive somewhere having little memory of how I drove there.  I often used to drive right past my workplace in the morning while listening to something on the radio - just kept going down the road.  Which was most likely my subconscious telling me something!     I tend to be more nervous away from home, and calm in my home.  I don't know what it has to do with secretor status.

yeah, we like a peaceful environment best

If the casual anthropology in the Explorer monograph is correct, some nonnies may have a genetic memory of loosing everything that they have.  Repeated expose to this "move on or die", would have the same effect as being an orphan or otherwise being abandoned.

Like a boxer with twitchy nerves after being hit in the head so many times, this will not go away just by leaving the ring.

Geez, I jump at everything!  I notice a correlation with liver health though.  Seem to be much more calm after a good detox..

Me = nervous + nonnie.  Correlation?  You be the judge.  

Well, just got my secretor test back and I'm joining your ranks of noonie. It doesn't take much to start me worrying and than the anxious energy starts. And when my life gets too stressful and I can't get my worrying in check for a longer period my digestive system gets out of whack.

Quoted Text

Me = nervous + nonnie.  Correlation?  You be the judge

wardrobe!!!!

I don't like the phrase "nervous." I'm more high-strung and b!tchy when I'm tired, overwhelmed, or not feeling well. I have a VERY short fuse at times.

And at other times, I'm completely calm, in control, and can take everything in stride.

Too bad I can't vote for "inconsistent nonnie."

Quoted from paul clucas

If the casual anthropology in the Explorer monograph is correct, some nonnies may have a genetic memory of loosing everything that they have.  Repeated expose to this "move on or die", would have the same effect as being an orphan or otherwise being abandoned.

Can you explain this further, why would nonnies have this genetic memory?

I voted 'nervous' nonnie, because I think of myself as highly strung, as well as being ultra sensitive to the environment/energies and people around me.

I think innately we all have the potential to be calm, confident and able to deal appropriately with whatever life brings to us, but this ability can become compromised by trauma imprints-both passed on through parental and ancestral lineage, and from our own (especially very early) difficult/painful life experiences. Epigenetics in other words, though fixed genetic factors (such as blood type or secretor status) will also have a bearing on the way an individual tends to approach situations.

Goes without saying diet can strongly affect one's baseline stress threshold. I was more anxious pre-BT diet, particularly from wheat-which I think is so a very well documented effect  of it. Even consuming gluten traces can throw me into a 'manic' mood now.

  

My nervousness also is connected with colon health ie how much waste is backed up in the colon.  My ability to think clearly and organise myself is also affected.  I believe the large amounts of cow's milk, grains and sugar starting in childhood has weakened most of my glands/organs; as have things like antibiotics, and pharma medicines.  Folks, please take care of your intestinal health - Norman Walker's book, Colon Health - good book.  Recently, my system very sluggish and this has caused bleeding gums and swollen gums on right side of my mouth.  All organs/glands connected. Gut is the 'second brain' so also, mental stress and grief can affect our system/colon/other glands.

I voted for my husband...He is a nervous A nonnie.  But Ruthie describes this characteristic more
accurately...short fuse...irritability, appearing to be impatient and intolerant of frustrating situations.

And also as Ruthie describes, there are times, my husband can be very centered and calm. Feed him
and he's calm.   Talk to him when he's hungry or tired or being pulled in too many directions and he's not calm.  I also think he has ADD which gives him a lot of frustration when he's not focusing properly.
Much of this focus is corrected after he's eaten a big meal.  He seems to need to snack every few hours.
Might be blood sugar issues as well.

I would vote for inconsistent nonnie for my husband..

And for myself, I might be an inconsistent secretor.  If I've got too much to do or if I'm tired, I have no patience at all.  It's not that I'm nervous, when I've run out of energy, I'm done.....I'm simply needing to pull the plug on everything and be left alone.

Quoted from Chloe

...short fuse...irritability, appearing to be impatient and intolerant of frustrating situations.

...there are times, my husband can be very centered and calm. Feed him
and he's calm.   Talk to him when he's hungry or tired or being pulled in too many directions and he's not calm.  

...If I've got too much to do or if I'm tired, I have no patience at all.  It's not that I'm nervous, when I've run out of energy, I'm done.....I'm simply needing to pull the plug on everything and be left alone.

Describes me to a "T". Especially the energy thing. Pacing myself has always been difficult--the energy is either there or not there so I start my day very early, and must be finished with any rigorous chores ASAP. Energy just wanes as the day progresses, and I won't have the strength to prepare dinner later if the prep work isn't done in advance. We no longer have the option to just order a pizza. Late evening social events are out of the question. Never understood "night owls".

My wife is also a nonnie, but doesn't suffer from any of this. She is, however, quite extraverted by comparison, and runs all day on an even keel. Have to wonder about that correlation.

I am another inconsistent nonnie.
I need to get the most demanding chores done early, never sure if I will run out of energy. I am reluctant to make many social commitments outside of my work day, because I easily get tired and run out of steam. I also have adrenal fatigue.
Knowing that my energy level and ability to concentrate is unpredictable, does make me feel "nervous"  and overwhelmed at times.