Therapy that goes bang

[cold dead hands]

Now of courrse we do not want to scare any antis that might lurk around here, but how many here use their shootin' as therapy or find it to be helpful to blown off steam, relax, or even bring some peace to your anxiety that is caused by the sling and arrows of this thing we call life?

I will admit that even handling my firearms gives a small sense of peace and security. I only go shooting up to 4 times a year as I just never see to family and buisness squared away for more range time and every time I go I feel so much better. My ex-wife told me I need to get out of the house and have fun. At the time I was cleaning my Para WartHawg. I looked her in the eye and said I am having fun. Once I was a liitle down and my father told me to go shooting. He said it would make me feel better.

So, to ask another question (that's two for you to answer if so feel), how emotionally tied are your to your guns?

Me, losing them would be like someone kidnapping my children. And no, I do not love my children less than my guns LOL.

 

[BADUNAME13]

I always feel better after shooting. If I don't go shooting for awhile... I get tense.


Someone hurts my babies... I'll hurt them back.

 

[average_shooter]

Actually, yeah, I do find it to be pretty good medicine. Just tonight I was doing the range portion of a concealed carry class, first time at an indoor range and I was a little nervous about my ability and other people watching me. Well, I was nervous until I looked through the sights and got my finger on the trigger. Ended up with just one "miss" though it was still in the silhouette.

Shooting is one of those sports in which you need to concentrate and focus, that always helps me "center" myself.

Cleaning firearms can also be quite enjoyable. I like to know how the firearms I'm working on actually work, so getting to take them apart is fun. And again, when I get into "deep cleaning" mode, I get to focus on the task at hand and take a break from the rest of the world for a while.

Or maybe it's the fumes from the solvents....

 

[zinj]

Depends on the shooting. I don't enjoy punching paper (doesn't hold my interest), or strictly regimented stuff like trap-shooting. I'll do it when there is nothing else, but I don't get the enjoyment and relaxation of using reactive targets in a laid-back environment.

I do occaisionally take my guns out to practice mounting and dry-firing, but it isn't as good as shooting.

Lately handling my guns and going shooting hasn't been to relaxing because they keep breaking!

 

[jlbraun]

Very much so. 1100 rounds of .22 is 3 hours of therapy for $19.92. Pretty cheap!

 

[sfhogman]

Being as how I live in an urban environment, it's indoor paper punching for me, which is just fine. A co-worker and I meet at the range Fridays after work for an hour's shooting, usually with .22s and .38s, or maybe my 1911. An hour's hard concentration on the front sight does wonders for putting the ol' San Francisco VA hospital in back of me for the weekend. After shooting, a nice dinner and I'm ready to go Saturday morning.

Pretty antisocial stuff, I know.

Jeff

 

[Beetle Bailey]

First, let me state what it is not. It isn't like I get angry because someone cut me off on the freeway, and then when I am at the range, I imagine that driver as my target and I just blast away. That is very far from the truth.

For me, shooting can be very relaxing. It takes a fair amount of calm focus for me to shoot a rifle accurately enough to satisfy my expectations. Because it demands all my attention, external problems have the tendency to fade into the background (as long as I have a good gun ). But, I live a pretty easy going life, so it's not like I go to the range to escape a mad world.

As far as being emotionally tied to my guns, well, of all my material possessions, they are the ones I hold closest to my heart, even though my car and home are more important. I even tried to give a few of them names in the beginning, but lately I haven't bothered. I don't think there is anything wrong with being emotionally invested in your guns as long as you have your priorities in order.

 

[ndh87]

Shooting is the best therapy I have ever found...well, one of the best .

Somehow everything else just dissapears and i can forget about everything but my shooting. Especially if Im shooting long range, as soon as i pick up the rifle, everything else just fades away and the only thing I am concentrating on is my breathing, sight picture and target. Very relaxing for me.

 

[JimmyC]

Nothing against golf, but even though I enjoyed that sport when I played, it could be very frustrating. Often it was anything but relaxing....

However, when I go shooting, even if I do poorly by my standards I still enjoy myself. I enjoy the sounds, sights and even that smell of shooting (and cleaning). As others have said, women should dab on some Hoppes if they want to attract men!

And, yes, I do enjoy simply handling the guns I own. I learned that respect and love from my Dad, and passed it on to my kids. Firearms are good friends to have around, but then I'm "preaching to the choir" around here.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Therapy?

Never thought of it that way . . . unless . . .

Well, there was this post here . . .

Range time is therapy. No, really. And good therapy at that.

or was it this post here

A Little Perspective

Guns provide a healthy extroversion.

People are calmer, more relaxed, have better morale when they're extroverted. It improves focus and steadies the mind.

Guns provide a way to direct attention and action outward, without the physical stress imposed by, say, bowling. In fact, if you're shooting .22 it's cheaper than bowling.

And definitely cheaper than golf.

It can be enjoyed by people who aren't physically capable of either bowling or golf.

Shooting is excellent therapy.

An added benefit is that it's also a survival skill, and can be used for self defense. The tools of golf and bowling just can't compare.

or possibly this one

Therapy

See, I told you guys . . .

Shooting is good therapy.

Shooting is fine therapy.

Shooting is excellent therapy.

Shooting is the best therapy.

Well, okay then I guess, YES: SHOOTING IS THERAPY.

Emotionally?

Well, I'm emotionally tied to my rights and freedoms. My guns, in addition to all their other functions and in addition to the money I have tied up in them, represent those rights and freedoms.

I'd have to say there's some emotional attachment.

 

[BADUNAME13]

I don't/Havn't played Golf, but unless you own your own golf course...

Shooting isn't cheaper!

 

[tbtrout]

A watermelon and a 45-70, now that is stress relief.

 

[kludge]

Shooting and reloading is cathartic.

Emotional: focus, relax, breathe, follow through.

Sensory: the sound, the smell of burnt powder, the touch of recoil.

 

[GhostlyKarliion]

Cold Dead Hands, I agree completely with you, shooting is very relaxing. There is something about the bang and the smell of the burnt powder; the only thing more relaxing is when I get an impromptu back and neck rub from that special lady

 

[sb350hp]

Abso-freakin-lutely

After a stressful day at work it is the best way I have found to blow of steam. Even if it is just a couple of mags full. But what I have noticed is that just rapid fire does not do anything for me. If I concentrate on proper technique, aim, breath, squeeze and repeat it has a calming affect. I guess that is why I find spending a hour or so at the reloading bench has the same affect.

 

[Chuhhuniban]

It's Zen therapy — you cannot shoot and have your mind cluttered with trivia at the same time. Concentration. I recommend a great article by John Dreyer at www.bullseyepistol.com called Issha Zetsumei: One Shot and Expire. You are striving for what Eugen Herrigel in Zen In The Art Of Archery called: "I don't shoot; it shoots."

 

[plexreticle]

M1 super 90 and some scrap 2x4s always puts me in a good mood.

 

[doubleg]

An added benefit is that it's also a survival skill, and can be used for self defense. The tools of golf and bowling just can't compare.

You sir have obviously never been hit by a golf ball.

 

[ball3006]

I NEED to shoot something....

on a regular basis. However, trying to complete a motorcycle restoration has taken a big bite out of my shooting time. I get the same satisfaction though because it takes me away from the everyday world.....But, I retire in one year and 11 days which reminds me, I need to buy more ammo.......chris3

 

[CountGlockula]

I haven't reached that "relieve stress by shooting" syndrome.

I've been going to the range 1-2 times a week and I feel the same.

I usually work out to release stress.

 

[GCW5]

I had a headache that would kill a horse Tuesday night when I got home, the wife asked if I'd taken any aspirin. I told her no, I was going out (range in the back yard) to shoot insted. Her reply was, "I don't see how making noise could possably help, but I have one too, I'll come out with you." About 100 rounds a piece later, she looked at me and said " I can't believe it, but you were right about getting rid of a headache. I'm out (of ammo), go get me some more, and bring the .22's with you while you're at it."

As far as pasture pool goes, the only thing that ever interested me on a golf course was the thought of shooting gophers (not golfers).

 

[hankdatank1362]

Just got back from 250 rounds of 9mm therapy about an hour ago.

Another police department turned me down for a position, and I was about to cry.

Headed out to the country, and for about an hour or so, I forgot all about my troubles.

Now I'm back in the real world, and it blows.

 

[thegriz]

My wife knows it too

When I'm having a rough day my wife usually tells me I need to go shooting! We have a private range 5-10 minutes from our house. I can get what I need in an hour or less.

Sometimes people are surprised to hear I don't need to stay out for very long. Truth is, one magazine is enough if I get to take my time, admire the gun, admire the weather, and enjoy the silence (between shots). Usually I have it to myself on weekdays.

I always come back relaxed. Makes me smile just to think about it.

 

[JohnL2]

Brother, you don't know the half of it.

Counseling and psychotherapy might work for some kinds of men. But as for myself. Screw that.
It's the perfect pressure relief valve pursuit. For me anyways. The world and all else just melts away for a little while. Like flying.

Wish to God I had my own trap and skeet range. Then it would all over. You wouldn't see me again.

 

[vis-à-vis]

Yup, I find it therapeutic. When I was teenager and would get angry at the world due to whatever thing upsets a teenage mind, I would take my 20ga out in the woods and try to cut down small/medium sized tree with it one shell at a time. Or I would go hunt varmint in the farmers fields. Perhaps my most fond memory is the massacre of what had to be thousands of locusts after my girlfriends parents told us we couldn't see each other anymore (yea right )

Now-a-days I have no woods and so I mow down paper at the range.