January 16, 2009

  • I had what really amounts to a minor water leak, but it gave me such an anxiety attack, I was beside myself.

    Last night I noticed some water behind the toilet, not much, but certainly not supposed to be there.  Upon investigation I saw just a little trickle of water running from the bolt between the water tank and the bowl, and I thought, NO this cannot be, and in the middle of the night, who can I call, what do I do!?

    Water leaks are really my biggest fear of owning a home, not being a skilled plumber, nor sure whats minor and major, and well I just spin in my mind with worry, and action seems difficult, I might do the wrong things and make the problem worse.

    Anyhow, I got bold and touched the bolt, and noticed the nut was a little loose, I hand tightened it, and then decided to grab a wrench and secure it just a tad more.   I think this has worked.  No more water, and the area has now been dry all day long. 

    I had my brother stop by to look it over, he knows plumbing, electrical, etc.... and he shut the water off on the toilet, opened up looked, tightened a tad more to check, and though perhaps we will still go ahead and replace some washers that may have worn, it looks good.  And it makes the whole problem of a leaky toilet look manageable and solvable.

    I truly do know that this is a little issue, that a trip to Home Depot can solve, but in my mind it spins into such an ordeal, I don't trust myself with tools, I fear doing the wrong thing too much, and really then being called on it after the bigger mess is made.   I dealt with this last year in my counseling, and come to think of it, it was about this same time of year, possible part of the SAD manifesting itself in anxiety and fear of things, and I know its not worth worrying about things that have not even happen, but when my mind just goes there, its hard to let rational thought prevail.  I try.

    But all the while I keep checking to see if more water shows up, and I half think my mind can invoke leaks.  I know this does not make sense, but well, there you go.