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"Dave Borgenicht is the coauthor of the best-selling Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook, which has spawned numerous sequels, games, t-shirts, a TV show and more.  For more tips, check out the official blog or follow the Worst-Case Twitter feed @WorstCaseBooks.\nDisconnection from the web can be traumatic, expecially when it's a sudden or abrupt loss of signal.  If you're not prepared, disconnect anxiety can take a heavy toll.  Here are some coping mechanisms that should help if you're ever struck by an outage.\n\n1. Refresh and Recheck\n\nWhen your connection to the Internet appears to be lost, before panicking, refresh your browser several times to make sure the connection is really out, and not just \u201Cbeing weird.\u201D\n2. Think of the Future\n\nRemind yourself that the connection has gone out before, and always returned. Loss of connectivity is not a permanent condition.\n3. Put the Device in Your Pocket\n\n\n\nPut your PDA away where you will not check it every five seconds, but where you can feel its reassuring physical presence against your thigh.\n4. Speak Slowly at First\n\nDo not try to engage in full-fledged conversations with other off-line humans right away. Speak in simple sentences like \u201CNet\u2019s out\u201D and \u201CI can\u2019t get online.\u201D Use abbreviations such as LOL and OMG.\n5. Avoid Eye Contact\n\nThe site of a non-pixilated human face can be disconcerting. Do not look directly at other people until you feel comfortable.\n6. Click on Things\n\n\n\nAvail yourself of the opportunity to repeatedly touch anything \"clickable,\" such as thermos lids or elevator buttons.  In a pinch, click your fingers against your palm.\n7. Have Rewarding Conversations with Loved Ones\n\nAs you adjust to not checking for new e-mails every ten seconds, you will find more time available to have substantial, meaningful interactions with those around you, offering a new sense of the joys and possibilities of life.\n8. Get Back Online as Soon as Possible\n\nSee also: HOW TO: Outsmart Phishers [HUMOR]\nImages courtesy of iStockphoto, smilingworld, apcuk, TwilightEye"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2009/12/24/survive-disconnect-anxiety/>