What do you do when life knocks you down? I’m talking terrible-horrible-no good-very bad week in health and in work. TIA!

Question

What do you do when life knocks you down? I’m talking terrible-horrible-no good-very bad week in health and in work. TIA! <3

Emily · Answer

The Wild Edge of Sorrow: So many reasons to grieve, so little guidance on how to do it well. This book should be mandatory.

alexis · Answer

Consume as much art as possible: Go see a foreign film at your local indie cinema. Visit the biggest art museum near you and/or go to all the art crawl events. Listen to Lana Del Rey and Lauryn Hill and  Fiona Apple and Rufus Wainwright. Go see a local theater show and/or ballet, opera, etc.

Seeing and feeling other’s art makes me feel less alone in my pain. 🤍

If that doesn’t work I recommend Oreos and news bloopers on YouTube.

Evan McAvenia · Answer

getting a burger after a long day: sometimes you just need something hot, savory, and quick that is sure to put a smile on your face. a burger fits the bill. makes a weeknight feel a little special and caps off a long hard day beautifully.

Karen Fischer · Answer

Switch up your living spaces: Something I used to do when I had crippling anxiety/depression is bring out a blow-up mattress, like a camping mattress, into my living room and lay across it to watch TV. I've also moved my TV out of my living room and into my bedroom, where I don't have one. Finally, my husband and I once set up our tent in our backyard, and slept out there every night for weeks instead of inside. These small shifts in space were helpful to me when I was having a rough time. Anything to provide a bit more physical comfort!

Wine Guy · Answer

LeNOSE - Orange You Glad Life’s Not So Bad: This new hand soap from LeNOSE is one of the best things I’ve smelled. Better version of Aesop. Can’t believe it will only be 10 bucks.

Abi Irwin · Answer

Horrible Reality TV: what else could make me feel better than escaping my life & watch people make a fool of themselves for human entertainment? Either that or a documentary series on a cult really gets me feeling better about my situation.

Kate · Answer

meditation based stress reduction (MBSR): This is an eight week course that takes meditation out of a wo-hoo religious context and into a scientific one. Lots of MDs prescribe it for chronic pain and anxiety. It had a major impact on depression.

I learned a bunch of good tools, but the best part was the people. Getting to regularly gather and learn from people at all walks of life in a vulnerable place was incredible. 10/10, recommend to anyone going through life.

I took it through my local university, just google MBSR + your city.

Meg · Answer

being humbled by the natural world: Everything living, breathing, and sentient surrounds us with such wisdom and hope. We are so blessed to be here even when it feels impossible. Reconnect. Look around. We are cherished by the trees.

Lucy Propper · Answer

when things fall apart: I return to this every time things fall apart. On audiobook in my headphones all day

NinaBean · Answer

Wintering by Katherine May: This book got me through a horrible time and helped me learn how to care for myself.

amy groome | mid-flight · Answer

Breathwork Practice | Sarah Blondin x Insight Timer: This 8-minute reset can really chase the scaries away. Highly rec ALL things Sarah Blondin (also on Substack) AND Insight Timer app. I pay for it but there is a big vault of free stuff available on there in times of need.

anna · Answer

Ben & Jerry's: Pick out a ~treat~, watch Heated Rivalry, paint your nails. Bonus: take a walk, it usually helps

Gabriela Riccardi · Answer

Old Enough!

Ella McMahan · Answer

Force yourself to write down what you’re grateful for: Was in a LOW mood last week and forced myself to find 3 things I was grateful for- one was ‘toast’ - but I was able to come up w more than 3 and it helped inch me towards being happier again

Ella McMahan · Answer

Spoon your pet (or a friend’s): I regularly lie on the ground, spoon my dog, and talk to her when I’m feeling terrible. Something about the grounding and being close to her makes me realize everything will balance out again soon, and this is just a bad week

Dylan · Answer

Cleo Sol - Know That You Are Loved: from Cleo's 2021 record Mother. i can listen to this on repeat for hours as a form of self-love meditation. this song has got me through the darkest of days <3

Dylan · Answer

Giving your cat 500 forehead kisses: i don't make the rules, this is just a legal requirement in my house.

Dylan · Answer

Embarrassing your cat: you steal a donut? i photograph you with tiny human hands

Dylan · Answer

send your besties a video of yourself dancing: give the people what they want

Dylan · Answer

Romance yourself! Romance your friends!: Truly cannot recommend this more highly.

Romance yourself!

Book yourself in for a treat-yourself day - spa, sauna, massage, mani pedi, hair, facial - whatever. You also don't have to spend money to do this! Spend a day alone without too many distractions - journal about what you're grateful for (even something as simple as sunshine or clean water or a roof over your head), connect with nature, listen to a song that makes you feel loved (my rec would be Know That You Are Loved by Cleo Sol), light some incense/your fave candle, swim in the ocean or take a bath, make your favourite meal, kiss/pat a cute animal.

Romance your friends!

Send a love letter to your bestie. Make a playlist for a friend with all your favourite songs. Prepare a delicious dinner for a friend & decorate the table with flowers. Send a text just to tell your friends you love them. Buy a little gift for a friend just because. Write all the things you love about your bestie on little bits of paper, put them in a jar and gift it to them to read when they're feeling down. Deliver a tasty treat from the bakery. Call a mate you haven't spoken to in ages. Plan a FaceTime catch-up with a long-distance bestie. Send them a video of yourself doing a silly dance!

Dylan · Answer

Going potato mode: Did you know that humans share about 50% of our DNA with potatoes because we use the same basic genes for cellular function? This is what Reddit told me, anyway, which is obviously the most reliable source of scientific knowledge.

With this in mind, I highly recommend transforming yourself into a human potato by getting into the comfiest clothes possible, surrounding yourself with pillows and blankets, and merging your body with your couch.

Allow any freeloaders (pets, kids, etc) to nuzzle in your nooks. Put on your favourite comfort movie/show/podcast or read a cosy book.

And remember: rest is not earned, rest is not "laziness", rest is a basic need and simple pleasure.

Dylan · Answer

Depression Ending Bear: Let me tell you, much like Shakira's hips, the reviews don't lie! this big boy currently has over a thousand 5-star reviews on IKEA website (go read some of them for comedy gold - you're WELCOME).

my cats love this one. dolly spends her nights licking it obsessively til it's saturated, then she falls asleep. cute or disgusting? a little from column A, a little from column B.

Dylan · Answer

Somatics: Learning about and practising somatics has truly changed my mind-body connection. There are so many simple movements you can do to help release stagnant energy, ground yourself, and regulate your nervous system.

This is my friend & teacher's website, but there are many offerings out there to explore, both in person and from your home.

Sending so much love <3

Dylan · Answer

Silly little mental health walks in nature: Just left the house for the first time in 9 days to go for a silly lil mental health walk in nature and found myself bawling my eyes out at this rainbow lorikeet just hanging outside his lil tree stump house. We stared into each other's eyes for a good 10 mins until he decided that was enough and retreated back inside his lil tree hole.

Dylan · Answer

recite Pitbull affirmations: Scientifically proven to improve your mental health by 900%. This is for everybody going through tough times... believe me - been there, done that

JaperMoon · Answer

Magic Mike XXL followed by Pee-wee’s Big Holiday: The ultimate feel-good double feature.

No, you do not need to have seen earlier Magic Mike or Pee-wee films to enjoy this (and in fact, please don’t bother with the other Magic Mikes. XXL ONLY).

I wont spoil why they go so well together but trust me, you wana watch them in that order.

And always remember, you can watch a movie (or two) over multiple nights!

Sarah · Answer

The relationship affirming "walk and talk": My best friend and I are in a long distance relationship, but we keep the love alive with a work-day walk and talk, almost every day Monday through Friday. This is a rec (a plea!) to call your friends!! It's usually 5-15 min. Just enough to remain deep in minutia of each others every day life. I'm sorry, but texts could never.

Click through the link for the best walking related song of all time <3

sunset strip mall · Answer

phone a friend (or other loved one) who always makes you laugh: when i get blue i convince myself that i don't actually want to talk to anyone and i am basically always wrong. historically it cheers me up so so much to spend an hour+ on the phone with a loved one – a bestie, a sibling, a parent, a cousin – talking about what's bugging you but also talking about other things; getting out of your head; maybe even making time to talk about something absolutely stupid such as gossip or trash television. i'm sorry you're having a bad week and i hope it gets better soon <3

Eric · Answer

I’m so very sorry that you’re going thru it right now.  First thing, remember- it won’t always be this way.  What has worked for me in the past is to put on loud music… flips between gangster rap & EDM-ish stuff like Fred Again or Rüfüs du Sol - but volume is paramount here!  Secondly, I crack open a nice bottle of wine.  Third, I cook something that brings me joy… can be dessert, app, etc… I have many go-to’s that I love making & since I can never make 1 or 2 portions, I end up sharing & the giving brings me happiness.  Lastly, I love going for a drive, regardless of the weather/time of day or night, etc… creating some sort of pattern interrupt switches my brain’s state, which is key!  Best of luck & lemme know if you want any further ideas.: Sanity