Hey, nerds.
Can we talk about feelings for a second? I don’t know if Gemini is on her period, or whatever is going on with Space Algebra, as my friend Billy says it, but my god the feelings.
I can’t hardly advise you on a broad spectrum, but I wanted to share something with all of you.
My Therapist Joel Says that when you’re feeling overwhelmed with feelings, the correct thing to do is to look around and figure out what’s real and what isn’t.
I’m super upset right now because of an angry hate spiral.
Am I in physical danger though? (no.)
Am I behaving in a scope with what’s really going on, or is this a story I’m telling myself.
Is the story I’m telling myself true or built of guesses and anxiety?
Is the story true?
Sir Terry Pratchett said “First Thoughts are the everyday thoughts. Everyone has those. Second Thoughts are the thoughts you think about the way you think. People who enjoy thinking have those. Third Thoughts are thoughts that watch the world and think all by themselves. They’re rare, and often troublesome. Listening to them is part of witchcraft.”
That last one is tough, but we can do it. If you treat yourself like a friend and advise yourself thusly, that is very effective. If you ask a friend or loved one what you’re missing or what you can’t see clearly, that helps a lot, too.
My favorite method of dealing with the sads is from the Tarot.
The Cups are water and emotion. They flood your brain – intelligence is represented by the Swords (fuckin swords) and since brains are just meat with electricity coursing through them, what on earth will happen to your electrical circuit board when it gets flooded?
You short out and need a hard reboot.
Drink some water. Sleep (but not too much). Cry. Talk to a friend. Talk to lots of friends. Get a squishy pillow or a stuffy or a pop fidget thinger (I have all of these). Do what you need to cushion yourself so that you can heal with fewer bruises.
You can do this. I have faith in you.
I’ll have faith in you until you can.
xoxo Lis
Loved this post- like most of your writing the sentence that starts “my therapist Joel says…..”. This Is succinct and yet simply put, e.g. — look around you and figure where the feelings are really coming from.
Hope you are doing well. It always warms me to get emails from you
Thank you Lis, I really needed to hear this today! It was validation from a tarot reading I did yesterday which I think basically said, you can’t change someone’s behaviour but you can change the way you react to it. It’s tough but I’m starting slowly and looking at my attachment style.
We have this! Thank you for sharing your journey, it helps so much. BB