In Case Of Emergency, Break Glass

[Dutch Lock Down Day Two Hundred Eleven]

I cannot thank you enough for reaching out with your words of support.

I wasn’t so much standing near the edge as sitting on it – very much NOT wanting to be there.

Your words were like, “Get up. Stand up. Come on put your hands up.“

But first the news:

• Why is there a legal issue with face masks and quarantine fines?
• The Netherlands starts its partial lockdown to stop second Covid wave
• Coronavirus press conference: Reactions to national semi-lockdown

YEARS ago I wrote down my coping strategies for suicidal thoughts privately in a notebook somewhere. They were more about comfort and touch therapy – cuddling the cat, taking a shower and such.

To be clear, I wasn’t having suicidal thoughts over the last week, but that post was very much a cry for help.

But, just in case I need it, I’ve written down my coping strategies for shitty days.

Let me know if you have others for yourself and if it helps someone, I’d love to hear about it.

Go For a Walk, Leander

Get outside. In any weather. There’s no shitty weather, just shitty clothes. Put on the rain boots, the raincoat, and, sure, the rain pants. Don’t forget all those layers. Yup, that extra scarf, too. Those gloves. It doesn’t matter how you look as long as you’re warm. Don’t forget your face mask, phone, wallet, and emergency shot of energy. Now GO.

Put the Kettle On, Sweetie

Not too much water so it can boil faster. Is it before 1400? English Breakfast with lots of milk. After 1400? Green Tea with Lemon, please. Wrap up in the green blanket. And the black one. And the mermaid tail. Or, fuck it, put on the giraffe onesie. Let’s get that temperature higher.

Boil Yourself Alive

Did you go for a walk? Drink a cup of tea? Still cold? Take a long hot water thing. Shower or bath, I don’t care – you know you love it. Stay in until it soaks into your bones.

Quick, Drink a Protein Shake

250 g almond milk, one banana, two tablespoons protein powder, one tablespoon flaxseed, and one heaping spoon of peanut butter. Blend it up, drink it down. When you’re hungry, the world seems like a very dark place. With something in your belly, it’s not so dark. The protein makes it last longer. And the peanut butter makes it just a bit naughty. #WorthIt

Go To Bed Early

But not too early, Leander. Naps are no no during depression. It’ll throw off your schedule and you do SO MUCH BETTER with a consistent schedule. But, yeah, go to bed with First Minion. Don’t forget to brush your teeth, floss, and take your meds.

How’s It Going?

That self compassion stuff – it’s good for you. Publicly acknowledge without judgement how life is shitty right now. I know it’s hard. You can do this. You’ll feel better after. I promise.

Bake All The Things

Those super simple chocolate chip cookies with two cups of sifted flour, one cup of melted butter, one cup of sugar, a teaspoon of baking powder, a teaspoon of vanilla, a pinch of salt, an egg, and as much chocolate as you like? Bake those. Use the bread maker to mix up some dough, too. Use your hands. Get messy.

Let Me Hear You Say, “Ohm”

Open the Headspace App and inhale the daily meditation. Want more? Take the Happiness course. Feeling dark? Check out the Under the Weather meditation. Angry? Replay the Transforming Anger course to let it go.