How do you deal with the heavy shit? I'm talking about the stuff that threatens to put you right down in the ground. Death, breakup(s), divorce, loss of a pet, etc.

I'm curious to know of coping strategies. My personal feeling is that the more you ignore it (through drugs, alcohol, whatever), the worse it gets. I think the best way is to do it sober and grieve the living hell out of your system until you get back to normal. Maybe not. I dunno. I think if you take care of yourself it'll pay off in the end.

Time. You can only be so sad for so long. Time and trying not to do anything too stupid. Hope things aren't too bad if you're referring to yourself...

Fuck drugs. Drugs I don't fuck with.

Drinking can ease pain but it fails to release one from it. There's a reason why so many films culminate in the protagonist going to a bar and setting off a series of events that cause harm all around.

I write about it. No one sees it, but that's what I do. Sometimes, when you find a nice line or a good riff, the pleasant sense of minor accomplishment does wonders.

Or I go bowling, play pool, see a movie, walk around, work out. Something that helps you to remember that the world keeps going around despite whatever may be going on.

Steve V. wrote:Drinking can ease pain but it fails to release one from it.

It's an "acceptable" way to deal for the first 24 hours or so, but after that it's a cop out way to deal with shit.

Steve V. wrote:... go bowling, play pool, see a movie, walk around, work out. Something that helps you to remember that the world keeps going around despite whatever may be going on.

Doing anything physical will help a lot.
A movie can bring back sad/bad memories which is why walking/jogging is my preferred method of dealing.

Jazzercize

fancyjamtime wrote:Hope things aren't too bad if you're referring to yourself...

Nah. I've had worse. I think your body/mind is more than capable to deal with all sorts of crazy shit. It's just the way you decide to deal with it....

Here are some methods I've found have helped me:

-Exercise, and lots of it

-Getting out, be it just out of your abode

-Playing the musics, listening to the musics, loving the musics

-Singing to Creedence at the top of your lungs

-Eating right

Rinse, repeat.

mattw wrote:How do you deal with the heavy shit? I'm talking about the stuff that threatens to put you right down in the ground. Death, breakup(s), divorce, loss of a pet, etc.

I'm curious to know of coping strategies. My personal feeling is that the more you ignore it (through drugs, alcohol, whatever), the worse it gets. I think the best way is to do it sober and grieve the living hell out of your system until you get back to normal. Maybe not. I dunno. I think if you take care of yourself it'll pay off in the end.

I left my wife last July. Man, I wasn't happy for the longest time-like for a couple of years. I steadily lost a ton of weight, to the point that I was getting worried about my own health. All of the sudden on day I blurted out "I'm unhappy, and gonna move out." A huge weight seemed to lift off my chest. So I guess I'd say honesty is the way to go with things you can control (or perceive that you can control). Death on the other hand, well I dunno. In either case drugs/drinking is no fix, just an escape. Try and keep busy with work or something that's important to you.

Hiwatt wrote:Try and keep busy with work or something that's important to you.

Seconded. Hey, have a kid. That'll take your mind off shit.

If it's the kind of thing that shakes you to the core, and you don't have any sort of support system other than drugs and alcohol, get a therapist.

Burying it and denying until your spirit completely breaks and you become a zombie is the American way to do it. Creative outlets and therapy are for faggots and Frenchmen.