🎶 STOPP! In the Nammmmmeee of Loooove 🎵

Post inspired by @beartailriley 

If you're at the point where you're just closed out by everything here's what you can do!

First STOPP, then address basics with HALT. 

Hull University writes: STOPP is a technique that allows us to gain some distance between distressing thoughts and feelings, reduce the physical reaction of emotion/adrenaline at times of high stress, and helps us to find some calm to help us think more logically and rationally.

The Five Steps of STOPP: Stop whatever you're doing or being. Take a breather. Observe mindfully. Proceed with caution. Process findings.

Good! Now HALT is the older version of this but could be helpful as well so I'll add it and my experience, strength and hope just in case. 

HALT: Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired.

If hungry 😀 eat often. Just a bit. Mostly plants. Our majestic bodies didn't evolve over millenia to just be chronically stuffed with Oreos. Although I wouldn't say no to that once in a while you know what I mean definitely not also this is S'mores season here in the wild west don't play with me...but yes, remember, people are just plants with complex emotions. Get the nutrients and sunlight and water you need.

Angry 😠 learn about boundaries and confidence how to communicate and integrate them. See my answers in the 'I Hate Myself' forum post for more on boundaries and confidence. Let out a primal scream or two. Sunbathe. Punch, kick or beat something soft like your bed or some pillows. Watch a sad movie and bawl. Stuffing down emotions leads to disease and death. There needs to be no big outward display of them...just honor their full expression.

Lonely 🥺 maybe go outside. Talk, nod or smile to someone if possible. Garden. Cuddle with a pet. Phone 'Talk for Healing' where people are there just to talk, 24/7 (Their website says for indigenous women in Ontario, Canada only but they're open to speak with anyone and will turn away no one. They have an online chat option.) Journal. Connect with a spiritual or religious community that brings you peace. Pray or meditate. Make a vision or inspiration board and add or remove images as you desire. Tips: invest in a couple fancy shmancy magazines and a colour wheel to take your board to the next level. I found some good used magazines at an art and paper supply store and used jewelery I don't really want to wear as pushpins. Also found free little copies of pieces of art at art galleries. My board was a found object with a magnetized white board on one side and cork on the other.

Tired 😩 take active rest such as bathing, skincare, oral hygiene, art, biking, hiking, playing an instrument, working on a business, cooking a delicious meal, tidying up, going to the beach or a park, etc.. Could also need a nap or just straight up sleep if sleepy tired. Aim for eight hours sleep or if a nap 20 minutes to two hours. If it's a 'world weary' type of tired, slip into, sip on, read, watch or nibble something that brings you comfort. If it doesn't work, take two aspirin and call someone in the morning. Maybe one of the downright fabulous amazing fantastic people at 'Talk for Healing'. 

🖤