[query] non-destructive ways to handle emotional pain?

[wispfox]

So, I realized that I don't really know of good ways to handle emotional pain that aren't destructive and/or self-defeating. Well, beyond just dealing and gritting my teeth through it (which is what I usually do, combined with distraction methods).

This sorta bothers me, because I'd really rather _have_ useful methods for such.

Non-useful suggestions, in case anyone is wondering what has occured and been discarded thus far, include any sort of chemical escape methods, inflicting physical pain in order to handle the non-physical version - although I suppose I can see ways in which this might not be destructive, breaking stuff.

Possibly useful ones that I can think of would be vigorous excercise of some sort (except that I've never been able to escape into excercise, except swimming, since my (mild) asthma gets in the way of that idea), loud music, reading - but I can't really read if I'm sufficiently hurting to need to _do_ something about it. I have better coping mechanisms for anger than for pain - anger, at least, I can use my lacrosse ball & stick to go beat up on a poor unsuspecting wall.

Crying, obviously - but there's only so much crying that one can do. And it takes a _lot_ of effort to get myself to do that.

One thing's for sure, I _have_ to let some of this out somehow.

Maybe I'll watch _Dancer in the Dark_ tonight...

Comments

[ian-gunn.livejournal.com]

I read this and your previous post and I was not sure I had anything to add. Crying in the arms of a loved one, listening to cathartic music with headphone on buried in a bean bag chair, distracting yourself by being around lots of friends at a gathering, searching out new meanings in art/music, long walks in a know comfortable beautiful outdoor setting, all have their place. Time is what it really takes.

I used to have a happy book I'd read when ever I felt down. For me it was Way Station by Clifford D. Simak. A wonderful short book that always left me feeling up. Maybe you have a similar book.

I was reading some Shel Silverstein to my kids before bed earlier this evening and this one caught my attention. Maybe this will give you smile:

Hug O' War

I will not play at tug o' war.
I'd rather play at hug o' war,
Where everyone hugs
Instead of tugs,
Where everyone giggles
And rolls on the rug,
Where everyone kisses,
And everyone grins,
And everyone cuddles,
And everyone wins.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

Time is what it really takes.

I know.

And I have Hug O' War on the wall of my cube. :)

[ian-gunn.livejournal.com]

*chuckle* Why am I not surprised?

[bridgetester.livejournal.com]

I have a copy of all three of Shel Silverstein's poetry books *bounce!*. Somebody had a graphic copy of Hug'o'War on their profile, so I mooched it.

[ian-gunn.livejournal.com]

I have two of his poetry collections plus the Giving Tree and will be adding more as time allows. I should *NOT* be buying more books till *AFTER* I move in a couple of weeks. I probably will anyway, it is hard to resist a good book when I'm in the mood.

[bridgetester.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah! I have a copy of The Giving Tree too, but it's in another state. *sad*

Which one are you missing? (Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, Falling Up)

Neither should I, for the same reason. But I did anyhow. *glee!*

[ian-gunn.livejournal.com]

I have the first two so It looks like I should make space for Falling Up at some point. NT="insulating house with books" :) I'd decided the next book I'd get for leisure reading would be the Da Vinci Code, probably after cleaning out our house, packing, moving etc...

[bridgetester.livejournal.com]

I believe Falling Up was published later, but I'm too lazy to check publication dates.

Nono, bookworm="insulating house with books". Some NT's merely heat their houses with overclocked computers.

I do both. :D

I still need to take a look at The Da Vinci Code *muses* but all I really should have time for in the next few weeks is classhomework, working, moving or unpacking. Of course, that means a lot of random reading will happen too, because whoever said that I only do what I should be doing...