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How to Be Sad
A handbook
In the last few weeks, the news has been dominated by a combination of upsetting political news, heartless op-eds from people who want for nothing but still manage to be greedy, and sad announcements about idols who have slipped away. It’s been…a lot.
I know that it’s been a lot, for a lot of people, because they’ve been reaching out. I’ve been pretty open about my own difficult times (my asshole brain, for example, and my exciting forays into psychiatric care), which makes people feel I’m a safe person to talk to about their issues. Which is true! I am extremely, extremely humbled to be the keeper of so many stories.
But it can be a bit of a trial, because I see how few tools people have to deal with their feelings. How few outlets they have. And how many amazing resources aren’t finding the audiences they need. I get the same questions over and over again:
- How do I find a therapist?
- How do I know if this side-effect is normal?
- How do I tell my partner what I’m feeling?
- How do I ask my boss for time off?
- Can I even ask for time off?*
These are the same questions I had while navigating life with a mental health condition. They’re questions I found answers to by asking close friends, through trial…
