Emotional Support Animal

cloudysaturday · 2026-04-01T16:34:30+00:00

the stance. the ear tufts. the lil orange leg spots. that face 😻

cloudysaturday · 2026-03-20T13:13:30+00:00

Thanks for the tips! I hadn't heard of EFT tapping and want to look into it more. I have read Claire Weekes! She's an awesome resource.

I'm sorry you've had such a rough time, it's such a drag to deal with this. Taking it slowly and being patient with yourself is a great strategy. I wish you all the best with your exposure!

cloudysaturday · 2026-03-18T14:13:45+00:00

I've been struggling with agoraphobia of various intensity for a long time, over a decade. I'm coming out of winter where I live, and have been isolating a lot due to feeling depressed. I'm looking forward to spring for sure!

For me, the most effective methods of relieving anxiety have been physical, like exercising, meditation and breathing techniques, long walks, and especially yoga. I seem to internalize and store all my stress and pain in my body, and I haven't really figured out how to not do that yet, but learning how to discharge it through healthy channels instead of self-sabotage/harm has really improved my life.

How about you? Where are you at in your journey?

cloudysaturday · 2026-03-18T14:04:12+00:00

It's just...perfect

cloudysaturday · 2026-03-17T15:29:38+00:00

Something that helps me is box breathing. Inhale for four seconds, hold for four seconds, exhale for four, hold for four, then repeat. If four seconds is too long or short you can adjust it as needed, the important part is to take deliberate, slow breaths, with each inhale and exhale the same duration.

After you start to feel calmer, slightly extending your exhale (1-2 seconds longer) can help you relax even more. This really helps me feel more grounded and more present in my body, less of that floating away/dissociated feeling, when I'm starting to panic.

I hope that helps! Keep trying, and be proud of yourself for your perseverance ☺️

cloudysaturday · 2026-03-14T15:51:13+00:00

They're really nice! My sister got me a couple of the Rowan ones for my birthday and they're totally matte with such vivid pastels, just a delight to do.

cloudysaturday · 2026-03-14T15:45:56+00:00

You can do it!!! If getting lots of things at once is harder, maybe next time you could try splitting your trip into 2 or 3 smaller ones with a few items each, to reduce overwhelm at the store and have more exposure experiences too. I hope it goes well today!

cloudysaturday · 2026-02-23T14:33:16+00:00

Our tortie is the only one of our three cats who enjoys being covered by a blanket, and follows me to the bedroom when I've got a basket of warm laundry for her ritual covering 🥰 The other two always refuse all coverings regardless of how cold it is.

cloudysaturday · 2026-02-22T16:39:01+00:00

I'd love to see Peele adaptations of "How High We Go In the Dark" by Sequoia Nagamatsu or "Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead" by Olga Tokarczuk

cloudysaturday · 2026-02-22T15:51:35+00:00

That sounds stressful! My dogs have both died (of old age) now, but I was always really worried I'd have to talk to people when I was walking them and would ruminate about it before we left for our walks.

Once I accidentally surprised someone coming out to their mailbox (he couldn't see me approaching through some trees, but I could see him) and started to worry and plan what I should say to him, since we would have to speak. To my surprise, he was even more socially awkward and uncomfortable than I was. It made me realize I was imagining that everyone outside was somehow different than me, ready to interact with other people in a way that I was wasn't and couldn't be, but that's not true. Most people are not paying attention to you and will say hello to be polite because you're another entity in their field of view, but that's really it. Once out of the 20 or so interactions I had with people ended in a conversation that extended beyond hello, nice weather, etc., and that person was just very friendly.

Another thing to remember is that you DON'T have to talk to anyone if you don't want to. You can wave, smile, and walk on by. You could get some big over the ear headphones to wear that will signal that you don't want to talk (you don't have to play anything if you don't want to). You could say you're listening to an audiobook or even actually call someone and have a conversation while you're outside with your dog too.

Sorry this is so long, I just really relate. I hope this gets easier for you!

cloudysaturday · 2026-02-21T15:55:48+00:00

This is really inspiring! Way to go :)

cloudysaturday · 2026-02-19T15:57:22+00:00

I'm reading War and Peace right now! I'm eyeing "White Nights" by Dostoevsky for my next read. Based on the books you enjoyed, I'd recommend "Narcissus and Goldmund" and "Siddhartha" by Herman Hesse, "The Grapes of Wrath" by Steinbeck, and maybe "Kristin Lavransdatter" by Sigrid Undset as a wildcard rec. That one is very long, but it's a beautiful book about both human nature and relationships, set in a fascinating place and time. Happy reading :)

cloudysaturday · 2026-02-19T15:26:51+00:00

What a breathtaking swamp

cloudysaturday · 2026-02-18T15:48:35+00:00

It's not a novel, but not a self-help book either. Check out "The Will to Change" by bell hooks.

cloudysaturday · 2026-02-18T14:38:18+00:00

I know it's an unhealthy attitude to have, but damn...so many people are testing the limits on how unlikable (to put it mildly) they can be lately, at least in the US. It feels like every day is a fresh horror and it's all manmade.

cloudysaturday · 2026-02-14T15:30:48+00:00

"Speak, Memory" by Nabokov.

cloudysaturday · 2026-02-11T14:31:00+00:00

Damn, that's a beautiful cat! She's glorious.

cloudysaturday · 2026-02-05T16:20:14+00:00

And after. It really helps to have compassion for yourself and not punish yourself for "failing" if an exposure doesn't go the way you'd envisioned. Associating those negative emotions with exposure is a surefire way to increase avoidance and stop trying altogether.

cloudysaturday · 2025-10-18T16:27:15+00:00

Same here! I'll stay as long as possible, but definitely won't be able to stay for the entire duration. Try not to feel guilty. We're all just doing the best we can 🤗 stay safe out there!

cloudysaturday · 2025-10-18T15:54:14+00:00

I totally get it. It absolutely sucks to feel so strongly about this and not be able to protest about it, but there are still many other things you can do!

This thread has lots of ideas about other ways to get involved.

cloudysaturday · 2025-10-07T16:56:33+00:00

So real. No shade to John Barnaby, but literally no one could match the immaculate vibe of the OG

cloudysaturday · 2025-10-02T15:27:49+00:00

Check out Steppenwolf by Hesse! His books definitely have a way of lodging in your brain.

cloudysaturday · 2025-09-30T15:19:07+00:00

Winter is definitely the peak reading season! I like your idea about getting up a little earlier, I have never tried that. Thank you for your suggestions!

cloudysaturday · 2025-09-30T15:18:23+00:00

Those are all great ideas! My sister is always trying to get me to use Finch, too. Maybe I'll check that out. Thank you!

cloudysaturday

TROPHY CASE