I just caught myself falling into a funk.
That's what I call the down side of the emotional cycle.
When I'm depressed, I label it a funk.
Because labeling it -- calling it a phase of some sort -- reminds me that it's temporary.
If I can say, "Oh, I'm just in a funk." Then that means I'm acknowledging that the world isn't really like this. It doesn't really suck. It just *feels* that way right now because I'm in a funk.
Catching myself doesn't stop it from happening, but it does make it easier to bear. Like if I *know* I've just eaten bad clams, I'm gonna be less stressed about the violent vomiting and hallucinations.
It doesn't feel any better, but at least I know why it's happening�and that it will pass eventually.
june 24, 2000
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