The Mean Reds

In Truman Capote's novella, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Holly Golightly has a name for her periodic episodes of depression. Because they are worse than "the Blues," she calls them "The Mean Reds."

No matter how well put together we are, all of us get sunk by something like "The Mean Reds" once in awhile. Here's what works for me:

First: Give yourself permission to feel and enough time to get over it (even if it's just one weekend at a time). If you don't deal with it now, you'll deal with it later.
Second: Find a comfy place to lay down and spread out
Third: Grab a book, take a nap, or turn on the TV and do whatever impulse grabs you.
Fourth: Do NOT feel guilty for not answering the door, telephone, or for not keeping previous commitments.

Here are a few more ingredients that might help:

The Thrill of it All -- goofy comedy starring James Garner and Doris Day

Haagen-Daz fat-free frozen yogurt -- you're going to have the ice cream anyway, you'll hate yourself a little less when it's over.

Pull out that boxed set of Sex and the City

People magazine -- easy to read and you don't have to retain anything.

A Hitchcock film, like North by Northwest or Rear Window

Dark chocolate -- just a little

A John Sturgis movie (Bad Day at Black Rock, The Great Escape, The Magnificent Seven)

If you need a meal or groceries, order take-out or on-line and have it delivered. Don't apologize for showing up at the door in your PJs

Check the listings for Turner Movie Classics or American Movie Classics regularly

Sleep -- a LOT

A long fragrant bath

NO chores -- they can wait

Stay away from alcohol but Tylenol PM is OK

And the best remedy of all for feeling down: in the words of my favorite doctor, "Get yourself a dog!"