Getting Out of Your Head by Thinking About It

We’ve all been there – caught in a spiral of anxious thoughts, burning with anger, or drowning in sadness. These intense emotions can feel all-consuming, as if they are our entire reality.

But what if there was a way to step back and gain some perspective?

Enter the art of mental otherization.

Your Brain: A Wrinkly Wet Computer

The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by emotion, try this: picture your brain. Not the abstract concept of your mind, but the actual physical organ inside your skull. Visualize that wrinkly, wet, gray three-pound slab of meat with its spinal cord tail.

Now imagine that chunk of biological material getting all worked up.

Suddenly, your anxiety or anger might seem a bit… silly. After all, it’s just a piece of flesh throwing a biochemical tantrum. This mental shift can help you detach from the intensity of your emotions and view them more objectively.

Bringing Out Your Inner Animal

Another technique is animalization. Ask yourself: if my current emotional state were an animal, what would it be?

  • Anxiety might be a squirrel, darting about frantically and hoarding nuts for an imagined future catastrophe.
  • Anger could be a puffed-up cat, hissing and arching its back at a perceived threat.
  • Depression might manifest as a sloth, barely moving and seeing no point in expending energy.

By associating your feelings with an animal, you create a mental image that’s easier to observe and even find humor in. It’s much simpler to calm down a frightened squirrel or soothe an angry cat than it is to wrangle with abstract emotions.

Becoming the Narrator of Your Own Story

The third method is third-person personification. Instead of thinking “I am angry,” try “John is angry.” Or choose any name you like: “Beatrice is feeling anxious right now.”

This approach turns you into the narrator of your own emotional story.

Like a writer crafting a character, you can analyze Beatrice’s feelings with greater clarity and compassion. Why is she anxious? What would help her feel better?

By creating this narrative distance, you gain the ability to be both the protagonist experiencing the emotion and the author guiding the story to a more positive resolution.

The Power of Perspective

These techniques all share a common thread: they create psychological distance between you and your emotions.

This distance doesn’t invalidate your feelings, but it does give you room to breathe, reflect, and respond more thoughtfully.

So the next time you’re caught in an emotional storm, remember: you’re not your feelings. You’re the observer of a wrinkly brain, the caretaker of an expressive animal, or the author of your own tale.

After all, it’s hard to stay too wrapped up in your own head when you’re imagining it as a damp, grumpy blob of gray matter.

’Caddo Lake’ Could Use Some Depth


‘Caddo Lake’ plunges you into its atmospheric, haunting world, but its final twist may leave you gasping for air, not fully satisfied.

Directed by Logan George and Celine Held and produced by M. Night Shyamalan, the film tells the story of Paris (Dylan O’Brien), a man emotionally shackled to the mysterious death of his mother, whose car plummeted into the depths of Caddo Lake.

As he struggles to piece his life back together, the disappearance of an 8-year-old girl dredges up unsettling secrets that threaten to consume him. The film unfolds in a slow-burn thriller style, pulling the audience into the murky, enigmatic depths of the bayou.

Visually, ‘Caddo’ stands out. The lake itself feels like a character, its eerie, misty waters shot beautifully to enhance the film’s dark tone.

The cinematography, with its continuous movement and seamless transitions between timelines, creates a sense of fluidity and heightens the mystery. The outdoor setting plays a vital role in crafting the film’s ambiance, bringing an unsettling stillness to each frame .

Dylan O’Brien delivers a remarkable performance as Paris, portraying a man haunted by both grief and guilt. His southern drawl and emotionally charged presence keep viewers engaged, making it hard to take your eyes off him.

Eliza Scanlen, as Ellie, also excels in her role, expressing raw emotion as she grapples with family turmoil and the ever-deepening mystery surrounding the young girl’s disappearance . The supporting cast, including Lauren Ambrose and Diana Hopper, bring emotional weight to their roles, rounding out a strong ensemble.

Despite its strengths, the film’s twist, while expected from a Shyamalan-influenced project, doesn’t fully deliver.

After building an intriguing mystery, the resolution feels rushed and underdeveloped, leaving viewers wanting more answers. Some may find the open-ended nature intriguing, but others might walk away feeling unsatisfied by its ambiguity .

In the end, ‘Caddo’ captivates with its atmosphere and strong performances but leaves you adrift when it matters most. It’s a film that invites you to wade into its murky waters, only to let you float away without full closure.

It’s a journey worth taking, but don’t expect smooth sailing to the end.