When you have the opportunity to revisit your favorite programs on television, or for that matter, a favorite book, do you reach for a comforting rerun and settle in with a cup of tea?
No reruns for me today, though if I could find them, I would go for Cary Grant in a classic like Notorious or a lightweight tale like Every Girl Should be Married. Better yet, a sentimental and beautifully crafted Katherine Hepburn favorite from 1955, Summertime. (Perhaps there may be French films lurking on my cable channels?)
Why the sudden urge for rerun movies, shows, or books?
Ever heard of The Let Down Effect?
After a fitful night’s sleep, one of many for weeks, I woke shaking and dizzy before daylight. I just barely made it to the white porcelain vessel for all things in need of hasty disposal, where I heaved violently – exceptionally rare for yours truly. And no wise cracks on the use of the term “re-runs!”
In fact, I get sick infrequently, so it surprises me when I do. (I’m looking for wood to knock on, if the damn room would stop spinning…) It occurs to me that this is the likely let down from weeks of anxiety and hurried preparations for a particular event, rife with potential problems, possible pleasures, and logistics that left a good deal to the gnarly, snarly unknown – despite a great deal of planning..
For the most part, all went well, yet now that I am home and back to my usual routine, my body is reacting to the non-stop crazy pace that came before. Based on a phone call from my periodic POSSLQ (remember that?), who was not feeling well over our shared weekend, a bug has been running rampant at his place of employment.
Alas, I seem to be the (less than happy) recent recipient of aforementioned little Nasty.
My 24 Hour Bug Plan
Visits to my classic black and white bathroom, fortunately just steps from my bed?
Apparently, yes.
Venture forth to fill the fridge?
Clearly, no.
Make it to the kitchen?
A wobbly endeavor, but hydration, hydration, hydration.
Remind myself that I am not superwoman? (That one is tougher. That mother thing? We’re convinced we can keep going under any and all conditions. Not so!)
Reruns?
There was a marvelous French film called “Delicatesse” (with Audrey Tatou) which I saw on cable a few weeks back. I’ll go for a Round 2 on that.
A delightful indie with Gérard Depardieu, My Afternoons With Marguerite, is definitely on my list.
And I have a stack of DVDs of faves, including all six seasons of Sex and the City. (Come on. Those shoes? Surely, you’re not surprised.)
Let Down Effect
In case you want to know more about the Let Down Effect, Web MD offers this:
In the immediate aftermath of stressful times — perhaps following an anxiety-producing project at work or a major family crisis — when you finally have time to take a deep breath and unwind, that’s when illness can unexpectedly strike. Just when you’re letting down her hair, your ability to fight off illnesses may let you down.
Web MD goes on to list various typical illnesses that we may fall prey to, including respiratory infections, colds and flu, migraines, increased arthritis pain, and more. Hell, everything hurts and I don’t have arthritis!
A small bit of research – I went to the source – reveals that I should be my usual self in 24 to 36 hours. In the meantime – hydration, rest, and yes… reruns.
Your favorite television shows to watch in reruns?
You favorite films – classic, indies, or others – that always make you feel better?
The books, magazines, and stories you turn to on those days when you’re under the weather or just need to “let down?”
Can someone dispatch a St. Bernard with Gatorade, please?
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I am fortunate to live near a college of acupuncture and oriental medicine, where for $40-something you can walk in and get acupuncture for stress reduction. It only lasts about a day, but that one day, timed correctly, can be a god-send and enough to get you through to a time you can decompress naturally.
Feel better, BLW — lots and lots of hydration indeed. I know the let-down effect well from earlier parts of my life where I was overbooked and running myself into the ground. Every holiday break, it seemed, was a time for nasty bugs to catch hold! Amazing what the body will do to force us to slow down.
It happens to me, usually due to the cumulative stress of the “event” and also lack of sleep and, perhaps, lack of paying attention to good nutrition. You get through the “event” (often a trip, for me), holding it together, and then falling apart when it’s over. Once, on the first day of a trip, I woke up in Paradise with a cold – miserable for the next 3 days. And once I got my daughter to college, made numerous shopping trips and went to all kinds of orientation meetings, my first day without her, one I had planned to spend taking walks and visiting museums – BAM, a migraine that flattened me for 10 hours. I realize I have to pace myself, plan and plan to get good food and sleep. Planning does help keep the stress down. Less stress, less let down.
Getting “flattened” as you say, Lunaboogie, does remind us about the toll on our bodies from stress, and as you say, the importance of good nutrition and sleep. And I can certainly relate to the settling kids into college stress! (Then hoping they don’t stress too much with the adjustment…)
What do you do to “de-stress” and really let down?
I found a movement practice I love and do 3 times a week called NIA – essentially aerobic dance with components of martial arts, yoga, meditation, dance moves – that challenges my body and my brain (to figure out the move sequences in my head so I can anticipate them) and I play the violin nearly every day. I am actually learning, so there is the focus and concentration in achieving the next thing to master as well as the joy of playing. I play with a community orchestra too. And I do some visual creative work. With my shoulder this year, I had to give up both NIA and violin for many months. That was tough. Have done a lot walking meditaion. Now am back to NIA, in a sling, and listening to lots of music.
My letdown effect happened last September. After barreling through a very stressful busy year, it was finally time for a trip to Paris … two full weeks. Guess what? Got sick my second day there and was sick the entire two weeks with a bad cold. GRRRR However, I was in Paris, so I can’t really complain all that much, and I still managed to have a wonderful time and do almost all of what I had wanted to do … which was mostly decompress and relax. Maybe we need a faux vacation before the real vacation so that the real one (the more expensive one) doesn’t get slammed. But who can afford that in these busy times?
A faux vacation! Bronte, you make me smile. I so hope you enjoyed Paris despite being sick… And you’re quite right. Who can afford the faux vacation or even the few days “let down” before allowing ourselves recreational time. The frantic pace at which we lead our lives mitigates against it.
This makes perfect sense… DO take care of yourself… indulge in your ‘re-runs’ and stay cosy…
I would be watching… Brideshead Revisted…and The West Wing… I have very eclectic taste!
For the French fix… ‘Engrenages”… French series with excellent main character eye candy… 🙂 xv
I hope that you are feeling better by the time you read this. I’m afraid I don’t have any good re-run suggestions. There’s so much to read and watch that I rarely do re-runs. If I’m sick too sick to work, I read in bed or, if too sick for that, sleep until I feel better. Members of my family so predictably experience the letdown syndrome that we almost plan around it.
Now go rest and knock your bug for its final loop!
Leslie you’re such a sweetheart. Me? Rest? (I do have a problem with that…) But I’m feeling like myself today. Hooray! I kicked that bug on its butt! (Phew. Honestly? Sickest I can remember being in 7 years.)
When I feel icky, I go to bed with Anne of Green Gables or Nancy Drew, some miso soup, and Husband’s polor bear pajama pants.
Nancy Drew and Miso Soup! Sounds excellent, Ms. Natalie!
You know well that the French have a word for this–le contrecoup! And I am bracing myself for it next week. I hope that you feel better and if I could, I would send Ben and Kipling in with the gatorade!!!
Bisous,
Heather
Oh Heather. Be forewarned! Mon Homme en souffrait d’abord ; on ne savait pas ce que c’était – while we were out of town. It hit me like a sledge hammer a few days after. The sickest I can remember being since food poisoning some 7 years ago. Send out the dogs for French Gatorade! (Now I know to keep some in stock.)
xo
Gosh I know that condition. Get well sweetheart!
And I’m pretty lucky to have no kids because I’m a bad, bad patient. I’m dying. I’m all drama. I think that I will never feel okay again. I listen to my body and it tells me stories of death and pain.
Funnily since I changed my way of thinking and living and working, it never happened again. Only back then when I was Team Rat Race did I torture myself for the sake of… hm, for the sake of WHAT, actually?