Originally published on Dr. Z's Two Cents, October 1, 2026.
Early autumn salutations, blog enthusiasts!
How are you during this transitional month of summer into fall?
I am feeling grateful for small, silly things, such as September being my half birthday month. Did I do anything to celebrate? No. Did I still feel the need to acknowledge it? You betcha. I have that Pisces sun-Virgo rising combo working for me and just had to share. ;)
If the weather near you has been leaving you feeling sluggish, grumpy, and/or otherwise unpleasant lately, you are not alone.
I don't know about you, but when I am feeling grumpy, there is also usually an underlying current, urging me to do *most anything* to stop feeling whatever is vying for my attention.
Another silly side note: in high school, a friend wrote me a card stating in part that being grumpy is part of my charm. I am pleased to confirm she was not wrong. She is also the kind of friend who put my haiku on embracing courage on a bumper sticker, gifted it to me, and encouraged me to spread the word. How cool is that?
Keep life short and sweet.
Pain demands our attention.
Try gratitude first.
Side note to my side note: I'm very fortunate to know so many awesome humans.
Anyone else have a tendency to keep busy when life feels too overwhelming to sit with?
You can't see me; however, I am raising my own hand in solidarity.
Since I briefly mentioned the zodiac earlier in this post, let me #JustFoldItInDavid.
Pisces is a water sign, along with Cancer and Scorpio.
Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius are the fire signs.
Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn are the earth signs.
Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius are the air signs.
Water moves... those hydrogen (2) and oxygen (1) molecules can exist as a solid, liquid, and gas. Pretty cool.
Fire moves.
Air moves.
#ScienceRocks (sometimes literally. punny, I know.)
[IMAGE FROM ORIGINAL POST]
Earth is a floating rock in the Milky Way Galaxy; see previous hashtag for unintentional foreshadowing.
Let's pretend for the purposes of this post that the Earth is stationary, which it technically isn't because of gravity...
Anyway, we are pretending the Earth is stationary ground for the purposes of this post.
What do the Earth and slowing down as we enter into fall have in common? Grounding.
Not the kind being imposed upon you for breaking household rules during your (typically expected) rebellious youth.
The kind that helps you come back to the present moment and anchor into yourself when life feels overwhelming.
A grounding framework I've developed over the past several years in clinical practice is something I call an emergency/emotional comfort kit.
My idea around creating an emotional comfort kit, especially when first seeking out mental health support, is rooted around our five main senses: sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch.
The goal of having this kit, think of it like the glass cases with fire extinguishers you see in public spaces touting bright red words BREAK GLASS IN CASE OF EMERGENCY to access the equipment to help avert fire-related crises.
In this case, your ECK (I know, it isn't a particularly flattering acronym, but it also doesn't really need to be...) your ECK is there to help you bring your attention and your full self (thoughts, emotions, etc.) back to the present moment to sit with the unpleasantries when they visit.
Notice I wrote that your ECK is there to help you SIT with NOT fix, force, rush out, or shame the unpleasantries when they visit. What we resist, tends to persist.
Instead of telling yourself to avoid feeling whatever is coming up, when you have an ECK (bonus points if your kit container is any sort of whimsical), you have the tools to address your physical comfort, when emotional discomfort arrives.
Think of the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and types of touch that bring you comfort.
sight: are there pictures or quotations that remind you of the good that exists amid the horrors of humanity? a favorite movie or show to watch from an easier time in your life? get a journal or two & some art supplies for creative expression.
sound: any songs that remind you of simpler times? take some time to curate playlists for different moods. audiobooks can be a good distraction or a good redirection to kinder thought content. have you explored any meditations or instrumental melodies to help soothe your brain? perhaps a sound machine to help create background noise without needing to follow along to a storyline?
smells: do you have a scent that feels like someplace safe? when was the last time you smelled any flowers or took the time to smell the arrival of autumn in the air?
taste: stay hydrated! keep some drink options in your kit...tea, decaf coffee- just add water! maybe some individually wrapped snacks if you're feeling fancy. lip balm as the air gets drier.
touch: cozy outfit change and/or blanket, fidget toys, maybe a puzzle, puzzle book or small lego set? the opportunities are endless!
With the changing of the seasons, how can you update your ECK? Or are you maybe inspired to make one?
Stay tuned for some of my personal recommendations to stock your emotional comfort kit, coming soon to the resource section of my site.
As always, thank you for being here.
I am energetically sending you ease, encouragement, and endurance for this leg of our journey.
In gratitude & solidarity,
Dr. Z