Know your enemy.

Sun Tzu was a general in the military and a philosopher in the Zhou Dynasty of China, around 500 BC.  He most famous work is called "The Art of War", in which he outlines not just military tactics, but the thought processes and wisdom related to victory on the battlefield.  He is responsible for sayings like "All warfare is based on deception", and perhaps most famously the reductionary "To know one's enemy is to know one's self," or more simply, "Know your enemy."  One of the greatest enemies in our household has been given the overly-cute, but situationally frightening name The Sleepytime Saddies.

It's late, you're tired, and you lie down to sleep.  Without warning, sadness washes over you like a cliche about waves.  You're sad about everything, anything, life the universe, it doesn't matter; you are just sad.  Indescribably sad, and it's so hard to shake you think you'll never sleep or be happy again.  That's the Saddies, and they are terrible.

In CS Lewis' book That Hideous Strength, the member's of Ransom's group are visited by the Old Gods, and their attributes fill the room.  When Mercury arrives, they all dance with joy.  When Venus comes through, they are all in love, friendly, and caring to one another.  When Saturn descends, sorrow for the dying universe hits them.  They think about how we all age, we all die, they think about the heat-death of the universe, and feel like they may never be happy again.  Lewis knew.

JK Rowling (also a member of the "Two First Initials Great Authors Club") described the Dementors feeding on happiness, giving their victims visions of the worst moments of their lives, leaving them cold and afraid.  Rowling knows.

I wrote last time about our "8 to 8" rule, and what a lifesaver it has been.  Being able to call out The Saddies for what they are has also been a huge help.  Just being able to say "This isn't real; this is just the pressure of the day collapsing in.  This is just The Saddies," helps prevent an all-out meltdown for either of us.  More importantly, navigating these storms can help you figure out what is weighing on you that you may not have known about, what is troubling you.  Unburdening yourself is one of the best ways to fight the Saddies, and just an all around good idea. 

So know your enemy, know yourself, and keep fighting the good fight against them.  When Saturn descends, he rarely stays long.  Dementors are sent packing by the happy thought of a Patronus, and the Saddies are driven out by talking, by hugs, and by ice cream.  Go easy on the latter, trust me.