FYI: This is NOT me.
I’m sure this isn’t true for everyone, but it sure is for me. I have a beauty-oriented alarm that tells me I may be going a tad cray-cray.
It’s my nails. If they’ve been bitten, picked at, or even just ignored, something is wrong with my mental health.
It’s actually a great barometer to have because thankfully, for the most part
(or at least since I turned 30), I’ve kept them pretty and polished. Or at the very least, filed and kempt.
But when things are amiss for me mentally—man, do I let my nails get ghetto. And I am so glad for this fact now, because when I become unraveled, I am almost always in a state of denial. However, the minute I notice my unpolished, uneven, and often times bloody (ew, I know) nails —I snap back
to reality.
And let me just quickly site one of my loves, dear Britney (shut up, don’t judge). She was (is?) a known nail biter and had quite a few of her own major meltdowns (which, unfortunately and unfairly, were crazy public). I guess I call her out only because she’s made this great comeback, and no matter how calculated it may be, AT LEAST SHE CAME BACK. It just makes me believe that no matter what, SO CAN I.
It’s my nails. If they’ve been bitten, picked at, or even just ignored, something is wrong with my mental health.
It’s actually a great barometer to have because thankfully, for the most part
(or at least since I turned 30), I’ve kept them pretty and polished. Or at the very least, filed and kempt.
But when things are amiss for me mentally—man, do I let my nails get ghetto. And I am so glad for this fact now, because when I become unraveled, I am almost always in a state of denial. However, the minute I notice my unpolished, uneven, and often times bloody (ew, I know) nails —I snap back
to reality.
And let me just quickly site one of my loves, dear Britney (shut up, don’t judge). She was (is?) a known nail biter and had quite a few of her own major meltdowns (which, unfortunately and unfairly, were crazy public). I guess I call her out only because she’s made this great comeback, and no matter how calculated it may be, AT LEAST SHE CAME BACK. It just makes me believe that no matter what, SO CAN I.
Nail Biter...
...Goes Bonkers...
...But Gets Better*
Anyway, maybe for you it’s not your nails. Maybe it’s not even something that affects your appearance. But I bet, if you are struggling, there is some kind of clue.
And it’s really helpful to learn what that is, because it can save you from continued self-destruction down the road.
As I said before, I tend to bury things. Deny it all. But if my nails (which, as a beauty editor, always need to be pretty and pristine) are chipped, ripped, or purposely torn at, I know there’s a problem. Even if my mind can’t admit it—my nails, to me, are truth. For some reason, they say it better than any other person on this planet.
But enough of that, here’s the segue to polish, which is really what all this babbling is about. My recent visit
to the newly opened Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics store on Stanton Street in NYC gave me every reason to get my shit together. Because I LOVE their lacquers. They are colorful, easy to apply, and even have two different types of top coats--one to make the color matte, and one to give it extra shine.
And it’s really helpful to learn what that is, because it can save you from continued self-destruction down the road.
As I said before, I tend to bury things. Deny it all. But if my nails (which, as a beauty editor, always need to be pretty and pristine) are chipped, ripped, or purposely torn at, I know there’s a problem. Even if my mind can’t admit it—my nails, to me, are truth. For some reason, they say it better than any other person on this planet.
But enough of that, here’s the segue to polish, which is really what all this babbling is about. My recent visit
to the newly opened Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics store on Stanton Street in NYC gave me every reason to get my shit together. Because I LOVE their lacquers. They are colorful, easy to apply, and even have two different types of top coats--one to make the color matte, and one to give it extra shine.
I'm SO down with OCC.
Seriously these polishes are such fun, and while I can’t be sure they will prevent a breakdown, the colors do give me extra incentive NOT to take it out on my nails. I mean, I was horrified just the other night when I realized that I had picked off most of my amazing pink Palare. Ugh! I knew then that I needed to go home, get cozy, drink (calming!) tea, and get to sleep STAT.
And you know what? It worked. I felt better. Of course my problems had not disappeared, but at least I had acknowledged them. Which, in the end, is the first step in improving any awful life issue. At least for me, Susan Linney, queen of denial.
And you know what? It worked. I felt better. Of course my problems had not disappeared, but at least I had acknowledged them. Which, in the end, is the first step in improving any awful life issue. At least for me, Susan Linney, queen of denial.
*When speaking of my beloved Britney, when I say she's gotten better, I mean that she's back on her career track. She's probably still got lots of stuff and that makes me love her even more. My point is that she has gotten it together enough to reclaim her previous pop-star-status, and whether you think that's bullshit or not, I don't care. I'm still impressed. Because honestly, when she was bald and beating the shit out of that car with an umbrella, I thought she was a goner for sure.
