Maybe you've seen this story circulating about the goat soothed by wearing the duck costume. If you haven't, please check it out.
It's rare that a story about anxiety can warm the heart as much as this one does.
What I love about it besides the "too much cuteness" factor is that it's also so compassionate and kind. It could be shared with children as well as adults who are struggling with anxiety.
That's powerful. But to me, the most pressing question is this: what if we were all this accepting and loving and creative when it comes to dealing with anxiety or any other stress effects, in ourselves and with others?
What if we just tried and did whatever works no matter how odd or unconventional or if we couldn't explain what it works as well as it does but just found - it does?
So, yes, this is a feel good dose of adorableness on a Monday in a month that might have you as stressed as it does me. But it's also a reminder that weighted blankets can relieve stress and anxiety, that swaddling and contact and feeling safe can make a difference and that creative compassion can be curative - in goats and in other mammals.
What we do, explore and need in an effort to ease anxiety or any of the effects of ACEs, whether our score is 1 or 10, is worthy work.
Creating more safety and joy, in ourselves, as parents and professionals and well, just people, is important.
Admitting that we, also struggle with anxiety or issues, and that this just makes us human, is important as well in de-stigmatizing symptoms. If we did that more maybe we could or would share more of our secrets and solutions as to what helps us. To do that, first, many of us have to shake off the shame.
Part of the reason this entire site and community is so important to me is that we share science and stories and practices and pictures. Some of us are academics and some of us are social policy experts and some of us are parents and some of us are poets. Many of us want to make a better world for children, and adults and for ourselves and the wider community.
Where else can so many of us at various places on the socioeconomic ladder, at various places in personal recovery, at various places in schools, churches or homes all gather and share?
We get to discuss, debate and detail what is being done, could be done better and has yet to be even be discussed.
So, this article, for me is about sharing joy and hope and shrinking shame, secrecy and isolation that many who suffer have. This is the medicine, the health and the potential cure. Sharing. Caring. Connecting.
Maybe we will have less anxiety and more joy for a second, a minute or even longer. That matters. It adds up to meaningful.
This work we are all doing, personally or professionally or academically, it matters. It counts.
So here's the first few paragraphs on a happy story about anxiety.
The duck suit seemed to have the same calming effect as a ThunderShirt, or being swaddled in a blanket. But for Polly, the duck costume worked better than anything. "I tried a ThunderShirt — it didn't work," Lauricella said. "There's something about that duck costume that calms her. She goes into a little trance. She just closes her eyes and she's out."
Now, whenever Polly has an anxiety attack, Lauricella puts her into the duck costume, and voila — instant calm. "She just calms down and goes to sleep," Lauricella said. "Instantly. It's become a thing that she's known for."
The duck costume is also useful when Lauricella has to run errands, but can't leave Polly alone at home. When Lauricella once stopped at a local store, she put Polly into her duck suit, and the little goat snoozed in the shopping cart.
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