I used to slam cabinet doors ... that always felt good. Not so hard as to cause them damage just enough to make enough noise to say 'I'm angry'.
Since my DH's stroke I do almost anything to avoid confrontation because he has so little control over his anger. He's not violent or anything but sometimes things come out with a 'look that could kill' or sounding really angry. Now when this happens, I just turn around and go into my sewing room and stay there.
Sometimes he comes in later and says he's sorry, other times he asks what's wrong because he doesn't even realize how what he said sounded. The stroke affected his 'complex thinking' skills and when he has to 'think' a lot he gets very tired and short tempered (much like a toddler who needs a nap). It's very hard for someone whose strongest gift was analizing data and implementing procedures to know he can no longer 'think on his feet'.
I don't always sew, often times I turn on the 'boob tube' and just sort of veg out! Other times sewing is therapeutic. I joined the 15 minutes a day thread and am trying to spend at least 15 minutes doing something sewing/quilting related. Last night I realized something that surprised. Although I sewed for more than an hour, I only got the front and back of my bag constructed but haven't started the lining or zipper yet. My mom used to boast that you could wear my things inside out but quality is important to me and it's OK if I take longer. However, I may not be able to make any money off these handbags to supplement our income unless I can stream-line my process.
But if I think of it as therapy ... I guess that counts for something?
Peggy
(brrrrrr in Fla.)