shall we scream into the void?

any time someone is in any kind of crisis or upheaval, offer to feed them. tell them they don't have to choose what it is if they can't make decisions, just ask about allergies and preferences and tell them you're just gonna make food happen at their house.

friend having a baby? delivery gift certificate to order food to the hospital after the kid shows up.

someone's relative passes away? offer to make them dinner.

buddy gets laid off? ask if you can order them lunch.

pal stuck in a depressive episode? offer to drive them to fucking mcdonalds, if that's what they want.

people in crisis are tired and sad and angry and the last thing most of them are doing is thinking about feeding themselves. so if you have the ability or time or money, providing that is always, always a good move.

This homeless person is making me uncomfortable. Should I call [a man with a gun]?

My neighbor is having a loud party. Should I get [a man with a gun] involved?

There are some teenagers skateboarding. Do you think [a man with a gun] would get rid of them for me?

No, Billy never rejected her and she met and started dating Captain Hammer mere minutes after meeting Billy. But Billy, now that he was finally talking to her as a person instead of creepily watching her from across the laundromat, quickly developed a friendly rapport with Penny that had the potential for friendship or romance, while her relationship with Captain Hammer quickly soured because he's a self-obsessed manchild. She was very clearly fed up with Hammer by the time of the homeless shelter opening and probably would've dumped him very soon after. Had Billy just let things run their course, he would've come out of the situation with a good friend and/or girlfriend, depending on how romantically compatible they turned out to be.

What Billy did instead was to stop hanging out with her or with any of his other friends, because he was too busy working on his death Ray to get revenge on Captain Hammer. Both Captain Hammer and Billy were treating Penny as a prize in their slap fight and Billy could've come down to Earth but he didn't. He chose his pride over human connection. He decided that he could get his revenge on the guy who had "stolen" "his girl" and become a notable supervillain in one swoop, and devoted his efforts to that instead.

Thriving: "I got this"

Calm and steady with minor mood fluctuations

Able to take things in stride

Consistent performance

Able to take feedback and to adjust to changes or plans

Able to focus

Able to communicate effectively

Normal sleep patterns and appetite

Surviving: "Something isn't right"

Nervousness, sadness, increased mood fluctuations

Inconsistent performance

More easily overwhelmed or irritated

Increased need for control and difficulty adjusting to changes

Trouble sleeping or eating

Activities and relationships you used to enjoy seem less interesting or even stressful

Muscle tension, low energy, headaches

Struggling: "I can't keep this up"

Persistent fear, panic, anxiety, anger, pervasive sadness, hopelessness

Exhaustion

Poor performance and difficulty making decisions or concentrating

Avoiding interaction with coworkers, family and friends

Fatigue, aches and pains

Restless, disturbed sleep

Self-medicating with substances, food, or other numbing activities

In Crisis: "I can't survive this"

Disabling distress and loss of function

Panic attacks

Nightmares or flashbacks

Unable to fall or stay asleep

Intrusive thoughts

Thoughts of self-harm or suicide

Easily enraged or aggressive

Careless mistakes and inability to focus

Feeling numb, lost, or out of control

Withdrawal from relationships

Dependence on substances, food, or other numbing activities to cope