If you haven’t seen Avengers: Infinity War yet, I suggest you cease from reading this article. There are SPOILERS ahead…

If you are anything like me and have a love for the Marvel Cinematic Universe you are probably in an emotional state as you sit in constant distress over Avengers: Infinity War. You try not to think about it and live your life to its fullest but without warning, a snap of the fingers or someone mentioning how they “don’t feel so good” brings you right back to the reality that hurts your superhero-loving heart.

As we inch away from denial and slowly gear towards accepting the fates of the fictional characters we know and love, it is important that we take time to take care of ourselves. Even if we are holding onto some hope that our favorite individuals will return in the next film, that is still a year away! In the meantime, here are some stress-free, Marvel themed ways to take care of your emotional health.

1. Disconnect From The Internet

I KNOW how hard this may be for anyone who is scanning the world wide web for a missed detail that may insinuate the return of their favorite superhero. However, the memes, the over-analyzing of scenes, and the countless threads of fan theories only stimulate the brain into thinking more and more about the film. Take time to detach from these things so your brain may have a chance to relax from thinking about those intense moments in Infinity War.

2. Rewatch Your Heroes From A Happier Time

Completely cutting the Avengers out of your life is an impossible task. Instead of mulling over the fact that half of the team is in emotional trauma from the death of their friends, revisit the times when your favorite heroes were happier (and alive). I suggest revisiting some of the more lighthearted films such as The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Ant-Man, Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Thor: Ragnarok.

3. Listen To Music

Sometimes the best medicine is music. Take some time off to read a book or simply relax with a drink in hand and listen to some of the best tunes Marvel has to offer. Here is a playlist of songs from the Marvel soundtracks, songs sung by fellow Marvel actors, and songs that fit the themes of the MCU.

4. Go For A Walk In Your Hero Gear

Sometimes the best way to clear our thoughts or work through our grief is to work it out physically. Go for a walk around the block. Take a small road trip to a new destination to walk around. If walking isn’t enough, speed up your pace into a brisk run. Maybe even hit the gym if that seems like something that would be better for you. Or, if you need to release even more tension, find a punching bag, pretend it’s Thanos, and make him pay for the months of stress he has just created for you. Just take time to be physical in some way.

Get this look HERE!

5. Take A Bath

Even superheroes need to get patched together to get themselves battle ready. Take this time to pamper yourself with a luxurious bath. In the shower, you won’t be able to distinguish your tears from the falling water. You can even add a bath bomb to make the experience more relaxing. Here are some from HerUniverse.com:

6. Have A Cup Of Tea

Find your favorite Marvel mug and fill it with something that soothes you both inside and out.

7. Color Or Journal

Nothing says relaxation like a coloring book. Grab some pencils, crayons, and markers and find yourself a nice comfy space to relax in. Maybe even grab yourself a Marvel coloring book like this Color Your Own Guardians of the Galaxy. Also available is Color Your Own Civil War and Color Your Own Thor.

If coloring isn’t your preferred method of relaxing, nothing works better than journaling all those feelings you have about your favorites disintegrating into dust. Find yourself a perfect journal for all your Marvel related feelings. Jot down how traumatized you are by Thanos’ master plan to create peace in the world. Here are some designs from Moleskine to help you get started:

8. Bake

The number one rule when you are dealing with emotional stress is to treat yourself! Don’t forget to indulge in some sugary sweets while you try not to cry over the thought of Peter Parker dying in Tony Stark’s arms. Here are some recipes to help you eat your feelings:

Get the recipe HERE!

Get the recipe HERE!

And if you want to feel like you have the power to bring back your favorites with the might of the Infinity Gauntlet, here is an oven mitt to help!

9. Make Yourself Laugh

It’s always important to crack a smile, no matter how sad you may be feeling. Here are some of the funniest SNL clips as well as others from Marvel actors over the years. Let your favorite actors cheer you up!

10. Remember That All Your Feelings Are Valid

Infinity War was something that we all knew would be game-changing but who knew it would be so emotionally traumatic? And while they are fictional characters in a fictional universe, it is important to know that good storytelling, no matter the genre, should allow for its viewers to feel for their characters. In the last ten years with the 18 films that Marvel has released into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they have managed to accomplish just that. It is a testament to their ability to create superheroes who feel so real to us and will continue to inspire us as time goes on.

So stay strong, my fellow Marvel fans and know that there is still more to come. The battle is not over yet! And in the meantime, take care of yourself and know that no matter what, the Avengers have always been about one thing:

“Because if we can't protect the Earth, you can be damned well sure we'll avenge it!”

- Tony Stark, The Avengers (2012)