Das not good
Oh, seasonal depression, I bid thee farewell! Now back to our regularly scheduled programmed state of constant anxiety and sadness. Seasonal affective disorder(SAD) affects a person during a certain time of the year. For most people and myself, it’s the winter! The shorter days and less sunlight are dreadful and things like that can trigger your brain into depression.
At times waves of intense emotions linger causing an imbalance in the boat I try to save myself with. But as soon as those clocks spring forward and the sun graces us with its presence for a bit longer, I too shine brighter. Emotions, just like seasons, come and go. Feelings are a natural part of life, so how do we become resilient and overpower the negative ones?
To be resilient is to overcome with positivity despite going through some negative situations. And let’s face it, every one of us will experience rough patches throughout our lives so it’s up to us on how we handle each emotion. Other factors like environment and biology can play a role in how you react but it takes dedication and a positive outlook also makes a difference.
I’m learning happiness isn’t a single point you reach; it’s a state of mind one constantly keeps. If you find yourself surrounded by people who are complaining or pessimists then that may delay your path to positivity. Look for support in your family, friends, colleagues, or a therapist; whomever you decide make sure it’s someone who has a positive influence on you and doesn’t leave you feeling drained.
Depression feels like a bear, heavy, powerful whereas seasonal depression is the bear during hibernation: overeating, oversleeping, and isolated. With the sun setting early, my productivity decreases. That’s why I’ve come up with a few tips to help me beat the winter blues.
Routine, routine, routine. We’re creatures of habit, whether it’s parking in the same spot, or the way you drive to work, we follow routines sometimes subconsciously too. Try incorporating healthy habits into your routine. A healthy habit I’ve recently added to my routine is praying. There’s something about believing in a higher power that’s been calling to me so I’m trying to make it a habit to pray or read verses daily. Creating routines doesn’t have to be a big elaborate lifestyle change, it can start small and grow from there.
As most of you know, I am a spoken word artist, so naturally poetry is my go to form of relaxation. But lately, I’ve been dabbling into other creative outlets. Poetry expresses my feelings verbally when I’m unable to, but sometimes poetry alone doesn’t get the job done. Art as a whole is a great way to express yourself. If you have a hobby that helps you destress but isn’t working at the moment, try something new. In the past few months I’ve picked up new hobbies like guitar, painting, and drawing. Painting has got to be my next favorite hobby because unlike poetry, I’m not sure what I’m trying to say until the art piece is done. Try painting the next time you feel overwhelmed, let the paintbrush guide you. You don’t have to be good at any of your hobbies, just give something new a try!
I’m going to be extremely vulnerable here and talk a bit about something that’s completely changed my overall mood, medication. Depression is an imbalance in the brain chemistry and medicine can help stabilize the hormones responsible for your mood. I’m not particularly fond of medicine, in fact I was against it, but last year’s emotions opened doors that led me to a psychiatrist. I’ve been on medication for almost a year now and noticed a difference within three months. Maybe medication isn’t for you, but if you’re curious I suggest doing more research on what works best for you and your situation.
With seasonal depression affecting you during a certain time of the year, that may make it easier to combat against it. Take over your SADness and create space for the present that is life. Use some of these tips to help, or explore and create your own coping skills before that depression hits. You deserve to be present and happy, because “SAD spelled backwards is ‘das’ and das not good.”
Everyone is different in that what works for me may not work for you and that’s okay. Keep trying until you find something that does. Because if there’s one thing I noticed, consistency is key. What does that look like for you? How do you show up for yourself everyday? The results come from the work put in.
Are you putting in the work?
