March! It is one of my favorite months of the year. No, it isn’t my birth month. No, none of my kids were born this month. No, there is no major event happening this month to make it my favorite. It is, however, the month where we (here in KS, anyway) finally start to see the first signs of Spring! And, with Spring comes a break from something I deal with on an almost yearly basis. Seasonal depression.
While I consider myself healed from the deep depression that I went through many years ago, I do still struggle with seasonal depression, as many other people do, too. Seasonal depression, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects more than 3 million people just in the US every year. Since so many people are affected by it, I thought I would take a minute and tell you some of my tips to treat it, or at least talk about some of the ways that I handle it for myself.
First off, the obvious (at least in my mind) self-care. If you are not taking the time to care for yourself, seasonal depression could get much worse. Take a long bath, read a book you’ve been wanting to read, go out to coffee with a friend, etc. You can see more self-care ideas in my previous blog (https://freshofbreathair.com/2021/02/22/quick-guide-self-care/) and feel free to add any others that you can come up with, there are thousands of things (if not more) that you can do to take care of YOU!
Secondly, exercise. Take one look at me and you know that exercising hasn’t ever been at the top of my self-care list. However, I am not talking about shin-splint causing, can’t breathe kind of exercise, unless that’s your thing. And, if it is, then go for it! But, for those of you like me, where intense exercise can literally give you hives, I just mean a nice, calm stroll around the block, gathering as much sunlight as you can gather while you go. Studies have shown that as little as 30 minutes spent in the sun can help with the treatment of SAD.
Next, let’s talk about the social aspect of it. People tend to spend less time with their friends in the winter, due to the snow and harsh temperatures. I, personally, believe this year has been even worse than most years, thanks to COVID. If you are able to and it won’t stress you out due to worries of COVID, I think a nice cup of coffee (tea, water, whatever you drink) with a friend or loved one can be just what you need to turn the tide towards brighter days ahead. Again, if you are like me, when those feelings of depression and hopelessness try to take hold, you have a tendency to become more of a recluse. Don’t do this! If your concerns of going out are COVID related, then may I suggest a video chat with a friend that you haven’t spoken to for a while. It won’t quite be the same as being able to see them in person, but anything is better than nothing.
Another suggestion I have is to cut the negativity out of your life. Do you spend hours (or even minutes) on social media, just to feel more depressed than ever after you get off of it? Cut it out! Log off and take a break from it until you are in a better headspace. Is there a person in your life that you struggle to spend time with on a regular basis when you aren’t dealing with SAD? Take a step back from them or set some good boundaries, so you have time to focus on yourself and can give yourself time to recover. Pay attention to how things make you feel when you are around them. I try not to let my feelings control my life, but I do use them to gauge how my spirit and body are reacting to things around me. I am not telling you to cut everything out of your life until you are better, that won’t work. But, do focus on the things that make you feel happier, especially during the times of struggling through seasonal depression.
My final suggestion (before I write out my huge disclaimer, don’t miss that!) is to turn your focus from inward to outward. Know a neighbor who is struggling themselves right now? Take them cookies! Have a friend that is, also, dealing with SAD? Offer to bring them a meal to help lighten their load for an evening. All those things that you wish others would do for you, quite wallowing in the fact that no one is doing them for you and start doing for them! Helping others through their difficult times can make your difficulties seem more manageable. At least, it usually helps me to realize that I am not the only one in the world who is struggling.
Okay, here is my disclaimer: I am NOT a medical professional in any sense of the word. I have no degree or license or certificate behind my name that would give me the authority to treat depression in anyone. I am simply offering suggestions that have helped me deal with depression in the past. My number one suggestion if you are struggling and don’t know where to turn is to seek medical care. Your doctor can offer medical suggestions (medication, light therapy, counseling, etc.) that I cannot offer.
And, also, know that there is not shame in needing medication to treat depression. I am on three different medications to treat different struggles that I deal with at this exact point in time. None of them are to treat depression because I have figured out ways to treat it on my own, but if I ever get back to the point where I am not able to handle it on my own, I would feel no guilt in going to my doctor and asking her for further help that is outside of my wheelhouse. Sorry, that is a small soapbox that I am very passionate about and wanted to make sure you understood that my suggestions in no way take place of medical care or medication if you feel like they are needed! So, there you have it. Some of the ways that I have handled my own seasonal depression. I hope that if you are struggling with SAD, this blog has given you ideas on ways to make it seem more manageable. I would love to hear your suggestions on how you handle depression if/when it comes your way! This is in no way an exhaustive list, just a few ideas, so feel free to shoot me some more!
Fresh of Breath Air 