Don’t Fall Into Seasonal Depression

DISCLAIMER: I am writing this article from a personal perspective. If you, or anyone you know, are diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or has suicidal thoughts, don’t be afraid to reach out and find someone you feel comfortable with who can help. You are not alone.

With winter around the corner, I couldn’t let the season commence without talking about low vibrations, negative energy, and ways to cope with all of this built up intensity from the year(s).

Life has been so out of whack these days. Ever since C*vid happened, it feels like we have all I’ve been learning how to stay grounded through madness because if you don’t then it’s easy to lose yourself.

To begin, It’s only right to talk about the cynical methods and signs our bodies may show when we are under high pressure situations.

Negative coping habits often make stress worse. If you’re not intentional about ways you deal with stress it’s easy to fall into systems that damage your mental well-being.

A list of unhealthy coping mechanisms:

• nail-biting,
• over-eating,
• isolation,
• intoxication/ smoking
• becoming aggressive/violent.
• Excessive sleeping
• Bad hygiene

Someone who displays these habits may be suffering.

This article is not to shame or trigger the readers, but rather inform them that they’re not alone. You can notice these things when you pay attention and stay present in your everyday.

The list goes on, but that’s not what we’re focusing on here. I felt that it was appropriate to identify what stress or depression may look like in a general sense. This way we can learn and adjust. Reading body language and actions are key to adjusting to your social environment.

Quite honestly, this is how I was feeling when I first moved back to California. Not like myself. I started a business and it has been such an amazingly complicated journey. In the midst of it all, continued to work my day job (that I really like), started sewing , read everyday, and picked up a few more hobbies along the way.

My days are becoming a lot more busy. Self care and mental grounding is what is what’s helping me keep my grace. These are all small things that have encouraged me to learn new ways to cope when I’m stressed or just feeling down and out. Here’s a list of activities that keep me afloat:

1. Having a cup of peppermint tea each morning

Simple, but significant

2. Putting my phone on DND

Blocking out the world when I need space (peace)

3. Drinking as much water as I can daily

Everyday I make it a race to see if I can drink more water than the day before.

4. Painting when I need distractions

Doesn’t even have to be on canvas, you can draw, color, sketch, trace, or more

5. Reading my favorite book

There’s nothing like bouncing back on things that never fail (like a favorite restaurant).

• Waking up at 5am daily

Very cliché, but make sure you maximize the day.

• Writing in my Journal

There is nothing better than expressing how you really feel. It helps let it all go.

• Watch a TED Talk

Helps keep the mind be productive and evolve

• Get on YouTube

YouTube is a place where you can find videos about ANY thing. Find a video of your interest and learn more about it.

These are my favorite ways to distract myself from negative and invasive thoughts. You know those days where you have one bad thought and it ruins your hole day? A tactic I like to use in order to avoid bad thoughts, I fantasize of 3 things that make me happy once I realize I’m having detrimental thoughts. The key is to train your mind to think however you wish instead of letting the thoughts run you.

Always,

Sunny