With the weather turning all gloomy it can be easy to get SAD, but this also stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder which basically means you get low moods or depressed for the winter months. SAD is actually more common than you think; around 2 million people in the UK experience this problem, on average 2% of those people have never experienced mental health problems and around 15% of those that already experience mental health have an increase in depression during this time. One of the most life changing pieces of advice I've ever been given was to keep your curtains closed in a morning, listen to some music that makes you feel good and THEN open your curtains once your in a good mood. This really does work, i'm not sure the science behind it but i think it's because you're in a good mood that you can better handle the fuckery that is winter. Sometimes knowing you have to go outside can be daunting but for some reason you don't feel this if you're in a good mood.
The cost of living has sky rocketed and many like myself are stressing and/or getting depressed over it, and when you're already feeling SAD this can eventually turn into a mental illness like severe depression, so what should you do so that you're not having anxiety attacks and feeling extreme stress?
Take a time out, breathe INNN and Out using the 4 by 4 technique; breathe in for 4 , hold it for 4 seconds and out for 4. Do this for as long as needed to calm the brain/emotions. Then spend a few mins being grateful for the little things in your life, like that really good TV show you're watching or that you have clothes to wear. Being grateful helps shift your mindset similar to listening to music that makes you feel good. Once you're in a better mindset then try do something relaxing like regularly making time to colour in a colouring book and have a candle lit bubble bath because honestly when was the last time you did either of these things?
I'm no expert but if you make time to make yourself feel good, you're more able deal with the stressors of life like getting SAD or whatever it is that's affecting you. Remember winter doesn't last forever be grateful you're not a tree because they can't move, all they got is each other's roots for protection...you got the whole internet for help. Watch some funny Youtube video's like cat fails or someshit and wait for better days to come. I hope this post helps at least one person feel a little less SAD, Depressed or Stressed!
What are some things you could do that make you happy? Is it a run, is it food, is it seeing your loved ones? or none of the above. Let me know in the comments...
Till next time,
Stevie x
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