Fall is here and with it brings many wonderful things; cooler weather, crisp apples, turning leaves, and pumpkin spice lattes! But for all of the great things fall has to offer for many people it also brings the start of seasonal depression. For many people the shorter days, the lack of sunlight and the dreary weather bring on depression and anxiety. This is especially common here in the mid-west where our winters can seem long and drawn out. Here are a few simple tips for coping with seasonal depression:
1. Take good care of yourself. Make sure you are eating well, exercising, and getting enough sleep. While this sounds simple these things can make a huge difference in the way we handle our emotions. Putting a little extra time an effort into taking care of yourself can really pay off.
2. Surround yourself with a strong support system. Don’t hesitate to reach out to family and friends during this time. A good support system can make a huge impact on the way we handle stress and anxiety. Meet a friend for coffee or lunch, spend extra time on fun family activities, or call up an old friend just to chat. Sometimes just knowing we have people we can depend on makes a huge difference!
3. Find an activity or activities that you enjoy. Sometimes during the fall and inter it can feel like there aren’t as many enjoyable activities especially if we get stuck inside due to bad weather. However, engaging in enjoyable activities can often help with depression. Look for new activities you can pursue during the winter months. Join a book club, take a cooking class, or get outside and learn to ski…it doesn’t matter what the activity is as long as you enjoy it!
Finally, if you find that these tips aren’t helping and/or your depression is severe we would be happy to meet with you to help you cope more effectively with your seasonal depression. To schedule an appoint call 317-710-7772 or email us .