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Oh boy, here comes a personal, uncomfortable thread. Why am I doing it anyway? Because I hope it shows that mental health is important and that you are not alone in this.
Here goes nothing.
Here goes nothing.
Some of you may have already noticed that I am more quiet than usual here. That's because I'm currently going through an episode of Seasonal affective disorder (or as the German language calls it aptly "Winterdepression").
I've had this most of my life and I'm generally okay.
I've had this most of my life and I'm generally okay.
That being said, it's not easy and this year is one of the heavier episodes.
I know the signs for me:
- unusual craving for sweets
- issues sticking to my sleep schedule
- feeling of emptiness, anxiety
- having a hard time with social interactions and even with fun activities
I know the signs for me:
- unusual craving for sweets
- issues sticking to my sleep schedule
- feeling of emptiness, anxiety
- having a hard time with social interactions and even with fun activities
I know these things, I look out for these things and yet it hit me like a brick wall again. Last year I spotted it early on and could prevent any fallout, this year is damage control.
Why am I sharing this? B/C I want to share what works for me & help you spot it if you got it.
Why am I sharing this? B/C I want to share what works for me & help you spot it if you got it.
To spot this monster, I usually track what I get done each day. I write down wins (it helps if the inner voice becomes a jerk again) and I make sure to stay hydrated and well-rested (enough and regular sleep). I also try to keep track how I feel about the things I enjoy.
The last one is important. One of the first clear indicators for me is that the things I absolutely love start to feel like "tasks" or "chores". I chalked that up to the weather being cold and wet, but I now know that's not it.
I noticed that I also felt disconnected from the things I've done and accomplished. I didn't really pause to think about it and here I am now, fighting the demon who keeps telling me to not be myself. Could I have prevented it? Probably. Why didn't I? I didn't listen to myself.
So, what to do? I know what works for me. It might not work for you but it works great for me. The key is listening to yourself to get back to yourself rather than the shit coming from the wrong kind of brain chemicals.
Here's what I do:
- Limit the amount of stuff I plan to do each day. Better to have a small, achievable, controllable thing done than to overwhelm yourself, not get anything done and then regret everything
- Set tighter boundaries. This minimizes the load of interactions
(cont)
- Limit the amount of stuff I plan to do each day. Better to have a small, achievable, controllable thing done than to overwhelm yourself, not get anything done and then regret everything
- Set tighter boundaries. This minimizes the load of interactions
(cont)
- Stay hydrated and rested. Enforce a stable schedule.
- Take time for myself to reflect, plan and just recharge.
- If the situation doesn't improve, get help. Get yourself a doctor and therapist you trust. They're invaluable.
I'm certain this, too, will pass. Stay safe, y'all!
- Take time for myself to reflect, plan and just recharge.
- If the situation doesn't improve, get help. Get yourself a doctor and therapist you trust. They're invaluable.
I'm certain this, too, will pass. Stay safe, y'all!
