As a counselor, I love finding patterns in situations, circumstances, and in all the drama or trauma going on in people’s lives. History certainly repeats itself and if we’ll only take the time to identify the patterns, we can usually take appropriate steps to change it. But as much as I enjoy doing that for others, I often forget to do it for myself. This is the reason having a counselor or life coach can be so important for personal growth. Often we are too close to the situation to see the big picture, and if you want to see a pattern, you really must be able to step back and see the whole thing.
I recently noticed a huge pattern in my life. I was feeling particularly depressed one day and realized that I had been feeling that way a lot lately. I think it’s normal to experience occasional down times, but I was feeling much more than just that. Most of those around me didn’t seem to notice my blues, but that’s because I’m a huge proponent of managing my emotions and not letting them affect me in adverse ways. Anyway, once I noticed the frequency of my depressed moods, I began to look for patterns and eureka! I found one!
For as long as I can recall, I’ve struggled emotionally during the months beginning with Fall and lasting until Spring. It’s weird too, because I actually like cold weather and Fall is one of my most favorite seasons because of the colors and cool air. But like clockwork, as soon as Fall rolls around I begin feeling down. I often explain to people that Fall makes me feel nostalgic. That sounded better than depressed. I often get a sense that things are done with, over, nearing death – but I figured it was just preparing for the “deadness” of winter.
As I looked back, I realized that a lot of major events, negative ones, took place in during those months. I suffered a clinical depression during the Fall and Winter. I quit my job during the Fall, without a back up plan. I got a divorce during the Winter. I married my first husband (huge mistake) during the Fall. So, I can see a lot of really poor decisions were made during that time. I can’t really see the same pattern during the warmer months. Finally, I noticed that this year, the season has been particularly hard on me. Although I’m living a dream life, my happily ever after, I still feel down a lot. (This is yet another reason I preach the gospel of not taking your emotions too seriously and letting them run your life. You simply cannot trust every emotion.)
Finally, the light came on for me. Literally. Could it be that I am suffering from a very common malady known as S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder)?
Let’s take a look at how Google Health describes the disorder – you can read the entire article at: https://health.google.com/health/ref/Seasonal+affective+disorder
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that occurs in relation to the seasons, most commonly beginning in winter.
- Afternoon slumps with decreased energy and concentration
- Carbohydrate cravings
- Decreased interest in work or other activities
- Depression that starts in fall or winter
- Increased appetite with weight gain
- Increased sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness
- Lack of energy
- Slow, sluggish, lethargic movement
- Social withdrawal
Yep, I had every one of those symptoms. As soon as my “light bulb” came on in my mind, I immediately opened the blinds to let some light in my home. We’ve had an unusual amount of rain here, so I’m just not getting much sunlight. Plus, we’ve had the blinds closed for months (too lazy to open them?) and the lighting in my office was dim too. With the shortened days of Fall and Winter, I was living in the dark!
Experts think that the reduced exposure to light, particularly sun light, causes a drop in serotonin levels, which brings about the symptoms of SAD. I love it when the solution is natural, easy, safe, and affective! Opening my blinds and making it a point to take a walk outside, even though we were experiencing an ice storm (but it’s so beautiful!) made an immediate improvement in my depressed mood! Next, I had the lights changed in my office at work and Viola! Instant cheer!
If you’ve been down lately, take a look at the amount of light you are getting. It’s amazing how making such small changes can greatly impact your life!
