Does Mother Nature's Mood Swings Affect Our Own Mental Health?
Good old Nebraska weather… or for some, not so good. This time of year can be difficult for all of us in terms of mental health. Making the morning decision of whether or not to sport a winter coat, lots of layers, one light jacket, and sometimes we are lucky to have a no-jacket-at-all kind of day!
On the no jacket days, you see people driving around, windows down, radios up, and smiles on their faces – enjoying the fresh air. Only to wake up the next morning to find snow on the ground, temperatures in the 20s (below or above zero)! You’ll notice there are not as many smiles these days.
Weather and Mental Health
These drastic changes in weather not only wreak havoc on our skin, but they can also affect our mental health and overall well-being. It is very common during this time of year to feel a bit “off.” Some of us may feel more hopeless, irritable, and moody in general. For some of us, our moods will be in a similar pattern as the weather – up and down. This in itself can prove to be mentally exhausting.
During this time of year, I am often asked the following questions:
1) Do I have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
2) What is SAD?
3) How do I treat it?
The first thing you should ask yourself is how are you feeling? When do you feel the best? When do you feel the worst?
Then look further into what the best feels like and what the worst feels like. Not all who struggle this time of year have SAD, but still suffer nevertheless.
How to Know if You Have SAD
If you are wondering if you or someone you know are struggling with the seasons and the sudden swings in weather, please don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor, or reach out to a therapist to further assess and provide treatment recommendations, so you can feel better! In the meantime, here is a little list of things you can try to help you get through some of the more difficult days.
Schedule a date with a friend. Talk about how you have been feeling, distract yourself from the weather, and be around people you enjoy. It makes a world of difference.
Watch a comedy show. Laughing is an excellent therapeutic intervention.
Get some soil, a planter, and a plant. Putting our hands in the soil helps our minds and bodies to feel more grounded. Or, if you like fresh flowers, buy some from the store and display them where you can see them every day.
Bake something. On cold days, smelling the scent of something warm and yummy can bring on a tremendous amount of joy.
Do a guided meditation that takes you to someplace you love. A short mental break using the imagination changes our thought process and releases some of those happy hormones!
Clean out your closet, drawers, refrigerator, cupboards, or whatever you want! Cleaning out spaces in our home or vehicles can symbolize cleaning out all the things in our mind, which will ultimately reduce the doom and gloom we sometimes feel. It may be difficult to get motivated for this one. But it works!
Paint it out. Grab some paint and a piece of paper or canvas and go to town. Paint out your feelings – this can look like anything you want it too! That’s the beauty of it.
Relax. There is a reason Bears hibernate. Take a break! Take the day to watch your favorite movies and let yourself just be.
When it is sunny and a bit warmer outside, get out there and soak it up!
Get active, eat something healthy, and be kind to yourself! Remember, this is temporary and there is nothing “wrong” with you. Just as there is nothing wrong with mother nature, she might be working through her own kind of SAD.
If you have any questions about SAD, other mental health conditions, or life transitions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our counselors at Stepping Stones. We are happy to help!
Call (402) 488-6511 to schedule an appointment with our licensed mental health professionals at Stepping Stones in Lincoln.