11 Ways to Make Seasonal Depression Your B!tch

Growing up in Washington state, probably one of the gloomiest places in the world, comes with a lot of benefits, and some unfortunate drawbacks.

Only a few people know that I first started contemplating suicide when I was a little thirteen-year-old in seventh grade. This was caused by a gluten-based diet. It was discovered that I have a allergy to gluten, which was making me severely fatigued. Like I was exhausted ALL THE TIME.

It was the darkest time of my life and every year around January-March, I take a dip back into that feeling of hopelessness. I am sure that most people that I know would NEVER guess that I have experienced this before. I don't spend enough time with other people for them to be able to make the observation. For me, seasonal depression and depression in general literally feels like I am drowning all the time, and that is something that I don't think that others can fully understand unless they have been there before. Far too many people know this feeling.

My seasonal depression usually begins with isolation- I naturally prefer to be alone and it usually takes extra effort for me to want to be around others. My isolation literally trumps being around anyone else. So, during the winter time, when I find myself constantly annoyed by the people around me and wanting to never leave my bed, it is a huge red flag which tells me that I need to take steps toward self-care.

In the past, my seasonal depression is usually just a constant, steady feeling of disappointment and dread, but this year was different because my attitude was having a huge effect on the people around me, causing feelings of anxiety and guilt instead.

This is my first year at college and my first year surrounded by a completely new group of friends who don't know that I appreciate my solitude and require recharge during the winter. So, when I let my closest friends know that i need time to myself for awhile, it was not making any sense to them no matter how I explained my situation.

The school year had started off rough with a nasty case of Pneumonia but as soon as that cleared up, I met some people who bring out the best in me. The goofy, outgoing, creative version of me. When they saw me begin to isolate myself, they became extremely worried, and did not give me the space that I needed, which ended up being problematic (which is a whole other story).

Anyway, what I'm saying is that your depression effects everyone around you. It makes them scared and worried and confused, because they love the heck outta you. You have to care about yourself and the people around you enough to take steps toward positive change.

It is time to make seasonal depression your bitch.

HERE'S HOW:

(in no particular order)

1. Up your supplements-

Talk to your doctor, i recommend going to a naturopathic doctor. Medical doctors recommend anti-depressants and other drugs that literally have suicide as a side effect. If you can go to a "witch doctor" as my grandpa :) likes to call it, they can recommend specific diet changes, and supplements that will change your life. By simply upping my dosage of Vitamin D and adding in some iron, doubling my intake of rhodiola rosea, and using a magnesium topical solution, my life this season changed literally overnight. My clarity is back and and brain fog is gone, i am no longer jittery with anxiety, i am energized. Which is the opposite of how i was just four days ago.

2. Delete social media-

Facebook, instagram, snapchat. Take a break for a month or two. It is not good for your mental health anyway and deleting it will give you one less thing to worry about.

3. Go out and do stuff-

Even if you like being alone like I do, one of the best things that you can do for yourself is to do stuff. Go take pictures, go on a walk, go to a movie or treat yourself to a manicure or a trip

to the bookstore.

4. Look at pictures of yourself from when you felt genuinely happy.

This one seems kind of weird but someone who I am very close to knows that i get more sad during this time of year, so she sends me a video or picture of us everyday, from a time that I was really happy. I dont know if it her support or seeing these videos/pictures, or both, but it makes me feel a wave of relief everytime i get one of these texts from her.

5. Get creative-

Paint, draw, doodle, color in a coloring book, make a pinterest project, take pictures, create some music. Do something that makes you feel like you are contributing something positive and unique to the world.

6. Exercise-

Anything from going on a walk or a bike ride with your family, to lifting or doing distance cardio will just make you feel GOOD. Trust me, it is 100% worth it, but you have to be willing to do it for yourself.

7. Fuel your body with good eats-

I'm talking lots of fruit and veggies and not a lot of processed sugars, dyes or caffeine. Putting the right food in your body could literally save your life the same way it saved mine.

8. Talk to someone-

It is OKAY to talk to someone! A friend, family member, or a therapist. Now, you don't even have to go into an office, you can get online counseling, via text, FaceTime/Skype, personal messaging through apps like TalkSpace.

9. Listen to music-

Music changes everything. It has the power to completely alter your mood. Some of my all time favorite songs...

"Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero's

"Flashed Junk Mind" by Milky Chance

"Valerie" by Amy Winehouse

"Riptide" by Vance Joy

"Listen to the Man" by George Ezra

"29 #Strafford APTS" by Bon Iver

"Stand by Me" by Ben E. King

"Try a Little Tenderness" by Otis Redding

10. Write down positive affirmations and gratitudes-

By writing down every night, a list of positive affirmations toward yourself and a list of everything you are grateful for, i can guarantee that you will go to bed with your heart a little more full.

Some of my favorite affirmations include..

"There is something amazing coming my way"

"I am enough"

"I am loveable, it is easy to love me"

These affirmations have changed the way i view myself and made me a better, more confident person.

11. Heat up-

Plan a trip to Arizona every winter, get a light therapy lamp and sit in front of it every day, go use a sauna... find a way to get warm down to your core (other than a bath or shower). By getting access to artificial or real sunlight, your mind and body will thank you.

By remembering that winter is a time to recharge and meditate on your blessings; a time to actually put in the work that will make you stronger and help you become a better version of you, your seasonal depression will become more of a time of seasonal self-discovery, giving you the opportunity to grow in every part of life.