Spring is over, fall and winter have come back around, and people often experience seasonal depression. It has happened to me a couple of times before, so I just wanted to say that it is okay not to be okay. At times, I have ways to make myself a little bit better and make this time of the year easier to cope with.
I think this time of the year is really hard for some of us because the weather is pretty awful, so it is easy to overlook the positive side of things. I always feel it this time of the year and it is so easy to shut yourself off because you have this negative cloud over your head.
It is so easy to just not ask for help because you do not want to be a burden. I have myself done this before. I would just lock myself up in my room. Your room should be your safe space, a sanctuary where you escape from the world, but sometimes when you are locking yourself away, it becomes a prison you build for yourself. It becomes a place where the only experiences you see are negative, and you think of it as a place where a lot of sad things are happening.
It is so easy to shut yourself away literally because sometimes the weather gets so bad that you are just stuck inside. You might not be going to the park with your friends or to grab some lunch. However, you can just change little habits to get yourself out of your room. Whether it is going for a walk to see those brown leaves or just going to make coffee for yourself. Change anything so you take yourself out of your habit of just being stuck in one place, physically and emotionally.
And even if it does not feel like a huge accomplishment, it is okay, you have tried. You have done so much to actively try to make things better, and that is amazing. You could have just stayed in your room and moped about something, but you did not. You worked at getting your mind off that.
Over time, there are some ways that I make myself feel a bit better, by teaching myself to enjoy this weather. That is through romanticizing the changing seasons.
You could just be watching films that remind you of this time of year like “When Harry Met Sally,” “Harry Potter,” “Gilmore Girls,” or “Dead Poets Society.” You could make a tradition with your friends or family. I have a tradition with my mom, where we watch a horror movie every night in October. It could be films, TV shows, or even recipes. Now every night, you have something to look forward to, and that personally helps me with my mental health. I just feel like some traditions are comforting, no matter what they are.
The other most important thing is asking for help. There is nothing wrong with asking for help. There is always someone around you that you can speak to about things. And even if you do not want to reach out to someone, your best friend is literally you and your journal. If you do not already have a journal. Really? Just go grab yourself a piece of paper and that is your journal for the day. Go and write down how you feel. Honestly, it will make you feel so much better.
If you or someone you know is struggling, contact the school warmline here.
