Your just plugging away at life and you are trying to adult so hard to find a balance between life, work, friends. But some days you just want to hide away from the world. Some days you have to slap on a fake smile and go on with your day. Some days everything is going along just great and wham you get hit with sadness and just want to cry. It's something I've never really talked openly about but since it's Bell Let's Talk Day I feel a need to talk.
I start to feel it in early January and it usually lasts till mid February. I have a suspicion that it is Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is a type of depression that's related to changes in seasons. SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year. If you're like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody. Its still Depression which can strike at anytime, it happens to anyone for any number of reasons and is a serious illness. Let's not be shy your Mental Health effects your entire life. Emotionally you feel sad, hopeless, have little interest in things you used to and may feel overwhelmed. Physically you could feel aches and pain, you might not be hungry, you might not be sleeping well and your energy is just gone. Your behavior may change too, a person who is lively and cheerful may become slow and uninterested in what is going on around them also if the person has been suffering for awhile they become masters at hiding how they are feeling.
I have found a few things that have helped, keep in mind I'm no expert and if you are really struggling and feel like giving up on life completely, seek help immediately. There are so many people in your life who love and care for you and you are never alone. One of the things that is probably one of the hardest is to open up and talk to someone. I'm not saying you need to seek a therapist, though there is absolutely nothing wrong with that but try a friend first. You might be surprised to find they have struggled too and are there to support you and will not judge you for how you are feeling. Something I've discovered this past year has been essential oils. I literally have a blend called Cheer and it was exactly what I needed to help me start feeling happy. Another thing allow yourself to not be ok, cry if you need too, stay in bed all day if you need too, cancel plans if you need too but don't stop Living completely.
Move you body, going for a walk to clear your head can do wonders. Go out and have fun! Seriously I know that seems like it should be easy but I know it's not. Have a dance party, I find music can be very therapeutic. Try starting your day by reading a motivational quote. I've been reading the book Staying Strong by Demi Lovato and it made a big difference. It's for every day of the year which gives you 365 days worth of reasons to stay strong. So even on the darkest days there will come a light.
