How to be SAD

Understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that comes and goes in a seasonal pattern. You ever realize that when it’s colder out, you get into a funk that you can’t seem to get out of until the weather starts getting warmer? Yeah, thats it. its SAD. Less sunlight and shorter days really do a number on us. Being cold doesn’t seem to help either. It doesn’t happen to everyone and some get it much worse than most but it happens. So, lets get ready for it. The weather is changing, and as pretty as those pumpkin patches are, shit’s about to get real. It’s about to get dark at 5pm, it’s about to get really cold and were about to get really sad. I can’t tell you what works for you but these are 5 things that could possibly make this winter a little more bearable.

Open the window– sitting in darkness isn’t going to help you. Open up those blinds as soon as you wake up. Turn a light on. The sun is still out there even if it’s 30 degrees outside. Our lack of vitamin D is a huge cause for us being sad all the time. Let the light in. I know that you want to curl up under the covers and sleep til it’s summer again but you can’t, you got shit to do. The sun is out, take it in any way you can. Sunlight is good for you. Every time you’re feeling bad and you go out and get some sun, don’t you feel better?? exactly. Cold air helps wake you up too so don’t be afraid to open the front door look up at the sun and take a deep breath before you get ready for work!

Let those shitty friends go- the seasons are changing and so should that shitty friend group of yours that was wishy washy af during the summer. Surrounding yourself with lovely people is a great thing no matter the season but it’s especially important during the months where your mental health is at an all time low. You need people who will want to come over and hang out because you’re too sad to go outside but you don’t want to be alone. You need friends you can call to cry to when you’re exhausted of fighting with your brain all day. Those people who only want to go out and party and go out and get wasted and spend money, are not the greatest friends to have in times like these. I think that people under estimate just how crucial good friends are to your mental health. It’s cold out, I don’t want to dress slutty and go out and meet boys. I wanna wear a onesie and watch gilmore girls with fuzzy socks and snacks. Surround yourself with good people.

Move your body– its time to dance around the house, do youtube workouts, buy a walking pad.Whatever you need to do to keep yourself moving. It’s easy to stop moving when most of the moving you do is going outside but you want to keep those muscles and those knees good for when summer comes along right… Exactly. Move it. Exercise has been known to help with SAD. I never understood how because when I am depressed the last thing I wanna do is move any body part. I barely wanna get up to pee. BUT they say it helps and I can’t lie, as the founder (and only member) of dancing away depression, I can honestly say a little dancing always helps me feel better even if its just in the moment. Besides, it’ll get your body summer ready so that’s a plus, right?

Get a hobby– Find something to keep you busy. Learn how to do your own nails, pick up knitting, learn how to bake. You’re going to be inside a lot. You might as well make the best of it. I know some days you won’t want to do anything but die, I get it. But on the days where you have just enough energy to do something wavy, let yourself do it. Keep your mind busy with things other than being sad. My outlet was writing. I published a book that was written during my SAD. Some people draw. Whatever you wanna do, do it. You’re keeping yourself home anyways right, okay then… just do something!!

Don’t be so hard on yourself- if you can’t move or open a window or find a hobby. That’s okay too. Some days will be easier than others and that’s okay. You’re sad, you have depression and naturally when that happens, your brain is stronger than you are and those thoughts of nothingness win. That’s fine. I promise. You can try most days but if some days you just don’t want to, then don’t. It’s that easy. It lasts like 4-5 months, you don’t have to fight yourself to be mentally stable everyday. It’s okay. Relax, turn on the saddest movie and eat that tub of ice cream. Today is cancelled. Try again tomorrow.

Being depressed is hard. Rain or shine. Cold or hot. I write these blogs and sometimes I don’t even take my own advice. I be in the bed crying talking bout “stay strong. live laugh love” You know. And some days I wake up and I fight and I have good days within those bad moments, it’s all part of being depressed. Find yourself some good friends to love you on these upcoming sad months. If things get too hard, reach out to a professional, don’t let it get too bad before you ask for help. It’s a real thing and you’re not crazy I promise. You’re just a little… SAD.