Sad adjective:
1. Affected by unhappiness or grief
2. Expressive of or characterized by sorrow
While nobody likes being sad, sadness is an emotion we’ve all felt. I don’t choose to be sad, it sometimes happens through the course of a day. There are many things which could bring me sadness: a customer degrading me, being told a loved one is sick, and the ending to a book not going how I want it to, etc. Part of life is learning to deal with every emotion, and sadness isn’t an exception. While every person copes with their sadness differently, my coping mechanisms include writing, reading, jogging, and looking at nature. Sometimes I visualize a happy place by closing my eyes and taking deep breaths. I would much rather be happy than sad, but a roller coaster of emotions comes attached to me. I want the people around me to be in a good mood, and will do my best to show a smile. In the words of Max from Where the Wild Things Are, “I have a sadness shield that keeps out all the sadness, and it's big enough for all of us.”
Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D) noun:
1. Type of depression occurring at a certain time of the year, usually winter
2. Depression triggered by the brain's response to decreased daylight exposure
Is anyone else super excited winter has finally ended? The cold doesn’t bother me, and a little snow can be nice. But, the winter we endured in Michigan was absolutely ridiculous. There were countless days where I would wake up and it would be pitch black and a few hours after I was done working, the sun would already be going down. This severe lack of natural sunlight has a big impact on the emotional health of a person, especially someone with Depression, such as me. Exposure to sunlight releases serotonin and dopamine to the brain; these two neurotransmitters positively impact mood. I did my best to make sure I would get some natural sunlight during the day, even if it was taking a step outside during a break at work. During the long winter, I made sure to leave my blinds open to let natural light in. There were plenty of days I was unable to go outside because of the severe weather, and my brain was negatively impacted by this. Fortunately, there are medications which can inject these neurotransmitters to help people, but I don’t want to become dependent on them. Additionally, here are a few other ways to help deal with S.A.D. :
1) Maintaining a healthy sleep schedule. Doing this keeps your circadian rhythm intact. Although going to sleep at around 8 pm and waking up at 4 am isn’t ideal, my mind and body thank me for consistency.
2) Eating a balanced diet. When you are depressed, your brain craves sweets and sugar. Without sounding too “doctorly”, go against your brain and get the nutrition needed.
3) Get a light therapy box, mimicking natural sunlight. If you work in a setting which doesn’t offer sunlight, putting this nearby is very beneficial. I have yet to use one of these, but even turning a light on helps.
4) Visit a doctor and be informed about your emotional state. Realizing something “isn’t right” with your mind and/or body isn’t the end of the world. On the contrary, it is often the beginning to new experiences.
5) Above all, know that you’re not alone. There is always someone there to offer support.
I can deal with being sad. I can deal with having S.A.D. Now that winter is over, I have already noticed more smiles and more good moods. Take a look around and see if you notice this. If you don’t, then give them a reason to: be the sunlight.
- Brandon -
Keeping smiling Brandon and the world smiles with you.
Don't worry be Happy wsyour theme song when you were younger.
oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Posted by: Brandon | 04/16/2014 at 07:15 PM