so SAD

image by Aaron Wilson on Unsplash

I’ve had a couple of gloomy down days. This time of year, particularly after the time change, I have to be very careful and keep my eyes open for certain trends in myself; for this is the beginning of Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. I have my sun lamp out and sit in front of it for an hour in the morning. I have not followed my doctor’s other advice, though, and I feel myself slipping.

Some symptoms are: I lose my sense of humor. I just want to lie in bed, doomscrolling Twitter. I lose my sense of gratefulness. I spend more. I eat more; or not at all. I do not go out. I neglect my writing. I go to bed before six (once it’s dark I feel it’s time for bed). Feeling like ‘I can’t win.’ I allow the ugly side of me to emerge, and I’m sure I’m lousy company. Dark thoughts of harm come out.

Some solutions are: My sun lamp. Talking to people of cheerful subjects. Exercise. Fresh air (be it ever so cold). Writing. Counting blessings and approaching life with gratitude. Avoiding political news. Reading fiction. Getting lost in a book. forcing myself to stay up later. not looking at my phone so much. Staying on eating plan (IF & Noom). Not being impulsive about spending. Being gentle with myself and others. Seeking professional help when necessary. Get out of the house. Doing something for others. Crafting.

In a nutshell, I need to embrace the Hygge in Winter. I think of people in far Northern lands who get only a brief touch of light in the wintertime; and yet it is those lands that the Hygge traditions come from. I need to be grateful for the sunlight and put on Hygge like a warm sweater in the evenings. And maybe I’ll put my Christmas Tree up today, and play some Christmas songs.