Seasonal Affective Disorder is a depressive disorder that occurs in the wintertime when there are fewer hours of daylight. It may seem minimal, but the symptoms can be as bad or even worse than other depressive disorders.
If you suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, as I do, I’m here to help! Here are my 8 favorite ways to cope.
- Jam Pack Your Schedule
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Anytime I’m feeling excessively down, I like to plan out days with my friends. This not only gets my mind off of how I’m feeling but also gets me to be active and out of my dungeon of a room. If you don’t feel like hanging out with friends, you can plan other activities for your days. Other ideas could include practicing your favorite hobby, going shopping, finishing something you have been putting off, etc.
- Go on a Walk Around Campus
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Obviously, if it is snowing or below freezing I omit this option, but I always try to get myself outside during the day to absorb any bit of sunlight I can get. Getting out around campus is a good way to get some exercise and also a way to make some new friends!
- Do Some Yoga
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This is one of my favorite things to do when I’m feeling down. When I started out, I never really believed yoga would relax me or that I would start to love it as much as I do. The first few times you practice, you may feel sore afterward, but it is definitely worth it. It is crazy how much better I feel after finishing a yoga session.
- Take a Bath
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I’m sure you know that taking a bath is one of the most relaxing things you can do. When I’m feeling down I like to take a bath with Epsom salts and candles lit. Adding Epsom salts to your bath can completely change your life. You can find citrus scents that are made to increase your mood or eucalyptus and lavender scents to help relax you.
- Go to Therapy
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I never once believed that talk therapy would help me. I put it off for way too many years before I decided it was time to go see a therapist. In July, I made the decision to start going to therapy regularly, and it has changed my life. I’m excited to see whether or not it will cause my symptoms of seasonal depression to lessen this fall and winter.
- Write it out
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It may be the journalism major in me, but writing about how I feel is an easy and helpful way to vent. This is similar to talk therapy in the sense that you can just explain how you are feeling with no judgment. Grab your favorite notebook and pen and start writing down and letting go of all the upsetting thoughts.
- Watch TikToks
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I’m positive that I’m not that only one that uses TikTok to get out of my depressive episodes. If you’re feeling down, log onto the app, and let the amusing videos distract you from what’s going on in your head. Some accounts that I suggest to raise your serotonin levels are @baidaugh and @theyeeetbaby. Both of these accounts are family channels with the cutest babies.
- Participate in Light Therapy
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Last but not least, light therapy is one of the most popular ways to fight off Seasonal Affective Disorder. I have never tried this one myself, but I have heard many satisfactory reviews of it. The best and most affordable way to receive light therapy is to purchase a lightbox for your home. You can set it up on your desk and have it radiate on your while you work from home, get ready for the day or even when you are lounging around.
There are many other ways that you can avoid letting Seasonal Affective Disorder control your life, but I hope this list gave you a few ways to get started. Life is tough (especially in the wintertime) but so are you! You are never alone. Let’s get through this tough time together!