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Submitted by Sarah on Mon, 09/29/2008 - 7:50pm.
The clouds will eventually gather and the skies will darken once again. Some folks find themselves challenged by depression as a result. I have some ideas on what might help, remember this is all coming from my perspective, so read accordingly. There are some excellent mental health bloggers out there, including Philip Dawdy in Seattle. Read his recent post That Tricky Time of Year, or Depression Hacks The first thing is to eat. I've watched too many people I know with depression have things spiral out of control because they weren't eating. Or drinking any fluids. Yes, I know food tastes like gruel when times are tough, but you've got to find that one dish you can always eat no matter what. The web is wide and you can find support and inspiration, browse wisely and take everything with a large grain of salt. If you aren't yet comfortably surviving, take care of this first. I don't mean comfortable as in making a lot of $, I mean safe and free from abuse. You can call the Crisis Clinic at 360-586-2800. You can also search through resources online. If you are dealing with domestic violence and/or sexual assault call Safeplace at 360-754-6300. Emergency? Call 911. Are you attending school? Check out what counseling is available. For instance: The Evergreen State College has a counseling center. Belong to a faith community? Learn what kind of help is available there. We can be vulnerable while in times of confusion and transition and the last thing we need is to be preyed upon by destructive groups. If you are interested in a group that promises to change your life, please do investigate first. Extreme practices such as strict fasting and sleep deprivation can trigger more mental health challenges. www.rickross.com is a great resource for information on controversial groups and movements. Need something to do? Help someone else and help yourself in the process. Educate yourself about your particular challenges. Timberland library is a great resource, if they don't have something specific they very likely can interlibrary loan it for you. What works for you?
In memory of Cheri Hall 1973 - 2008 R.I.P.
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Thanks for posting this, Sarah
Submitted by Bert on Mon, 09/29/2008 - 10:21pm.I am sure there are a lot of other things that I could do to improve the situation. I could eat better (and stop drinking coffee, for example - but I love coffee! - though I am sure that the jolt certainly picks me up some days, overall it might not be beneficial to my mental outlook.)
Another thing that help me to maintain a healthy mental condition is to participate actively in the community. It feels good to express myself and to actively promote the kind of society that I truly want to live in. It feels good to think creatively, to think outside of the box.
But essentially for me, it comes down to exercise, eating well (getting enough to eat), and sufficient rest and sleep.
As our government becomes weaker in the face of its own mismanagement, it will become more and more important to have local resources, community resources, to help people to deal with mental health (and other health) issues.
There are a lot of great local resources for healing and health. I have been thinking about posting information about the Crisis Clinic, so I was glad to see that you did!
bert
Bert
Submitted by Sarah on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 7:40am.I hope you do a post on the Crisis Clinic too, the more the word gets out the better.
Sleep, food, exercise, and community involvement can make a huge difference.
I wonder.
Submitted by FRESH on Mon, 09/29/2008 - 10:47pm.I'm not trying to devalue anybody's experience here, just making an observation. Sorry in advance if my words offend.
I moved here for the rain
Submitted by SMASH on Mon, 09/29/2008 - 11:58pm.Laurian will probably post another "OH COME ON" in response to this, but... I honestly love the rainy season here. I find it soothing and refreshing -- the heat and glare of summer is more depressing for me.
Oh SMASH
Submitted by Laurian on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 6:12am.Good with rain
Submitted by Sarah on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 7:36am.I do well with rain and oyster light myself also.
I learned recently that SAD doesn't have to necessarily concern gray skies, some of us have trouble with other seasons, I'm not great with heat and glare myself either.
I'm ejoying this gorgeous weather right now but I'm also ready for the rains.
Thank you Sarah for the Oyster Light meme
Submitted by Laurian on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 9:41am.I like the sound of the rain
Submitted by Chia on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 9:48am.I like the sound of the rain on the rooftop. Very relaxing. Puts me right to sleep at night :) I do miss the midwestern thunderstorms and the extended cloudiness does get me down.
I would like to add that excessive anxiety can be a cause of depression and that keeping a quiet and relatively stress-free environment can help with that. Avoidance of tobacco (a terrible nutrient depleter, including B vitamins which are so important to good mental health), caffeine, and refined foods are important, too, since there is a link from each to anxiety/depression. Plenty of ground flax seeds and walnuts and/or oils can help, too. Take a daily multivitamin.
As stated in another post, people with multiple obstacles can benefit from an offer to help with daily problem solving and developing coping skills and I really do hope that readers take that to heart and express offers of help to folks they know are struggling rather than only handouts. I think that the people who are collecting items to give away to those in need are very wonderful and special people, indeed, but sometimes making some phone calls in advocacy and other offers of support can help to alleviate the sense of being overwhelmed during times of lower resources, whatever the type of resource. A bit of help with practical problem solving rarely hurts and may help a lot :)
Don't eat meat, ride a bike...that's how you can brake global warming, the head of the United Nation's Nobel Prize-winning scientific panel on climate change said...
I'm with you...
Submitted by Meta Hogan on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 5:51pm.oh yeah
Submitted by Sarah on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 11:11am.Sun
Submitted by Sarah on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 7:30am.FRESH I hear ya, and you aren't offending at all. I'm all for folks taking stock of where they are and how they respond to their environment - and then making some choices and taking action.
a mixed bag
Submitted by epersonae on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 9:39am.I LOVE it here (16+ years) and I love the rain, but the darkness at this latitude can really get to me over the winter.
For me, that means being extra-diligent about getting exercise, even though it's more difficult to get, and using a light on a timer for an alarm clock. Having a bit of light in my room BEFORE I wake up makes a huge difference, whether it's raining or not. From what I understand, SAD is about light more than temperature or precipitation.
And everyplace has trade-offs: it may be 70 & sunny in LA in January, but that means it's 103 & smoggy in July. Here, you get OMG gorgeous summer weather, but you have to put up with February. :) I have a friend who couldn't handle the winter here and went back to Texas, while I can't imagine dealing with summer (or hurricane season!) down there.
PS: I know at least two people who are locals who also have SAD, and for them light therapy has been very successful.
Rain, I Don't Mind/Shine, the Weather's Fine
Submitted by stevenl on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 4:26am.As lighting sets the mood in cinema it also sets the mood in lives for some. Personally I enjoy the rain and dark winters as much as I enjoy the sun. But I've seen our rain drive people away, like my friend from Evergroove Trivia 28.
Nice post, Sarah. Thanks.