Depression - Getting Ready for Fall

Even if you struggle to beat the heat, there’s plenty to love about summer. If you suffer from depression, probably your favorite thing about this time of year is the long days and short nights. Those extra hours of sunlight can make a huge difference in your mood. And though it’s hard not to love the brilliant colors of fall, they bring with them colder temperatures, a quicker sunset, and before you know it, the stores are decorated for Christmas.

If you’re someone who suffers more during the fall and winter, you know you can’t do anything about the weather or the time change, but you can get prepared now and fight back against the winter blahs.

The Importance of Sleep
It is easier to stay up late in the summer and get going early in the morning. Once fall is here and you can see your breath in the air, wrapping yourself in a blanket and taking a nap becomes a lot easier. Depression itself can often make you want to sleep more, but be warned: too much sleep, or not enough sleep, can trigger depression or worsen the one you’re already going through. Develop a sleep pattern and stick to it and avoid the urge to curl up and hibernate.

Don’t Isolate
Don’t make the mistake I’ve made a hundred times and close yourself off to the rest of the world. When the sun sets before dinnertime, it can be hard to be social. If you have been taking a break from church, fall is the perfect time to go back, since many of them start new Bible studies around the same time the kids go back to school. Don’t just consider the possibility – find out now what your church is offering and sign up so you are already prepared in your mind to go.

Do you have a mentor? If not, it can absolutely change your life. Mentors are unique friends who know you exceptionally well and are entrusted with the tasks of encouraging you to be your best, holding you accountable, and praying and guiding you through tough situations in your life. When the weather gets dreary and your heart grows a little cold, a mentor is there to make sure you are doing what is necessary to take care of yourself. When your Bible study or girlfriend luncheon gets canceled because that first snowfall, your mentor is a vital lifeline that you can reach out to.

Pray about the kind of woman who would make a good mentor for you, and ask God to point you to the right person…or for Him to point her to you.

Work up a Sweat
There is not enough room in this article for me to express how much I dislike exercising…but I can’t deny that I feel great when I’m finished. Of course, it’s easier to exercise in the summer when the weather is more conducive to being outdoors. Joining a gym, recreation center, or YMCA means never having an excuse not to exercise…or at least less of them! If you can’t afford another bill, there are plenty of ways to stay active even at home. For example, EA Active for the Playstation 3 is designed to piece together a workout that is tailored to each individual’s needs, and works with players’ own skills and fitness levels. And if you don’t have a videogame console in your house, there are workout videos available at any video store, and you can even order them directly from Netflix.

Eating lots of chocolate, and working out, both release mood-boosting endorphins, but only working out will keep you feeling your best in the long-term.

What Goes in Must Come Out
In the past, I wrote about spending tons of time glued to cable television and how depressed it made me. The mind and body have one very important thing in common: what you put in is what will come out. Pumping your mind full of good things is pretty simple. Be careful of what you watch and what you listen to. Fill your MP3 player with songs that make you happy and reinforce the Truth of God’s Word. Several years ago, I got into the habit of downloading Beth Moore teachings on my MP3 player and listening to them throughout my workday. I was working in a windowless office in a cubicle, so I had to make great efforts to keep my mood upbeat and positive. Think praise music is just for church? Think again. Listen to a little bit every day and I can almost guarantee you will have a more positive outlook on life.

Turn on the Light
Back when I worked in that windowless cubicle, I saw a lot of people hooking up light therapy boxes to their workstations. Many of my co-workers swore by it, but I was skeptical, so I gave it a try. Girlfriends…it really does help. Not only does it replace some of the sunlight you would normally be getting during the warmer months, it can also help restore an unbalanced circadian rhythm, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. All it takes is 15 minutes to two hours a day of sitting by the light box. No therapy bills, no pills to pop, no effort exerted whatsoever. You can usually find them for under $100 on Amazon. They’re worth the investment.

Keeping your chin up can be a challenge once fall rolls around, but you can fight back and win. Do what you can now to make life a little easier when the cold winds blow!