Spring Depressive Episodes.

Each Spring I go through what many would call a depressive episode. However I like to refer to if as some sort of a melancholic period. It usually gets triggered by seasonal changes, the sun, and changes to my circadian rhythm. Without medication, I am a nightmare but with a bit of help from psychotropics, they usually help me pull through.

Furthermore, mental-health is usually stigmatized so for example to showcase the little to no knowledge of the lay person’s understanding of actual psychiatry I would say in a data set of 100 people about 60% would know or understand psychiatric Illness at the level of a middle schooler 30% may hold a firmer understanding if given education on the topic and the 10% usually have a mental illness and a lived experience so their understanding is usually experientally correct but theoretically or intellectually questionable. Despite this, these are just my numbers.

Anyway, back to my melancholy. How do i get through it you may ask? Well I do a few things I have learned from my patients at work. I usually use behavioral coping skills and tools to sort of arouse me enough so that I can be functional. Meaning I use things such as “opposite action” (this is where you do the opposite of the behavior that you are doing that may not be effective as a coping strategy). These coping skills usually help. I have also found religious art, song, and hymns usually help me as well. Exercise is something I am actively trying to bring into my toolkit. Sleep is another tool. Lastly, diet is another great tool as food is fuel. Speaking of food, cooking is something I picked up that has helped me tremendously. Right now I am experimenting with Classic Italian dishes.

In short, I know I haven’t written in a while and this is why. I will try to blog more often.

PS. Thanks for being here.

Peas