Coming out of the cold and rather long winter we’ve had this past year leaves many people in a state of shock while we try to figure out what to do next, now that the weather is warm and sunny. Believe it or not, our bodies adjust, to not only the temperature of a day, but also the degree of ultraviolet light our skin gets, the amount of vitamin D we absorb from the sun, and the amount of light versus shade or dark. There are those, like myself, who’ve grown particularly sensitive to these changes and when the weather throws everything at us in one day, it’s literally exhausting. One might feel exhilarated and positive while the sun is shining and the temperature is warm, but feel tired and lethargic when the clouds come overhead and the temperature drops.

There is a diagnosis of SAD – Seasonal Affectiveness Disorder that affects many Canadians, but that usually only hits during winter. Unfortunately, with the kind of winters and springs we’ve been having lately, I believe that SAD had heightened in some people to become more of a daily thing to deal with rather than a seasonal thing. Have you found yourself wondering, during such moments, whether your glass is half full or empty? It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re a pessimist or optimist any more because our rhythms are run by nature and our outlook can change drastically quite quickly. I’m naturally an optimist, but have been finding myself becoming more pessimistic over the past couple of years, particularly during the odd weather.

 

 

Here are some ways to cope with the abhorrent SAD symptoms:

Be aware of your emotions, particularly if you’ve got no major trigger currently in your life.

Try to track alterations in your attitude during particular weather changes.

Ask friends and family to take note of any unusual changes in your behaviour, attitudes or emotions.

Try to change the negative behaviour, attitude or emotion into a positive the minute you recognize the symptoms.

Have a catch phrase you can recite to yourself like, It’s a wonderful day to be alive!

Have a task like painting, doing puzzles or listening to your favourite music when the weather turns bad. This will keep your mind focused on things you enjoy.

Talk to a friend or family member about how you may be feeling and ask them to cheer you up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make a difference in someone’s life that is in a worse state than you. Visit a senior at a home, visit somebody in the hospital who has no family, help a neighbour with a daunting task, find some unused shoes and coats to donate to the local homeless in your community.

Go for a walk in your neighbourhood or visit with a neighbour.

Make a list of all the changes for the positive you’d like to make in your life and pursue the list.

Take a multivitamin or eat healthier and exercise. This naturally increases the serotonin in your brain and makes you feel good.

These are just a few things to do when feeling down and blue due to the sensitivity of a mutant SAD gone wild. Trust me, these definitely work as I’ve had to use them to get feeling better. Chemical reactions shouldn’t control if we view our cups to be half full or empty – that should be a symptom of our actions and thoughts.

Have fun having fun!