Springtime Can Be Challenging
April 8, 2013 1:01 PM Subscribe
Livin' life as a person who is prone to mood swings and emotional disturbance. Springtime is a tough time for me in this regard. I understand that I'm not alone. What do you do to keep stable when the weather is changing every day?
Without getting too mystical on you, something about the volatile weather of spring is very difficult for me. I become prone to bouts of depression, hypomania, anxiety, and -- most distressingly -- decisions based on these factors that turn out to be really bad decisions.
It's become a chicken-and-the-egg situation wherein every spring for the last few years, I end up doing something I regret, which then feeds my perception of spring as a Bad Time and makes me more likely to fall into it again!
Coping strategies for maintaining inner balance in the face of gusty winds? I'm in therapy, exercise regularly, and use scented candles as aromatherapy. But recommendations for books, movies, songs, strategies, etc that work for you would be much appreciated.
Without getting too mystical on you, something about the volatile weather of spring is very difficult for me. I become prone to bouts of depression, hypomania, anxiety, and -- most distressingly -- decisions based on these factors that turn out to be really bad decisions.
It's become a chicken-and-the-egg situation wherein every spring for the last few years, I end up doing something I regret, which then feeds my perception of spring as a Bad Time and makes me more likely to fall into it again!
Coping strategies for maintaining inner balance in the face of gusty winds? I'm in therapy, exercise regularly, and use scented candles as aromatherapy. But recommendations for books, movies, songs, strategies, etc that work for you would be much appreciated.
Could you have allergies? If so, treating for that could help stabilize you. Also, I am wondering if therapies for SAD might have some relevance for your season-related issue.
I have a serious medical condition. I frequently get fevers and fevers promote anger in me. It is always some legitimate issue that I am angry about, but my reaction is stronger than normal. I have certain things I look for as an indicator that I am not really rational anymore. If I notice I am there, I try to defer decisions, let someone else make the decision, etc. If I am really crazed, I try to just play games, take care of myself and avoid doing anything that could have consequences.
People close to me know of this issue. I try to keep them informed so they know how much to ignore (or at least discount) grumpiness or whatever. I have found that most people are very understanding if I can tell them sincerely "It's not you. Nothing personal. I am just a mess right now." That won't excuse genuinely malicious behavior but will smooth over a lot of rough-around-the-edges impoliteness, even with strangers.
I also blog and used to keep a journal. I recently bitched on my blog about an incident in a forum. It is a forum where I don't think anyone knows of the blog in question, so it shouldn't come back to bite me and it did help me let it go and not bother to get into a stupid argument with someone over their asinine behavior. It has also helped me think through why people routinely do X to me and wonder what might be a better response than calling them out on it, which never seems to help.
My point: Blogging is turning into a constructive, problem-solving exercise for me, not just a means to vent. My experience has been that actual problem solving is one of the best ways to improve my mood. Feelings come from somewhere. Getting at the root of problems, even if illness or hormones or spring are artificially exaggerating those feelings, is the best way to feel better. If a big part of those feelings is rooted in biology or brain chemistry, that is still a problem you can work on. Getting myself physically healthier has done a lot to improve my emotional stability and that fact helps make temporary mood swings easier to endure and cope with because I know it won't be for very long.
Best of luck.
posted by Michele in California at 1:34 PM on April 8, 2013 [2 favorites]
I have a serious medical condition. I frequently get fevers and fevers promote anger in me. It is always some legitimate issue that I am angry about, but my reaction is stronger than normal. I have certain things I look for as an indicator that I am not really rational anymore. If I notice I am there, I try to defer decisions, let someone else make the decision, etc. If I am really crazed, I try to just play games, take care of myself and avoid doing anything that could have consequences.
People close to me know of this issue. I try to keep them informed so they know how much to ignore (or at least discount) grumpiness or whatever. I have found that most people are very understanding if I can tell them sincerely "It's not you. Nothing personal. I am just a mess right now." That won't excuse genuinely malicious behavior but will smooth over a lot of rough-around-the-edges impoliteness, even with strangers.
I also blog and used to keep a journal. I recently bitched on my blog about an incident in a forum. It is a forum where I don't think anyone knows of the blog in question, so it shouldn't come back to bite me and it did help me let it go and not bother to get into a stupid argument with someone over their asinine behavior. It has also helped me think through why people routinely do X to me and wonder what might be a better response than calling them out on it, which never seems to help.
My point: Blogging is turning into a constructive, problem-solving exercise for me, not just a means to vent. My experience has been that actual problem solving is one of the best ways to improve my mood. Feelings come from somewhere. Getting at the root of problems, even if illness or hormones or spring are artificially exaggerating those feelings, is the best way to feel better. If a big part of those feelings is rooted in biology or brain chemistry, that is still a problem you can work on. Getting myself physically healthier has done a lot to improve my emotional stability and that fact helps make temporary mood swings easier to endure and cope with because I know it won't be for very long.
Best of luck.
posted by Michele in California at 1:34 PM on April 8, 2013 [2 favorites]
Okay, I totally was dismissing those light boxes for seasonal affective disorder as total woo-woo, but then someone suggested I get one in February when I was mildly whining about how I wasn't....well, I wasn't sad, but I was blah. No energy, just really all "meh" about everything all the time. I got one and started using it and HOLY CRAP.
And I'm not like jumping out of bed and bursting into song, but it's made the difference between this mindset:
"I'm bored. I know, I'll watch TV for 5 hours."
and
"I'm bored. I know, I'll get my camera and go for a walk and take pictures of weird shit."
Worth a shot, even though it's spring still.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:44 PM on April 8, 2013 [5 favorites]
And I'm not like jumping out of bed and bursting into song, but it's made the difference between this mindset:
"I'm bored. I know, I'll watch TV for 5 hours."
and
"I'm bored. I know, I'll get my camera and go for a walk and take pictures of weird shit."
Worth a shot, even though it's spring still.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:44 PM on April 8, 2013 [5 favorites]
I came in to mention the allergy issue. I'm a lifelong dysthymic and when allergy season hits, I can get some serious blues. Zyrtec (not the decongestant version) works very well for me in most cases but this season, I had to go the immunology shots route. Within three weeks, I was sneezing less and had more energy/less depression. Good luck.
posted by nubianinthedesert at 2:50 PM on April 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by nubianinthedesert at 2:50 PM on April 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
Do you get enough omega 3s? When I started eating a can of sardines pretty much every day I noticed that my SAD pretty much completely went away and my moods have stabilized. It takes several months though. Taking fish oil has never done anything for me, but I am thinking eating the sardines helps because of vitamin D/B12/and the omegas.
posted by fromageball at 4:41 PM on April 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by fromageball at 4:41 PM on April 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
Maybe by spring, you run out of Vitamin D reserves?
posted by icanbreathe at 6:57 PM on April 8, 2013
posted by icanbreathe at 6:57 PM on April 8, 2013
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Talk to your therapist and talk to your doctor, pharmaceuticals may be just the ticket.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:26 PM on April 8, 2013