Today is the first day of spring; equal amounts of darkness and light and the promise of warmer weather to come. The trees are budding. The daffodils are peaking out of the ground. There is not a cloud in the sky. And it seems everyone is so happy that winter is finally over.
The thing is, I don’t really like spring.
This is so counter to popular opinion that it feels wrong to even mention it. But my experiences over the years hold true for me. I easily lose my motivation and optimism in the spring. Depression is my familiar springtime friend.
I often wondered if I was the only person who felt this way. Of course you are never the only who feels a certain way, but still, I worried. It turns out that science supports the idea, that for some people, spring is the worst. While SAD (seasonal affective disorder) is usually associated with winter, it can occur in any season. You can read more about it HERE and HERE. Spring is not the best time of the year for everyone.
What exactly is it about this season of rebirth and renewal that gets me down?
It’s hard to know exactly but probably these two factors play a part.
- It’s still fairly cold, and worse, it is so so damp here where I live. Maybe I’ve never adapted to seasons that depart too far from my southern childhood experience of the seasons as summer and then less summer.
- I can be overly goal oriented and here we are 3 months into the year and I haven’t accomplished all my goals yet. It’s may not be rational but it doesn’t have to be rational to feel real.
What do I do to make it better?
- Hot drinks, hot baths and cozy blankets are my go to strategies to combat the damp.
- I repeatedly tell myself that it is ok to take a rest and then rest some more.
- Books, crafts and netflix bingeing are my go to escapes.
- Year round I rely on meditation and journaling to ground me. In the spring these practices become even more important.
How do you feel about the change in seasons? If you love the spring, remember that not everyone feels that way. If you are like me and find spring a little daunting, I’d love to hear in the comments about the things that help you through. And if you are having trouble making it through, please reach out to someone and ask for help.