Summer is a time of year to try to live in the blissful moment, minimizing past concerns or ignoring future worries. At least for some sunny moments there should be child-like adventure and freedom slathered in sunscreen.
September suddenly arrives and reality beacons. Holidays are over like the curtains closing on an amazing show in the theatre and school is in. Predictably, the nights are a little cooler and days a little shorter.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or variations of the condition feel like unwelcome clusters of cumulonimbus thunder clouds assembling on the psyche’s horizon. For this reason, from my experience with serious depression, seasonal or otherwise, it is possible to do some preemptive mental health work to lessen SAD’s impact on your life. Turn the tables on the medically recognized condition and be more in control of the unwanted despair instead of the usual situation.
Use of the phrase “mental health work” was intentional. Work in a positive light beneficial to the state of mind you present to the world, especially the beloved ones around you. Preemptive work can subtly rearrange your reality and potentially avoid the worst seasonal depression, and its associated collateral damage to life.
We can commit to acting, which current behavioural science verifies as beneficial to the health of our minds and interconnected bodies. Actions include, for example, committing to regularly exercise, at whatever intensity that is comfortable.
Repetition of positive mentally healthy actions become effortless habits over a period. If we know the darker, stormier days cause darker, stormier moods, planning and constructing an environment which will nurture the best version of us is an intelligent move.
The feeling of being in control can have exponential rewards, and self-confidence and love. A healthy content disposition will become your default state.
There is a saying, or more of a cautionary quote, from our coastal culture here in Powell River and Tla'amin Nation which says “the person who smokes pot with friends in August, burns wet firewood alone in December.”
Perhaps it is my personal experience with living “off the grid” in remote areas of the coast that makes this quote humorous, but also eerily true. Burning wet firewood for your main heat source in cold, damp December is damaging to mental health and general quality of life.
With healthy habits like cutting and stacking cords of seasoned dry firewood in late summer, you are likely to feel strong and safe in the dark, cold and wet months ahead. It is a perfect metaphor and literally positive and instructive advice.
The preemptive work to discourage the onset of SAD in any form of physical exercise has multi-levels of benefits for the mind and body. Planning ahead to be socially involved in community events at Powell River Public Library, Powell River Recreation Complex or many other opportunities are strategic ways to preemptively deal with mental and physical health scenarios, and find yourself in a healthy place whether dark, rainy days are ahead or not.
For now, I will squeeze the last bit of sunshine in this summer paradise, trying to live in this beautiful warm moment and start to think about preemptive mental health, forming healthy habits and being in control to create the environment for the healthiest possible version of the future for you and me.
Robert Skender is a qathet region freelance writer and health commentator.
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