Season's Greetings

Seasonal Depression has always been something I've struggled with. Without fail, every year around this time I have this feeling of existential dread. The temperature is dropping, the days are becoming shorter, and the looming threat of snowfall becomes very real. Not to mention the fiery, vibrant, exploding colour pallet of autumn, has shifted to a dreary blend of brown and grey . This time of year can be especially hard for those dealing with personal issues on top of it all. If you are one of the rare few who look forward to the winter season with excitement, this post might not be for you. However, If you are like me and can't help but feel trapped, uninspired, and hopeless this time of year, stick around!

First, lets address the feeling of desperation. This might be desperation for a vacation, for love, for financial stability before the expensive holiday season approaches. It could also be the feeling of the December scaries which comes into play (for me) when there seems to be nothing to look forward to in the remaining months of January, February, March, or April. Winter, in any part of Canada, is dull and dreary - some places more than others. But, in my experience, whether you are dealing with the gloomy rains of Vancouver, the frigid cold and snow of the prairies, or the intense damp and heavy precipitation cluster-fuck of the east coast, the feeling of desperation is across the board a Canadian issue. maybe even a northern hemisphere issue in its entirety. Honestly, in my experience, there is no easy way of dealing with these feelings. I have found the best thing is to keep yourself busy. If you are lucky enough to be able to afford a getaway in the middle of your winter season, GREAT. But if you are someone who is dealing with pressing financial or familial complications, or are simply unable to get the time off work, the feeling of desperation in winter can be overwhelming with no feeling of escape.

I think the most important thing to realize this time of year is that your feelings are valid. You are not the only person who is laying in bed in the morning trying to build up the energy to get yourself ready for work when it's still dark at 8 in the morning. You are not the only person dreading every small errand that involves leaving the house and braving the snow and/or ice. Some days we walk out the door and can't even open our eyes fully due to the sharp ice crystals pelting us from above. Let's admit it, winter can be a goddam nightmare. We literally live in a place where the elements can severely harm us if we aren't careful. BUT, the cool thing about this is that we are all in it together. For me, there is an extreme sense of relief when I take a minute to realize its incredibly likely the person standing next to me is feeling the same way. And guess what - it's all temporary. Yes, our summer is short in comparison to our winter, but we are still blessed with 4-5 solid months of incredible sunshine and heat. In Canada, living through the winter is worth it for the wide open spaces of enjoyable nature in the summer. We are also incredibly blessed to be living in a country where nearly everyone feels like a neighbour. Next time you are in line filling up your car with gas, or getting groceries in -40 or gloomy pouring rain, I suggest striking up a conversation with those standing in line. I know, talking about the weather seems like a cop out but it can actually be incredibly beneficial to you and those around you to get those feelings of frustration out in the open.

Seasonal Affective Disorder, often referred to as SAD respectively, affects nearly 20% of Canadians annually. Adults between the ages of 18 and 50 are at the highest risk for SAD, and there is new research to suggest your chances of acquiring SAD are increased if a member of your family also struggles with the disorder. Yes, seasonal depression can actually be hereditary. Furthermore, there is a direct correlation between SAD, and the decreased amount of vitamin D intake due to lack of sunlight between November and March. So, next time you are noticing a friend, coworker, or relative is extra moody in the winter months, take a minute to reflect on the fact they could very well be struggling with a valid and sometimes serious mental health condition. If you are noticing signs of SAD in someone you love, my advice would be to plan something for them. Help take their mind off of their troubles for a brief moment. Drag them out for a coffee in the morning, or plan a movie night indoors. Make them feel special and valued and help them understand what they are feeling is normal.

Recently for me, I have dealt with feeling uninspired in the winter by forcing myself to plan something. Luckily, I work in a creative industry as a hairstylist, so I am able to plan fun things that get my creative juices flowing - like photoshoots, and classes. However if you are someone who doesn't have this opportunity, I would highly recommend reaching out to your more creative friends and learning a new skill. This could include painting, working out (get that summer bod ready), macrame, or creating content for social media. Anything constructive that you can think of to spend your time in these months can be crucial for your mental health and can dramatically increase your self-esteem. Humans get high off of succeeding and being good at something. So, use your winter to level up and find something you're good at! It will help you to see the value in yourself and can make you realize you are actually a bad-ass-bitch with a lot to offer, EVEN in the worst months of the year.

Over and out!

Klay, for Apollo