The blues are hues that come and go. There are blues in the hue of grief, blues in the hue of sadness, birthday blues, blues in the hue of fear and anxiety. The many hues can seem never-ending. For the sake of life I'm going to focus on two distinct hues of blues; the first being the hue of seasonal depression and the second being the hue of loneliness. Seasonal depression is a common experience in which one exhibits depressive behaviors directly linked to the changes in season. The Mayo Clinic explains Seasonal Depression (also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder) as a mood disorder that usually begins in the fall and lasts through the winter; being directly linked to a climate where there is less sunlight. Symptoms include fatigue, depression, social withdrawal and feelings of hopelessness. Your general mood may be that of anxiety, discontent, apathy, loss of interest, mood swings, sadness and loneliness. You may find yourself sleeping excessively, or not being able to sleep at all. Appetite changes may also occur, leading to weight-loss or weight gain.
Seasonal Depression usually ends once the spring and summer months begin, but how do you deal with the symptoms before then? And let's not negate the hue of loneliness, which can occur any time of the year. You may be away from family, friends or the one you love; feeling incredibly alone while others are happy spending time and enjoying activities with their loved ones. These blues undoubtedly deserve an impactful punch and I'm going to tell you 10 techniques to use, to help win the fight!
Punch #1: Try to ambush those sneaky blues "before" they rear their ugly head by involving yourself in at least 2 types of activities. One activity being something you enjoy and the other activity being something you've been interested in trying, but have never done before. You can choose to do these activities alone or with friends. Punch #2: Begin keeping a journal. Write down the things that you're feeling, write down the things that you like about yourself and write down what you like about your life. Then write down a few realistic personal goals and how you plan to accomplish them over the next 6 months. Writing can be quite therapeutic and it also helps you understand your thinking patterns and mood patterns more clearly. Left uppercut #3: Make some changes to your home by incorporating colors and aromas that lift your mood and spirit. Energizing colors such as lime green, orange and yellow are just a few of the many hues to combat those blues, with feelings of uplift, brightened mood and calm. Right uppercut #4: Many people underestimate the power of fragrance and how aromas can be used to evoke feelings of joy, calm, and elevated mood. The fragrance of peppermint, lemongrass, jasmine, orange, lemon and lavender are some great aroma therapy options that can come in oil form; and can be placed in an oil burner or a diffuser to permeate your space; or they can be placed directly on certain areas of your body where they can be inhaled and absorbed. The doTerra company makes wonderful natural, holistic oil blends that have proven results of effectiveness against a variety of emotional, mental and physical challenges. Jab #5: Monitor the music you listen to. Are you listening to music that makes you happy and makes you feel empowered, or is it music that reminds you of "what" you don't have or "who" you don't have.
Kick #6: Meditate. Meditation is kryptonite to the blues. Find yourself a quiet space to sit or lie down and focus on your breathing while mentally going to a place that brings you peace and happiness. You can then incorporate a mantra or visualize how you want to feel and what you want to accomplish. Verbal and visual positive affirmations can do wonders for your soul and psyche. Write down your positive affirmations and place them in strategic places around your home and at work. Not exactly sure how to meditate or which "type" of meditation is best for you? There are hundreds of Apps and YouTube clips that can help you get started. Drop kick #7: Allow yourself a cleansing cry. There's power in your tears (male or female). Crying can help release the toxins that you've pinned up emotionally, mentally and physically. Don't bottle up your liquid power. Release it and let go of all the built up anger, sadness, and frustration that's bogged you down into the dumps. Smack #8: Solicit your support system and let them know what you need. If you need them to check on you more often, to get you out of the house, or if you just need them to be available to listen, they need to know that, so they can be there for you. Don't assume that they should know what to do or get tricked into believing that no one cares about you, simply because they're not doing what you "think" they should be doing. Communication is paramount. Double jab #9: Exercise & nutrition. Exercise helps increase your serotonin and norepinephrine levels which in turn, boosts mood, reduces stress and helps the brain improve the way it processes information. It also helps your body release dopamine and endorphins which makes you "feel" happy. Nutritious foods rich in magnesium, folate, beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin D, protein, amino acid and B vitamins have properties that help lift your mood and increase feelings of calm while also decreasing stress levels. A few food examples include, leafy vegetables, salmon, turkey, tuna, blueberries, oranges, strawberries, oatmeal, dark chocolate, grapefruit, flaxseed, yogurt, walnuts and beans.
Stomp #10: Get involved in an activity in which you're helping others. You could volunteer to help animals, children, the elderly, the homeless, etc. You can begin a campaign such as sending items to our Troops overseas, or get involved in an honest, reputable campaign that helps people in other countries. Helping others is a great reminder of how much you are needed and appreciated, even when you don't feel it internally. These 10 fight techniques can help you beat those blues into submission, but you must be dedicated and vigilant in your fight for happiness. If you find yourself slipping into depths of blue, get back on the fight path. If you continue to feel as if the battle is getting too hard, begin therapy with a trusted, qualified professional such as myself, so we can get through it together. You are not alone. The battle won't always be easy, but victory can and will happen if "YOU" want it. You're here because you have a unique purpose. There is no one like you in the entire universe. Don't take yourself for granted. Beat the hell out of those blues!