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S.A.D. Seasonal Affect Disorder
As the seasons change, many people experience more than just a shift in weather—they may feel the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression that typically occurs during the fall and winter months. With shorter days and less sunlight, SAD can leave you feeling fatigued, disconnected, and unmotivated, with common symptoms like persistent sadness, difficulty concentrating, changes in sleep patterns, loss of interest in activities, and changes in appetite or weight. These symptoms can make it harder to get through the day and interfere with daily life. While it’s natural to feel a bit down during the colder months, if these feelings persist, it might be more than just the winter blues. Fortunately, there are effective treatments available, including professional help from a counsellor or therapist, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and light therapy, which mimics natural sunlight and can improve mood and energy levels.
How Do I Get Through This Feeling?
In addition to therapy, taking care of your physical health can significantly impact your mental well-being. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep can help improve mood and reduce depression symptoms, while staying connected with friends and family—even through brief check-ins—can make a world of difference. Social isolation often worsens feelings of sadness and hopelessness, so make time to engage with others. If you're feeling the effects of the changing season, know you're not alone. Recognizing the signs of SAD and taking proactive steps to care for yourself is crucial. You deserve to feel your best year-round, and with the right support and treatment, you can manage SAD and maintain a healthy, balanced life. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional or someone you trust; help is available, and taking action is the first step toward feeling better.
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B.P.D. Borderline Personality Disorder
The 3 components that contribute to the diagnosis of B.P.D.
Emotional Sensitivity
Emotional sensitivity means feeling emotions more intensely than others, both the good and the bad. This means someone might experience extreme happiness or deep sadness more often than a typical range of emotions. This trait is generally something people are born with.
Emotional Intensity
Emotions are complex and can lead to different feelings based on what's happening around us. They can push people to chase their dreams but also can mislead them or make them react strongly. Linehan (1993) describes emotional intensity as having extreme emotional reactions. These intense feelings, whether triggered by something inside or outside of us, can be hard to control, making it tough to calm down and return to a normal state.
Invalidating Environment
People with borderline personality disorder often feel emotions more strongly, react more, and take longer to calm down after an emotional event. These characteristics can be made worse by an invalidating environment, which Crowell et al. (2009) describe as one where emotional experiences are met with overreactions that are not appropriate (p. 12). This kind of environment doesn't need to involve physical harm; it can simply involve dismissing or belittling emotions. In such an environment, people’s feelings are often ignored or put down, leading to confusion, doubt, and emotional pain. Crowell et al. (2009) explain that these environments may sometimes encourage extreme emotional reactions while also sending the message that these feelings are not necessary and should be dealt with alone without support from others (p. 496). Over time, this can lead to problems in relationships and negative thoughts about oneself, increasing emotional intensity and reactivity, and reinforcing their misunderstandings of the world.
So Here's the Good News!
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of therapy designed to help people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) manage their intense emotions and behaviours. DBT teaches useful skills for handling emotions, curbing impulsive actions, and improving relationships. It focuses on four key areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Mindfulness helps people be aware of their thoughts and feelings without judging themselves. Distress tolerance offers ways to cope with difficult situations more healthily. Emotion regulation helps people understand and manage their emotional responses, and interpersonal effectiveness teaches how to communicate clearly and handle relationships better. Through a mix of one-on-one therapy, group sessions, and support, DBT provides a well-rounded approach to help those with BPD achieve a "life worth living" (Linehan).
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Mens Mental Health . . .
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