Do you suffer from SAD?

Let’s talk about Seasonal Affective Disorder and depression.

For you folks in the southern states, you likely don’t fully comprehend this, but it is in fact a real and very difficult issue, and unfortunately, for those of us who also suffer from depression and anxiety, SAD is just another thing to make us feel like the world is ending☹️. I grew up in Michigan so I have lived in the gray winter my whole life, but it has never gotten easier. In Michigan we had lots of snow to bring some brightness to the dark days, however, in Chicago, we don’t have much snow, and when it’s gray, it’s alarmingly depressing.

Most recently we had 15 straight days of “darkness” and I really thought I was going to lose my mind. I did EVERYTHING I could to combat the “blues";” I went to yoga, I kept up with my other workouts, I walked, I was social, I went to AA meetings, and yet it was still a very difficult time. But I did all of those things rather than hiding in my house withdrawing. AND I talked about it. I SHARED OUT LOUD with friends IRL and I shared on social media because that to me is therapeutic and I knew by sharing my struggles, others might not feel so alone. And guess what? IT WAS ALL TEMPORARY! I made it. I struggled but I worked through it and I got to the other side and so will you❤️. Follow my Instagram @heathermdanby if you want to see my (almost) daily posts about depression and anxiety and how I am choosing to work on myself every day.

Remember, if you suffer from depression THERE IS HELP. If you are contemplating hurting yourself, there is help. You can text BRAVE to the Crisis Text Line at 741741, and a trained crisis counselor will receive it and respond within minutes. Then, the crisis counselor will help you de-escalate your situation and connect you to help locally.

XOXO,

Heather