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  • Your Mental Health: Seasonal Depression

    Your Mental Health: Seasonal Depression

    In the summer, it is time for parties, cottage country, club life, and refreshments by the pool. The sun shines, birds squawk away in the morning (some are kinder by calling this “chirping”), and everything is in full bloom. So, why do some people prefer to stay indoors? Avoid seeing their friends? Are agitated? Have trouble sleeping?

    Seasonal depression may be something that several of us are still in the dark about understanding fully. After all, there are still a number of stigmas associated with mental illnesses. Some people might find it hard to believe that there are indeed people, students even, who get depressed during a time when everyone seems to be having the time of their lives.

    The Canadian Mental Health Association defines seasonal affective disorder as a type of clinical depression that occurs during the winter months or, less commonly, during the summer.

    The research is still ongoing. However, research tells us that it has existed for the past 150 years. The risk of experiencing SAD is more common in people over the age of 20, but has also been discovered in teenagers as well.

    CMHA warns us that SAD may be difficult to treat, given that the symptoms are often found in patients with bipolar disorder or depression. “Generally, symptoms that recur for at least 2 consecutive winters, without any other explanation for the changes in mood and behaviour, indicate the presence of SAD.”

    The symptoms will differ depending on when you suffer from the illness. For example, if you suffer during the winter months, symptoms include weight gain, low energy, avoidance of social situations, irritability, and the tendency to sleep a lot. Whereas if you suffer in the summer, you’re more susceptible to weight loss, and trouble sleeping.

    Only 2 – 3% of the general population suffers from SAD, while about 15% suffer from something a little less severe called “winter blues”.

    However, don’t let the title “winter blues” stop you from seeing the potential of having SAD. Depression, in any form, is something very serious, and regardless of whether or not SAD is spoken about or treated often, you deserve to talk to someone about how you’re feeling. And there is treatment for this kind of depression.

    The aforementioned link provides several helpful tips on how to receive treatment, such as spending time outdoors, exercising, or vacationing.

    Whichever route you’ve decided to take, it’s always worth mentioning that there are people to speak to about what you’re going through. Your family doctor is available for consultation, but also remember that your university or college has doctors and counsellors for you to speak with. Don’t convince yourself that it’s just “winter blues” because at the end of the day, you’re still suffering. You deserve to be happy. If you suspect that you or someone close to you is showing symptoms of SAD, talk to someone. We wash away ignorance by talking about our illnesses and there’s no shame in acknowledging that you’re on a road to recovery.

  • Females Supporting Females

    Females Supporting Females

    As young children it seems much easier to get along with others. You befriend new playmates on the playground in minutes. Neighbourhood kids are among our closest allies. Differences aren’t noticed as quickly. Judgements aren’t made as fast. But somewhere along the way, this changes. As you will grow, your interactions with peers will change. By the time you reach middle school or high school it may feel like you are in constant competition with each other.

    Friends gossip to each other constantly; sometimes even about each other. What is she wearing? Why does she wear so much make-up? Why doesn’t she ever wear make-up? She dresses too provocatively. She flirts too much. She’s such a tom-boy. She’s too tall, or too short; too smart, too dumb; too cocky, too shy, too fat, too skinny. It’s all just too much. You may find yourself feeling as though it is impossible to live up to other girl’s standards.

    As a girl growing into a woman, you need to support your peers, rather than ban against them. You need to build each other up, not tear each other down. There is a lot of pressure put on girls and women to act a certain way. They should be nice but not too nice. They should know how to take charge, but not be too bossy. Don’t be a bully, but don’t let others walk all over you. This continues from adolescence into adulthood. Lots of women feel compelled to “have it all”… careers, families, social lives etc. They feel the need to be successful at their jobs, take care of the kids, cook, clean, car pool, go out with their friends and support their life partner; to be both traditional and non-traditional at the same time. With all of the pressure that is put on females, it’s important that you have the support of your peers. This starts with how you treat each other. You need to let go of the girl versus girl mentality, not holding each other to stereotypes about what you both “should” and “shouldn’t” do, or “should” and “shouldn’t” look like.

    Here are a few things you can do to be more supportive of other females:

    • Make a conscious effort not to be part of the drama anymore.
    • Make encouraging comments rather than discouraging ones.
    • Only be competitive when it’s appropriate (competition isn’t necessarily a bad thing). As long as it’s not done out of jealousy, judgement, fear or anger.
    • Be a mentor or role model for younger girls in your life.
    • Don’t judge or criticize others and the choices they make.
    • Inspire others to do their best.
    • If someone is struggling be there to help them up. Don’t keep pushing them back down.
    • Empower each other.
    • Don’t use boys and relationships as a weapon against each other.
    • Don’t retaliate if someone says or does something to hurt you. Instead try to understand why they said or did it.
    • Stop calling each other slurs. What you say matters. Kinder words equal kinder actions.

    A quote by Rosa Parks (often considered the “first lady of civil rights”) says it perfectly, “Each person must live their life as a model for others.” When you can do this, you can work together; when you empower instead of put down, everyone can benefit.