Can the Start of Spring Impact Your Mental Health?

What's happening at HealthyPlace this week?

• Can the Start of Spring Impact Your Mental Health? 
• From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs
• A Negative Thought Spiral -- How to Get Out of It
• Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans
• Quote About Abuse

It’s fairly well-known that as the seasons change from autumn to winter, many people experience the winter blues or even seasonal affective disorder (seasonal depression). But what about the much anticipated and welcome shift from winter to spring? If you find yourself frustrated by mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, mania, and even suicidal ideation during spring, know that there are legitimate reasons.

The nature of the shift from winter to spring can disrupt mental health in several ways:

• Changing light: Our circadian rhythms change with the increased length and intensity of sunlight, affecting sleep-wake cycles, energy, and mood. Studies have shown that both suicide rates and manic episodes of bipolar disorder peak during the spring season due to change in our circadian rhythm.1
• Differing routines: While it can be refreshing to be able to spend more time outdoors and do different activities, it’s still a change our minds and bodies must adjust to. A change in routine can cause or worsen anxiety and stress.
• Expectations: Often, we feel we should be happy and active because it’s spring. The sight of other people enjoying the sunshine can make us hard on ourselves if we simply can’t muster the energy or desire to do so, too. Imposing expectations on ourselves can worsen anxiety, depression and other mental health disorders.

The start of spring can indeed negatively impact mental health. Practicing self-care and even working with a mental health professional can help you through it.

Source

1. Cho, C-H., & Lee, H-J. (2018, March). Why do mania and suicide occur most often in the spring? Psychiatry Investigation, 15(3): 232-234. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5900367/

Recommended Video

Seasonal affective disorder makes everything worse, and Elizabeth has noticed that her self-talk is getting especially bad because of it. Watch.

Articles Related to Dealing with Mental Health Challenges and the Spring Season

• SAD in Spring: Spring Can Make Mental Illness Symptoms Worse
• A Worsening of Depression in Spring, Ways to Cope
• Shedding Light on Anxiety and Sunlight Spring and Nurturing
• For Everything There Is a Season
• Allergies and Psychiatric Illness (Part 1 of 2)
• Allergies and Psychiatric Illness (Part 2 of 2)

Your Thoughts

Today's Question: Knowing that the start of spring can affect your mental health, what strategies do you use to care for yourself? We invite you to participate by sharing your thoughts, experiences, and knowledge on the HealthyPlace Facebook page.

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Job Opening: Blogger for 'Debunking Addiction' Blog

We're looking for someone who has lived experience with addiction who is willing to share those experiences with site visitors. Check out the Debunking Addiction blog and apply at Mental Health Bloggers Wanted.

Please forward this email to someone you know who may like this opportunity.

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From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs

On all our blogs, your comments and observations are welcomed.

• My Self-Esteem Battle As an Actor
• Sleep Habits in Binge Eating Disorder Recovery
• More on Stuffed Animals and Anxiety
• Self-Harm Recovery Coping Skills to Help You Heal
• Schizoaffective Disorder and Getting Surgery on My Knee
• Addiction Is a Lonely Place
• Breaking the Cycle of Verbal Abuse Takes Time and Patience
• The Benefits of Positive Self-Talk
• Negative Self-Talk? Try to Get Over Yourself
• I Feel Guilty About Avoiding the News
• Meeting My Biological Relative Improved My Mental Health
• Bipolar and Bad Sleep -- Which Came First, How to Treat?
• Pushing Myself Out of My Comfort Zone Is Bad for My Anxiety
• The Relationship Between ADHD and Time Blindness
• Anxiety and Having Intrusive Thoughts of Ending it All
• How Self-Harm Personal Stories Support Recovery
• How Did I Survive Years Without Therapy?
• Say No to Work When You Are Enduring Burnout and Depression
• Will I Ever Learn to Love All the Parts of My Own Body?

Feel free to share your thoughts and comments at the bottom of any blog post. And visit the mental health blogs homepage for the latest posts.

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From the HealthyPlace YouTube Channel

Do you find yourself in negative thought spirals where you insult yourself brutally? Natasha does, but she's learned how to get out of a negative thought spiral. Watch.

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Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans

Here are the top 3 mental health articles HealthyPlace Facebook fans are recommending you read:

1. How Many Hours of Video Games Is too Much?
2. What Can You Do When An Alcoholic Won't Get Help?
3. Is There a Way to Discipline a Child Who Just Won’t Listen?

If you haven't already, I hope you'll like us on Facebook too. There are a lot of wonderful, supportive people there.

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Quote About Abuse

"The only people who get upset about you setting boundaries are the ones who were benefiting from you having none."

Read more quotes about abuse.

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That's it for now. If you know of anyone who can benefit from this newsletter or the HealthyPlace.com site, I hope you'll pass this onto them. Please share the newsletter on any social network you belong to. For updates throughout the week, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, subscribe to our YouTube channel, or follow us on Instagram.

Thank you,
Deborah

Community Partner Team
HealthyPlace.com - America's Mental Health Channel
"When you're at HealthyPlace.com, you're never alone."
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