I'm cold, and now I'm sad... 🥶

12/24/24 

👋🏽Hello Friends!👋🏽 

SAD.

Now, this might be a term that you may or may not know. You may know SAD's less clinical sibling - The Winter Blues. 

What are the Winter Blues? 

Basically, it's having depressive symptoms, such as fatigue, lower mood, loss of motivation, etc., in the winter months, which can be connected to the time change, and it is getting darker earlier.  

🧠What to Learn more about Seasonal Affective Disorder? Learn more here: Seasonal Affective Disorder: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment 🧠

Now, what is the difference between the winter blues and SAD? Well, it's like the difference between little and big "D" Depression. 

The winter blues, like "little d" depression, is the prevalence of depressive symptoms that are not as chronic as "big D" Depression.  

So many people struggle with the winter blues, whether it is just the winter blues or SAD. It's all the same: overwhelming sadness, fatigue, little to no motivation, etc.  

Here are some ways to beat the winter blues (or SADs):  

• Get a Light Therapy Box  

• Start/Continue psychotherapy  

• Take more vitamin D  

• Add more protein to your diet  

• Get outside when you can  

• Exercise 

General coping skills include:  

• Engaging in enjoyable and healthy hobbies  

• Utilizing your social supports  

I started to use more coping skills to help with my SAD, such as using a light therapy box and attempting to add more protein and vitamin D to my diet. I also tell myself that I will try to go outside for a walk on my break, but I very rarely ever do.  I am still trying to work on forming more support systems, as some of my previous support systems also experienced significant life events and couldn't be there for me as they used to be. I learned that it's okay and that I am losing some support systems due to friendship falling out.  

Something that I try to do is engage with a friend of mine who streams chat when he streams and join his Discord community, which sometimes helps, too. I have dedicated times when my friend streams to support him and just chat with others (that's if I'm not busy). 

This could also be a way to adopt a new support system. Another way is to volunteer or join a local organization (e.g., a young professionals group or a common interests organization—yes, these exist outside of high school/college). 

Volunteering really helps me engage with others, and I love making a difference, so it's truly a win-win for everyone. Volunteering usually requires me to leave my house (aka leave my bed), which I'm not always a fan of, but as long as I'm not having a mental breakdown (or recovering from it), I usually try to make myself go when I make a commitment to go.  

If you or someone you know might have "Big D" Depression or SAD, please get in touch with your local doctor or psychologist. You also call that screening test to gauge the severity of your symptoms: Take a Mental Health Test – Mental Health America

Now... why are we really here... 

How do we beat the winter blues Or SAD... 

Unfortunately, we can't change the weather, but we can adjust to our surroundings and better control our moods. 

I found a few tips while researching the winter blues for my employer's Wellness program. 

1.  Use a light therapy Iamp 

   • (I do recommend it. I bought a light therapy lamp from Amazon almost 1 month ago and have used it daily so far) 

2.  Add more vitamin D 

   • Add more protein to your diet 

3.  Exercise 

   • (This seems like the solution for all mental health issues) 

4.  Get outside when you can 

   • ( I know... it's cold, I don't really want to either) 

5.  Engage in psychotherapy  

   •  (For my peeps who are already in therapy, keep at it! For my peeps that aren't in therapy, try it!) 

After some research, I have planned to try something new since my winter blues are hitting hard already. I was able to purchase an elliptical (I took it out of the box but haven't put it together yet) and plan to use it to exercise. I have looked to add vitamin D and a little more protein to my diet. I have tried to get outside during my break, but that was that one time. 

I tried, though. 

This time of year is rough, so taking care of yourself is very important. Self-care is a priority and is never selfish. 

Until next time, friends! 💝 

‐Jade 

Um... Where did the time go?⏰

12/16/24 

👋🏽Hello Friends!👋🏽 

Since December is already here & it's already the 3rd week of the month—seriously, where did the time go? 

Everything in the world is just "Christmas." 

As I got older, I realized that I'm not really that much of a Christmas girlie. I would always say that my holiday spirit would come out as soon as Thanksgiving was over. But in the last few years, it's not really like that. I feel nothing at the thought of Christmas. Nothing. I'm just blank.  

Part of me wonders if it's the seasonal depression or just my "normal" chronic feelings of emptiness from my BPD. Maybe it's both; I really wish I could know.  

As the days in December are passing by, I'm being invited to so many holiday parties or get-togethers. And the idea of just always being busy every single weekend before Christmas is slightly exhausting. I deeply appreciate being thought of and invited. There are just so many events going on, all about Christmas. It's more of just too overwhelming. Maybe that's the SAD talking because I lose most motivation in the colder months and don't want to do anything. 
 

I try to stay busy by signing up for more classes, making plans with local social groups or friends, volunteering, and engaging in hobbies to keep my mood up, but half the time, I physically can't get out of bed. Winter months, especially December, have always been rough; maybe it's being the hopeless romantic and barely ever being with the one I truly love for Christmas like the movies are like or how others are. I have my family, and I'm grateful. Now, with an active, almost 20-month-old nephew bringing joy to my life, I am happy for Christmas this year. So that's take that win while I can. But as soon it becomes the end of the day, the rush of loneliness, heartbreak, fatigue, sadness, etc. comes in, and it's more of a struggle.

I know I'm not alone in this, either. I don't have any solutions for this, but I hope if you are reading this and feel this way too, I can relate to you and that you are not alone. Sometimes, that's all we can have, the feelings of not being alone until our solutions come to find us. 

Until next time, friends! 💝 

‐Jade 

Time to be thankful 🙏🏽

12/12/24

👋🏽Hello Friends!👋🏽

Two weeks ago, I was off 2 days from work plus the weekend (a total of four days off, WOO) for the Thanksgiving holiday. 

I was so excited to be off for the two extra days and relax. 

Well, jokes on me, I can't seem to have any days off without making plans to keep myself busy. 

So, I pretty much had something to do every day I had off work in addition to schoolwork. 

I decided to do something on Thanksgiving since I don't really celebrate or do much because I just have Thanksgiving dinner with family. I decided to volunteer at a local humane society, and I have to say that I made an amazing decision. 

I helped put together cat and dog Thanksgiving plates. I even got to give the plates to some of the animals, and seeing how happy they were made me so happy.  

Now, I am allergic to cats and forgot to take/bring allergy meds. Luckily, I didn't have a reaction, but when I got home, I passed out. Later that night, I was with my immediate family—brother, sister-in-law, and nephew—and enjoyed my time with them.  

The next day, I slept a good amount since I was helping a family friend organize their business documents. Well, the family has a ton of dogs and at least one cat, and boy, did I have a reaction. Friday night, I decided to go to one of my friend group's Friendsgiving, and I had a good time with them. It was nice to see some friends and catch up with them.   

Saturday, I basically just slept all day. I did see my nephew for a little while but then fell back asleep. I guess my body was making me rest—which you should never let your body get to this point.   

I was able to make my world-famous baked ziti (according to my friends) for another Friendsgiving. After arriving an hour later because I had procrastinated baking the baked ziti, I was greeted with so much excitement and love, which made me feel so wanted. After a whole night of laughter, connection, pure fun, and joy, I started to get really stuffy. My allergies were really acting up, so I had to go home.  

The last 4 days really reminded me that I have such amazing people in my life and great opportunities to make a difference. I am truly so blessed. While I still get depressed and still have suicidal thoughts, I am thankful for everything that I have and everyone I meet. But in my negative mindset, or when I'm in episodes, it's hard to focus on anything else but the extreme emotional pain I'm in, and I feel like people really forget that.  

Because I can have suicidal ideation and be depressed and "hating" life, people lean towards thinking that I'm ungrateful, but that's far from the truth. Having suicidal ideations is hard to explain because, some days, I don't want to be here, and for others, I'm fine (aka feeling numb). Some days, the ideations are just passing thoughts; sometimes, it's the active "I don't want to live anymore" or the "I don't want to be a burden; everyone is just better off if I was dead."

It's all complicated, but in the end, I'm still here, and I am very thankful for everything I have in my life. It's always good to remind yourself of the things you are grateful for, especially around the holidays. 

Until next time, friends! 💝

‐Jade

Happy International Volunteer Day!🥰

12/6/24

👋🏽Hello Friends!👋🏽

Did you know that December 5th is International Volunteer Day? 

When I was a younger teenager, I loved volunteering. I used to volunteer at my mom’s job at a nursing home. As I became older (mostly in college), I started volunteering more in the community. Since I struggled with mental health conditions a lot in college, I naturally gravitated towards organizations that work with mental health.

Once I started feeling more comfortable advocating and sharing my story, I started volunteering at the Crisis Text Line to help individuals who need someone (trained) to talk to during a (mostly mental) crisis, which was really rewarding. 

Now, I am always looking for ways to make a difference. I recently shared this quote photo on Facebook, stating: 

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” 

Mother Teresa 

I love knowing that I make a difference in other people’s lives, even in the smallest of ways. Part of me feels that I love this feeling too much that it stems from my thoughts of being worthless and a burden to others. So, if I make a difference, maybe that gives me self-worth. 

This can be viewed as selfish, but I still feel worthless and like a burden no matter how much I volunteer. The feeling of actual joy that I feel after volunteering is amazing. 

My little tip to you, my friend, is to volunteer! If you have the time, volunteer, even if it’s for 2 hours. It makes such a difference. Even if it’s not a direct impact (such as sorting through the Humane Society’s donations), it still makes an impact. Every position in an organization helps make the organization run. Each position is important. 

Find something you are passionate about, and you’ll be able to find a volunteering opportunity. 

• Like sports? Volunteer as a youth sports coach.

• Like cooking? Volunteer at a community program about nutrition/food or even at a food pantry.

• Like sewing? Volunteer sewing together blankets for individuals who are homeless. 

• Like animals? Volunteer at a local animal shelter. 

• Like mentoring others? Volunteer as a mentor for a youth program. 

And there are so many more opportunities; you have to look. 

Until next time, friends! 💝

‐Jade