Waking up to a warming temperature and a golden glow stretched across the sky invites us to soak in all the beauty and renewed life around us. On your morning walk, you notice the vibrant flowers blooming, the cushiony grass underfoot, and birds chirping in the air.
As you feel the warm breeze on your cheeks, spring gives a feeling of rejuvenation. It reminds us of hope, healing, and new life. It reminds us that we can start anew. Spring adds new life and new beauty to all that is.
How Seasonal Affective Disorder impacts mental health
To understand how spring motivates us to find renewed joy in recovery, we first have to understand how winter can impact mental health. During winter, it is easy to feel drained and sluggish, causing a lack of interest in things that typically bring us joy. It can be especially tough after the new year's excitement wears off.
Much of this can be traced back to the weather. Extended periods of cold, dreary weather can lead to feelings of hopelessness, depression, and even suicidal tendencies. Nearly 5 percent of adults in the U.S. experience Seasonal Affective Disorder. SAD is a form of seasonal or winter depression. The DSM-5 identifies this disorder as Major Depressive Disorder with Seasonal Pattern. Seasonal depression typically lasts about 40 percent of the year and is more common in women than men.
Seasonal Affective Disorder and substance use
With long, dark days, it is common for people to try to self-medicate to get through. Many of those attempts lead to misusing drugs and alcohol. Research has shown that some people with alcoholism misuse alcohol seasonally, so they may be self-medicating SAD. Approximately 50 percent of all people who struggle with a mental health disorder will also experience a substance use disorder at some point.
Seeing the correlation between mood and weather is the first step. SAD usually affects people most during January and February and is far less common during the warmer months. With spring around the corner, we can hold onto the hope of renewal.
A New Season Can Mean a New Start
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Mind: spring cleaning your thinking
You are probably familiar with spring cleaning, the perfect time to clear out physical things that no longer serve you. Those old dish towels are ready to toss. The new, untouched painting kit is ready to gift to someone who will use it. When it comes to our minds, spring cleaning can be a powerful tool to release old thought patterns and behaviors and embrace a new way of living.
Thanking our old patterns and beliefs for how they served us in the past, we can release them to create space for healing and growth. A new perspective focused on life, personal development, and renewed joy motivates us to keep going.
Body: sunshine and movement
When it comes to our bodies, healing comes straight from the sunshine. As the clock springs forward, we are graced with an extra dose of Vitamin D, which strengthens our immune system, increases energy, and boosts mood. There is a reason so many of us look forward to spring.
More sunshine means more outdoor activities. From hiking and biking to gardening and picnics, we are reconnected with nature and finding joy in life's simple pleasures. Physically, springtime reduces stress and anxiety, which can be triggering for substance use if left unchecked.
Soul: community and connection
When it comes to our souls, springtime brings a sense of community. With warmer weather and longer days, there are more opportunities to connect with others. Addiction thrives in isolation. Recovery thrives in community.
The revival of outdoor events like festivals, parades, and barbecues brings belonging and support from loved ones. Through connection, we can stay committed to recovery. It is not to say there are no opportunities for belonging in winter or that staying sober in colder months is impossible. There is just something about how spring rejuvenates our spirits. Like the promise of flowers blooming again, so is the opportunity to bloom in our own lives.
Feeling inspired to start your recovery?
Embarking on a new life in recovery can feel daunting. But you do not have to do it alone. If you have felt inspired and want to step into a new season of rejuvenation, this is a good time to start. Explore our treatment services from medical detox through aftercare, or call us at 713-904-4699.
A new life in recovery may just be a phone call away.