How to deal with the late summer blues

We understand fall anxiety and depression on a molecular level. I grew up in a tourist city on the east coast. There, the promenade arcades were closed at the end of the summer, leaving most people to drive away.We talked shit endlessly about “shoebees”, ignorant summer visitors from Philadelphia and North Jersey who couldn’t surf or skate, but after Labor Day, two-thirds The houses in town were empty and the traffic lights were off (who would need them when there was no traffic?), and I actually Missed Those annoying tourists. Autumn is the season when school starts and the Ferris wheel stops. When the sea is too cold to swim without lifeguards. When the fun ends and everything dies.

Being a shoobi myself and living in Los Angeles where everything is already dead and even the seasons don’t change, this time of year is still hard. Can you empathize?

in this way New York Times article As we point out, the end of summer this year is especially difficult as it is the first semi-normal summer many of us have experienced in years.Just to add, given the chaos these days, it could be the last quasi-normal summer we so far Enjoy (sorry for being depressing.). Those who feel fear of falling And at least it gives you some reassurance that you’re not alone. Here are some tips to help you pass as easily as possible.

take a break

One of the best ways to overcome the small obstacles of life’s “power” is to be aware of what is going on and honor your feelings.Yes others have done worse but this is still important youThen apply the “treat yourself like you would treat a friend” rule.

If a loved one tells you, “I’m always depressed this time of year,” you probably won’t (I hope) say, “You’re stupid.” But that’s how we talk to ourselves a lot of the time. Instead, acknowledge your feelings and treat yourself a little more gently. Those who practice self-compassion are more likely to report higher sensations. higher overall happiness than those who do notin the end.

Learn or not learn from the late summer blues

Conventional wisdom in the psychological community (at least according to the experts cited in t)he times) is to learn from our feelings and ask ourselves what the anxiety of changing seasons can teach us. “It’s information about what we really value and want in life.” Tracy Dennis Tiwary, a psychologist and director of the Emotion Regulation Laboratory at Hunter College in New York City, told The Times.

Maybe you’re feeling sad and anxious at the end of the summer because you’re the parent who hasn’t organized your carpool back-to-school business. I checked the class schedule and knew exactly how everything worked. This is a good time to work out your logistics. Does the end of your vacation freak you out because you need to find a job you’re not afraid to go back to?

If your emotions point to real problems that you can solve, that’s good for you.but if not it’s ok that too. After years of thinking that certain events in my life caused my black mood, I gradually realized that it wasn’t my stress, my relationships, or my job that was causing my psychological discomfort. It was basically nothing. Or maybe it’s the wrong chemistry in my brain, or a whim of the gods.For me, and your mileage may vary, but ruminating why I was depressed and nothing I could do about it was in vain. I didn’t get an answer at all, so I thought, ‘Yeah, this happened around September,’ and I just let it go. (Pharmaceuticals can help. that too. )

Halloween is coming just for you

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. Probably just because of when it will be. It’s comforting to have a jokingly fake fear during a time when I think I’m at my most frightening. But maybe it’s Christmas for you, maybe it’s Thanksgiving, maybe soccer season has started, maybe you actually like “pumpkin spice.” it doesn’t matter. Looking forward to something helps keep the big picture in mind and is a reminder of the ancient advice attributed to King Solomon, “This too shall pass.”

All normal advice applies

Whether your anxiety or grief is related to the end of summer, there are positive steps you can take to get things back on track. To reinforce:

• regular exercise
• eat healthy
• Spend time outdoors (fall is great for hiking and biking)
• don’t scroll doom
• spend time with friends and family
• Seek professional help if you think the negative spell could be something more serious.