| Sun. Photo courtesy of gr33n3gg, Flickr. |
Sometimes it is a good idea to have a note to yourself listing all the tools (physical and mental) that you have at your disposal when you find yourself in the middle of a panic attack or depressive episode so you don't have to think about what to do. You can just go down the list.
Perhaps you are familiar with the term S.A.D. or Seasonal Affective Disorder? It is a type of depression that occurs mainly in the fall and winter (in the Northern hemisphere, opposite for you all down South) when days get shorter and nights get longer. This might be your entire problem or it could be an aspect of a larger depressive disorder or accompanied by anxiety or other issues. One way S.A.D. is treated is by using light box therapy,