As we officially begin to wind down the summer, it’s time for me to acknowledge that there will be a slight change in my mood – even with the medication. As the days become shorter I notice my energy beginning to change. In the past, the seasons changing meant the beginning of a mixed mental state. In the summer I would experience full blown mania, but unfortunately I was afraid of the doctor at the time, so I never turned to a healthcare professional for help. I just accepted that summer meant hallucinations and fugue states, more reckless behavior, and poorer impulse control than usual. 

       During the fall, I would feel the most like myself. I would have all the energy I could ever want – until the days begin to shorten. As the days grew shorter, so did my ability to control my emotions and irritability. A fair amount of things would trigger my unmanaged anxiety and bipolar disorder. One of my biggest stressors was usually that I couldn’t get outside like I wanted to, nor could I keep up with my exercise routine. Those things generally led me to have a more depressed mood overall.

        Even though this summer was different with me working out the natural kinks of medication management, I didn’t experience any of the unpleasant symptoms of the mania. As a result of that, I’m beginning to worry for the fall. Last year I had a depressive episode that lasted for months even though it began in the late fall/early winter. Here in North Carolina, we didn’t have much of an in between season and it showed up in my mood. The fall is usually my down swing because of the change in daylight, but this year I’m going to make sure I stay on top of my medication and mentally prepare for the changes (as much as I can). With that being said, the best defense is a good offense; so here are my tips for the season change.

1. Get outdoors! – No matter if it’s for hours or 15 minutes, get some sunlight and fresh air.
2. Exercise! – It really can be anything that gets your blood flowing – from a brisk walk to yoga.
3. Be gentle with yourself! – We all have days where it’s hard. Just remember that you’re human and doing your best!