Written by Kayla Myer
Edited and Enhanced by ChatGPT

February 25, 2025

Every year as winter approaches, I start to dread the days ahead. Even before summer or fall has ended, I find myself mourning their passing while still living in those seasons. I know the days will soon grow shorter and the nights longer, and I brace myself for the arrival of the infamous "winter blues." Whether it's the colder weather, the lack of sunlight, or the post-holiday slump, this time of year can be particularly challenging for my mental health. As a peer supporter, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside others through difficult seasons, and I know firsthand how real and heavy these feelings can be. But the good news? We don’t have to face them alone.

The "winter blues" is a common term used to describe the seasonal dip in mood that many people experience. For some, it can manifest as mild sadness, fatigue, or irritability. For others, it may develop into something more severe, such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a form of depression triggered by seasonal changes. While the severity varies, the struggle is real, and acknowledging it is the first step toward finding relief (generated using ChatGPT).

For myself, once I started to understand how the “winter blues” manifested in me, I was able to implement my wellness tools into moments that felt daunting. Over the years, I’ve learned that small, intentional actions can make a big difference. Here are some approaches that have helped both myself and those I support:

1. Embrace the Light

Sunlight plays a crucial role in regulating our mood. If you can, try to get outside during daylight hours, even if it’s just for a short walk. If natural sunlight is scarce, consider using a light therapy lamp, which can help mimic the benefits of natural light and improve mood.

2. Stay Active

Exercise is a powerful mood booster. It doesn’t have to be intense, even gentle movements like yoga, stretching, or a short dance session can help release endorphins and combat sluggishness.

3. Connect with Others

Isolation often worsens the winter blues. Reaching out to my support system helps me stay grounded. Even a simple text, phone call, or video chat can lift my spirits and remind me that I’m not alone.

4. Nourish Your Body and Mind

What we eat can impact how we feel. Incorporating nutrient-rich foods into my diet, including vitamins, and whole foods that fuel my body. Equally important, nourish your mind. I practice mindfulness, gratitude, or journaling to process my emotions.

5. Create Comforting Rituals

Small moments of joy can make a huge difference. Whether it’s lighting a scented candle, wrapping up in a warm blanket with a good book or watching a show, or listening to uplifting music, I try to find little ways to bring warmth and comfort into my daily routine.

6. Seek Support When Needed

I don’t take these helpful tips lightly because I know how hard it can be to implement them when my brain feels heavy. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, the weight of the winter blues can feel overwhelming. And that’s okay. If your feelings persist or become too difficult to manage, don’t hesitate to seek support. There is strength in asking for help.

One of the most important things I’ve learned as a peer supporter is the power of shared experiences. No matter how isolating the winter blues may feel, you are not alone in this struggle. There is a community of people who understand, care, and are willing to walk this journey with you. So, as we navigate these colder, darker months together, let’s lean on one another, embrace small victories, and remember that brighter days are ahead. Spring always follows winter, and in the meantime, we can find warmth in connection, self-care, and hope. If you’re feeling down this season, reach out. To a friend, a peer supporter, a mental health professional, or whoever is your support system. You deserve support, and you are worth the effort it takes to care for yourself.

by Kayla Myers, Family Peer Supporter

September 26, 2023

I am going to try something new with this month’s theme: recovery. Honesty is admirable, the more I dive into the depths of my mental health recovery journey, I know honesty will be the key that I didn’t have in my pocket the first time around. I had some old triggers resurface for me and new obstacles present themselves the last couple weeks. Here are my takeaways……

I made a commitment to pour into myself after pouring from an empty cup for far to long and I held myself to my commitment. On certain days, I feel confident that I have a grasp on who I am and where I am going. Other days, I feel like I am never going to be able to get past the mental blocks and barriers. This is where the word recovery comes in and what it means to me now.

Recovery isn’t like going to school and receiving a degree or finishing a training and receiving a certificate of completion. This is now a lifestyle that must be actively worked at daily. It is a commitment we make with ourselves to be committed to trying and trying again. While it is easy to say, it is another thing to set forth and do. I had a hiccup within my thought processes. I got so spun up in the things I couldn’t control and took things very personal. Old triggers came up and I let them control me for a day or two. Then I picked up my phone and reached out to a few people that I knew I could be open with, and they challenged me in the areas I needed. I sat with all the information I had in front of me, sat with the feelings and emotions they were bringing up in me, and decided what I needed to bring with me, and what I needed to leave behind. Trust is a hard thing to have in life after you have been shown many times that trusting others and processes, can become overwhelming detrimental. I realized that I needed to be kinder to myself and offer the same grace I give out so freely. I need to trust that I know what is best for me and I will always do the best I can with the tools I have. But that there will be times where I can be committed to my mental health recovery and still fail miserably. And when I fail, because I will again, recovery will be the key that I will now have, to trust in the commitment I made to me and allow myself to be a human being trying to navigate this world like everyone else.

Recovery won’t be a certificate I get to mount on my wall. People won’t have a celebration for this new lifestyle change. It will be tested daily, and I will have days where I will second guess myself and those around me. My takeaway is this, I would rather work at being better than I was yesterday everyday for the rest of my life. The commitment I made to myself and trying at it every day, it better than any certificate of completion someone could give that doesn’t walk in my shoes. I know how far I have come. I know what I will never go back to. And for me, that is enough.