6 Simple Ways to Get Out of the Funk

6 Simple Ways to Get Out of the Funk

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Sometimes the Fall transition can sneak up on us.  After a few whirlwind weeks of back to school transitions, we land with shorter days, less sun and the cool air coming in.

Fall tends to actually be my favorite time of the year, but if I’m not careful, I can easily slip into seasonal blues — and recently I’ve had a lingering stretch of feeling down laced with high irritability.

Normally my thoughts go toward my hormonal cycle… but that wasn’t matching up.  Finally, it occurred to me that the shift into the Fall season has been impacting me more than I realized.

I’ve been here before and so, thankfully, have a handful of strategies that work wonders and I want to share my personal go-to tips with you.

1.  Essential Oils

One of the best things to do is work with essential oils because they are easy and fast acting.  When I’m feeling depressed, I’ll grab one of the following and simply take a minute to breathe them in deeply. Sometimes I apply them to my temples and forehead or dab them under my nose so I can keep breathing them in for a while.

  • Geranium
  • Grapefruit
  • Bergamot
  • Frankincense
2.  Nutrient Therapy
  • As the days shorten, lessening my exposure to sunlight, I make sure that I take a Vitamin D supplement.
  • I also reach for Kombucha more often, which has a good dose of all the Vitamin Bs.
  • Finally, I remember to take my daily Omega 3 cod liver oil supplement.  I generally try to take this daily throughout the year, but if I’ve slacked off I get back on the wagon.
3.  Herbal Therapy

I’m a huge fan of 2 adaptogenic herbs that work wonders for stress resiliency, restful sleep promotion, and elevated moods.

  • Ashwagandha
  • Holy Basil

I take both as tinctures in capsule form.  There are also some well-established studies of St John’s Wort’s effectiveness in combating SAD.

4.  Nurture

I increase three things around my self-care that help me move toxins through my system, warm me on many levels, and make me feel pampered:

  • Massage
  • Hot baths– in particular with Epsom salts
  • Naps– Napping is a huge investment in my well-being.  When I need it and am able, I choose a long afternoon nap to combat a stretch of blues.
5.  Activity

I make sure I get outside daily and take a walk daily.  Period.

6.  Intimacy

The problem with feeling low is that you tend to retreat from connection.  I’ve learned that pushing through the resistance and making space to stay intimate with my husband has been hugely healing during these times.  There is just something critical to our well-being to have the love and physical connection restored in order to usher in uplifted emotions  – not to mention orgasm is a huge serotonin boost!

Finally, one more resource for you…

I did a fantastic interview with Marsha Stopa on SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and in particular around the use of light boxes, which I want to share with you – if you haven’t listened to it before, it’s a great interview! Click here to check it out.

A special note, because of course it needs to be said.  These strategies work for me- they may not work for you.  Learning how to best care for your own emotional health is crucial.  As is knowing when you need to seek outside help.  If you’ve been feeling intensely depressed, blue, low or disconnected for a stretch of time and are having a hard time lifting yourself up- please talk to someone.  Reach out for help from a trusted professional.  You deserve to feel your best.

Do you struggle with low moods when the seasons shift toward fall and winter?  What are some strategies that you use to support your emotional health?


Comments

12 responses to “6 Simple Ways to Get Out of the Funk”

  1. Super true! I was actually thinking about the same thing, that my body is shifting with the seasons..love the tips especially the light therapy (works for me!!). I might need to try essential oils! Thank you Lisa!! I’m sharing this on FB!

  2. Loved this post, Lisa. I am doing a 31 Days blog series on embracing autumn, and “saying so long to S.A.D.” sharing what I’ve learned, (many of the same things) and I’ll be sharing your blog! 🙂 I have been meaning to try the Epsom salt bath- thanks for the reminder!

    1. Sweet – thanks for sharing, Ladies!

  3. So interesting what you say in number six. So often women assume that intimacy has NOTHING to do with their mood. Where as men tend to think they are in a funk because they aren’t “getting enough”. I have also had to learn that sometimes being intimate is a step in the right direction when it comes to elevating my mood. Thanks for the tips!

    1. Yes, the intricacies of male/female intimacy are crucial for our whole person health…

  4. I was going to mention my friend Spring’s 31 Days series when I read this post.

    http://spring.gouette.com/?p=2718
    Then I see she mentioned it herself! It’s good and she talks about the same theme you have going here.

  5. I do feel melancholic most years as we head toward winter (they are sooo long and cold where I live). I have begun a practice, however, of doing a twice/year detox – one in the spring and one in the fall- to help with this. The detox I am beginning isn’t just about eating differently but largely about caring for myself and using complementary therapies like dry-brushing, massage, clay baths, and so forth. Not only is it actually fun to plan for but surely will contribute to a greater sense of well-being. This year I had a friend and her husband ask to join me so we should be able to encourage eachother throughout the three week period.

    1. Kika – I love the idea of a self-care cleanse- I have a whole module in one of my courses focusing on detoxing through self-care supports- beautiful.

  6. […] to my delight, one of my favorite health blogs posted a wonderful list of ways to deal with winter blues, so I will be trying a number of new ideas this winter, as well. I’ll let you know which ones […]

  7. Lisa, What time of day do you take the Ashwaganda? am or bedtime? Great ideas.

    1. Great question. The honest answer is when I remember 🙂 The ideal answer would be morning and mid-day (after lunch-ish) (I split my dose).

  8. A great article ~ thank you! It’s good to know that I haven’t been in my own little world of irritability and anxiety as of late. There was one day in particular that struck me and in asking around I was led to read up on the effects of solar flare activity on humans; a fascinating read!! I encourage everyone to read up on them. Wishing wellness to all <3

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