Environmental factors impact emotions

The Taos News has committed to implement a weekly column to help educate our community about emotional healing through grief. People may write questions to Golden Willow Retreat, and they will be answered privately to you and possibly as a future article for others. Please list a first name that grants permission for printing.

Dear Dr. Ted:

For the last month I have felt this feeling of being emotionally down with a melancholic vibe that just seems to hang over me. This feeling has dredged up some present and old losses in my life but I’m not sure what is going on. I’m wondering if it has anything to do with the time of the year or weather?

Thanks, Stacey

Dear Stacey,

Great question, and during this time of the year it is very possible that you are experiencing seasonal adjustment disorder also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD is a type of depression that correlates with the changing of seasons. For most people this is experienced in the transition from fall to winter. A smaller percentage may experience this from spring to summer. SAD seems to take away your energy and make you moody, lethargic and emotionally down.

Fall into winter has a drastic change with lack of light, time change, cold weather and more alone time with the decrease in light and temperature. For many there is an adjustment period to acclimate to these changes. For others this is a very serious matter and modalities such as light therapy, medication, psychotherapy and many wholistic treatments may be needed to help support your quality of life. In addition to seasonal changes, environmental stimuli have major impacts on your emotional world.

Our senses, smell, sight, feeling, hearing, tasting and proprioception (sense of movement and position of limbs and muscles) are always taking in information and processing this information. There are even more subtle sensors monitoring your balance, movement, hunger, thirst, need for levels of blood flow and so on. Your body is constantly trying to keep you in balance, and it does this through the four quadrants of being emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually sound. This means all stimuli that comes your way is processed and can have an impact on any of those quadrants, including your emotional state.

Changes in your routines can throw off that balance which means even joyful changes like holidays, time off from work, travel, gatherings and other routines can put your system into overload as it tries to keep you in a state of homeostasis, as the outer world throws your system curve balls of normalcy.

There are actions you can take to help build supports during environmental changes, such as being more conscious with nutrition, hydration, exercise, avoiding unhealthy isolation, avoiding excess of addictive behaviors such as alcohol and drugs and making sure you get plenty of quality sleep.

Finding healthy routines in a time of change is difficult and where you can find self care with certain levels of routine, you will be able to ride the storm of change with a higher quality of life. Please remember, if you find that the emotional storm is overbearing and you need more help, please reach out to the professional supports that work for you within your community. I wish you well and please stay safe. Until next week, take care.

Golden Willow Retreat is a nonprofit organization focused on emotional healing and recovery from any type of loss. Direct any questions to Dr. Ted Wiard, EdD, LPCC, CGC, Founder of Golden Willow Retreat GWR@ newmex.com or call at 575776-2024. Weekly virtual grief groups, at no charge, are being offered to help support emotional well-being. Information can be accessed through goldenwillowretreat.org.