Freezing My Depression Off –
November 27, 2020 – Immerse Your Head In Water “Feeling anxious? Bend over, hold your breath, and immerse put your face in a bowl of cold water for up to 60 seconds. This is usually sufficient to induce the ‘dive reflex.’ The colder the water and the longer the immersion, the better it works. The dive reflex is when our hearts tend to slow down below resting heart rate when submersed in cold water without oxygen. This is due to increased activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, which decreases arousal.” — Sabrina, 30s
Call A Therapist Hotline “There’s a service called Listeners on Call that I have been using to help with managing stress. It is a phone service that you can dial where you can speak with therapists, or you can get pre-screened to then speak with another normal person who has gone through what you are going through now. It’s pretty neat.” — Alex, 25
Do A Half-Marathon” The last two years I’ve signed up for a half marathon race in January or February. I discovered running a few years ago, and ever since it’s been one of the most important contributions to my mental health, especially in the winter months. I have really bad seasonal affective disorder, and I live in an area where the winters are really gloomy and rainy. By signing up for a marathon or half marathon, I have a goal that I can work toward in the winter that keeps me focused and healthy. I personally run five days a week as part of my training, which gives me consistency and forces me to get outside every day.” — Grace, 26
Lean In To What You’re Capable Of “It might seem unusual to give in to your mental health issues rather than go against them, but winter — especially in a pandemic — is not the time to push yourself and make yourself more tired. Besides, you’re not giving in to it completely because you’re making small manageable moves. For instance, I find that water is harder to get myself to drink in the winter, but I accept that drinking tea or coffee is just as good if it means I’m going to stay hydrated! Another example is with skincare – if you can’t bring yourself to wash your face at the sink with water, then put micellar water and cotton pads by your bed and do it all from there!” — Rhiannon, 22
