Every October, I feel the Lord doing something new within me. Perhaps it’s the change of seasons or preparation for the upcoming holiday hustle and bustle. The month itself isn’t special to me, but I can’t help but think about the harvest.
Between the colorful mirage of trees and fallen leaves outside the window, beauty is all around us. Still, after a few months, the trees are bare, the air is cold, and the seasons are bleak. Both seasons play an important role in our spring/summer quartet, but if I had a choice, I’d live in summer all year round.
Although the weather is gloomy and cold where I live in Ohio, there are three things I think this season teaches us about the harvest of hope. Meanwhile, October is Mental Health Awareness Month, so it’s important to be aware that seasonal changes can affect your mental health. You’re not crazy if you feel depressed because of the weather.
Here are some practical tips to foster mental health during these transitions.
1. Changes your mood
Before I realized I had Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and mild depression, the change of seasons brought immense sadness and loneliness. As the days grew shorter and the sunlight seemed to disappear, I couldn’t understand why I was feeling this way.
Seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD, is a disease that affects approximately 5% (10 million people) of U.S. adults (APA). However, this number only includes people who have been diagnosed. I’m not one to self-diagnose or put labels on others, but I do believe that shorter days and fewer daylight hours affect just about everyone’s mood and energy levels.
Although we can’t control the seasons or the weather, we can try to get outside as much as possible and incorporate light therapy during this time of year. For me, my goal is to take at least a 20 minute walk every day (even if it’s cold) and to use as much light as possible indoors. Your mood may change. It’s almost inevitable. But there is hope. This season won’t last forever. Here are some practical tips (like this one) to make a difference in the meantime.
2. Processing may take longer
In addition to dealing with unpleasant sadness and depression, the change of seasons always brings up unpleasant emotions in my heart and mind. Maybe it’s because I grew up in a chaotic household, or maybe it’s because I don’t take breaks like I need to. Still, don’t be surprised if more emotions arise than usual during harvest season. Remember that our emotions are a gift from God.
Again, this is relatively typical. Due to lack of sunlight, people are spending more and more time indoors. It seems that the more distant we are from our surroundings, the more our feelings, emotions, and situations feel. Instead of judging yourself for getting emotional or feeling any emotion, realize that you may just need some extra time for mindfulness and reflection.
Practical ways to do this include adopting Christian mindfulness, writing in a daily journal, and setting goals. One of my favorite things to do is start my day by reading the Bible, praying, and writing in my journal. This allows you to write down your feelings and situations as a prayer to the Lord and helps you set daily goals. Yes, I may still feel a range of emotions afterward, but I know that I poured out my heart to the One who sees and hears me (Psalm 62:8).
Processing your emotions includes talking about your feelings with God or someone you trust. There is no shame in honestly expressing your emotions, and you should never be ashamed. God already knows what you’re thinking, but He still wants to hear it. God loves you and cares about what you are going through (Psalm 139).
3. Don’t isolate yourself
It’s common for people suffering from physical or mental illness to feel isolated in the fall or winter, but don’t isolate yourself. You are made for community, and believe it or not, you need that in every season. Reaching out to others (even a quick text, Zoom, meeting, or phone call) is one easy way to take care of yourself during this time.
From time immemorial, God created us as companions (Genesis 2:18). We were never meant to walk through life alone, but Satan is good at tricking us into believing otherwise. Try to connect with your community instead of keeping your head down, locking yourself in your room, and shouting “Buffumbug!” Get involved in community activities, join a running or walking group, seek out mental health workshops, and strive to foster connections and support with those around you. People need you and you need them.
There is hope
Taking care of your mental health as the seasons change requires prioritizing connection, not just traditional self-care. It requires us to step outside the box, soak up some sunlight, and face our true feelings.
These simple steps take courage, practice, trial and error, but like the change of seasons, they are also an opportunity for growth and healing. There is hope, my friend, for you, for me, and for anyone battling physical or mental health challenges this October.
Mental health awareness doesn’t mean the struggle goes away just because you’re aware of it, but it does mean you need to feel loved and accepted as you work through it. This month, I pray that hope will bloom in your life. No matter what situation you’re facing, you can get real, practical, and Bible-based help.
prayer:
Dear God,
As we transition from fall to winter, please help us take care of our mental and physical health as a top priority. Jesus, meeting these needs is not easy, but remind us that hope is possible through the power of the Holy Spirit living within us and the resources you have given us here on earth. Not only is hope possible, it is also a reality that each of us can accept.
In the midst of our struggles, please remind us that you see us, love us, and care for us. You want us to take care of ourselves, not because self-care is selfish, but because it is one of the highest forms of self-sacrificing love. This kind of love requires you to let go of shame and the desire to keep it all together and replace it with your perfect, healing love. There is strength in saying we are not okay and pursuing tips like this to meet our needs. We love, praise, and thank Jesus. Amen.
How will you harvest hope this fall? Consider exploring these tips and sharing them with your friends. Please let me know if anything works for you.
agape, amber
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Andrey Iudin
Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up, Amber looked for resources on faith and mental health, but couldn’t find anything. Now, she gives hope to young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond just reading the Bible and praying more. Because even though we love Jesus, we can still be plagued by anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help you navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.
