Happy Rising Flowerchild Family!

As we enter into the Autumn/Harvest months, it will be vital for us remain cognizant of our mental health status.

Sometimes we don’t realize just how much stress we’re carrying until things slow down in the latter months of the year. In this post, I want to offer 6 tips for mental stability this Autumn.

Some U.S. citizens are concerned with the future state of America after election results, wondering if Donald Trump will resign willingly and if Biden will be a good fit. Many are worried about how the flu and/or COVID will affect their families. Some have even lost their homes or jobs due to the pandemic.

So understandably, 2020’s stressors are hitting a little bit different! And we could all use a few reminders to help us navigate through the uncomfortable shifts.

Why I’m reluctant to use the word…Fall.

As you all know, I’m a word etymology enthusiast. That is because after living in a Spanish-speaking country for almost 2 years, I realized just how much the English language is full of confusion and spells!

English is a language of double and sometimes triple speak. So for me, it’s important that I know the true origin of words so that I can be aware of what I am projecting from my lips. Because if what we speak truly does manifest, then I believe I can influence my reality by speaking exactly what I am desiring to witness in my life.

For this reason, I have substituted recognizing this season as Autumn or Harvest and not FALL.

Here are my reasons. Let’s look at the word etymology and definition of fall.

The definition of “fall” is an act of falling or collapsing; a sudden uncontrollable descent; to be captured or defeated.

fall (v.)

Old English feallan (class VII strong verb; past tense feoll, past participle feallen) “to drop from a height; fail, decay, die.” 

Sure, we can attribute this period to leaves falling from the trees, but according to the National Institute of Mental Health, humans begin to fall or feel down when daylight begins to shorten in the Fall season. The mood disorder attributed to this occurrence is SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Although this is an acronym, we can also say that people are usually sad during these periods in a sense of feeling weary, unhappy, heavy, downcast, etc.

Do you recognize how just calling this season the Fall may contribute to placing us into a certain mindset and energy?

Let’s jump into these 7 tips!

Maybe it’s just me. But… the #1 tip that may help us change our perspective of this time is changing how we perceive this season. Think of it as a time of harvest and autumn, which doesn’t have any negative connotations associated with it. It’s a beautiful period of rest and sharing space with loved ones. Harvest time is about gathering the abundance. It’s a time of celebration.

I like to think of Autumn as the season of autonomy…the right of self-government…reclaiming the freedom and independence that was bestowed upon us from birth. We were not born to be slaves to depression, worry, or anxiety. We were born as sovereign. So, we have the right to be free from any mental disparities that hold us back from being in a state of wholeness, oneness, or internal happiness.

So, I won’t think of this period as “Fall,” because I do not intend to be captured or defeated by anything. This season, I will rest and enjoy the fruits of my labor.

Vitamin D deficiency and its relation to Mental Stability

Low levels of vitamin D are associated with depression, seasonal affective disorder, and schizophrenia in adults, but little is known about vitamin D and mental health in the pediatric population.

BMC Psychiatry

The 2nd tip resonates more with our  physical and biological needs. Vitamin D deficiency accounts for most mental illnesses. Since a large percentage of humans work mostly indoors AND have had to shelter in place for a few months due to COVID, most of us are extremely deficient in vitamin D already. Combine that with a season where the sun is not shining significantly during the day as it is in summer months (we get most of our vitamin D from the sun), and you have a recipe for an increase in mental health disparities. 

So, my 2nd tip would be to make sure you’re supplementing your vitamin D. Always ask your physician for guidance, especially if you are currently taking medication that may interfere with vitamin d supplementation. Vitamin D is more than just a supplement, it is a hormone. So please be sure to let your provider know that you are planning to take vitamin D. You can also have them request labs to check your vitamin D levels.

Vitamin B deficiency has also been linked to mental health disparities. Feel free to watch this 16-minute video if or when tine permits. Dr. Brewer goes more in depth on this finding.

The 3rd tip is one that was given to me from an EMT when I experienced a severe anxiety attack. His advice was...”Always remember that someone is experiencing something worse than you.” When you think you have it hard, there’s a great chance someone else is having a rougher time!

Now, that statement is not meant to downplay your experiences or to minimize the pain or trauma you may be feeling. It’s simply a reminder for us that we are all humans here on this planet, all experiencing stressful moments at different intervals or levels of intensity.

The greatest part about this realization is that most humans get through their experiences and their survival story serves as a lesson for us all. They’re the grandparents/great-grandparents who are alive today to share their wisdom with the younger generation. They’re the survivors of wars and extreme economic hardship.

4th tip: Take social media breaks if needed and communication breaks with people who seem to be triggering you into a negative space. Remember, it’s harvest time….a time when we are supposed to be enjoying the crops, both physically and metaphorically. If you’ve planted beautiful seeds all year, this is the time to enjoy the growth and abundance with those who bring peace to your life…loved ones and anyone resonating on a frequency of serenity, calmness, and tranquility.

This is the time of gratitude and reflecting on all the things that are going right in our lives. This is not a season of hatred, complaining, arguing, strife, etc. So, we have to eliminate anything and/or anyone from our life that takes us away from the blissful energy of gratitude. Get into a space and listen to some uplifting music of your choice. Music is therapeutic. As I discussed in a previous post, to be SOUND means to be balanced, healed, stable, etc. So intentionally set the tone of your environment by allowing soothing vibrations to radiate from your device. My favorite is Earth Wind & Fire.

My 5th tip is to be mindful of the thoughts you allow to enter into your mind and the words you allow to exit from your mouth during this season.  Words=sWord….we can use it for our benefit or to our detriment…for protection or for harm. So, use your sWord wisely.

Try not to speak defeated phrases, such as ‘I can’t do this‘ or ‘I give up.’ Focus on the parts of your life that are aligned and where focus goes, energy flows.

You will begin to magnify the positive things for the time being. And after a while, when you have given yourself space to become balanced, then you can come back to handle the unpleasant things, because it won’t just disappear by putting it out of sight and out of mind. But be gentle with yourself this season. Take a break and enjoy your harvest.

And lastly, #6, consider using soothing tea as nighttime relaxation! I love to snuggle up under a warm blanket before bedtime and enjoy a cup of tea during Mommy alone time. Or sometimes I’ll have tea with my family during our Sunday chats.

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