Welcome to Fit to Be Real.
And a little extra.
In the longest month of the year.
January.
It has been an entire month,
but it has felt like an entire year.
And we haven't had that much sun.
Well, I think that's why.
But is that normal?
Is that like an every year thing?
Or are we just feeling it more?
I don't know.
We particularly haven't had a lot of cold, sunny days.
We've had a lot of just cold, overcast, dreary days,
but not a lot of sun.
And you can tell when the sun comes out
and everyone's like, it's sunny.
Well, everyone's mood shifts.
I know, mine does.
Exactly what we're talking about today.
What?
I can't believe it.
What are we talking about today, Victoria?
Sad.
Aw.
We're so sad.
Seasonal, effective disorder, which lasts longer than January.
Yes, it lasts all of winter.
Yes.
And for some, most of the year.
So we are going to talk about seasonal depression.
This is another name for it.
And the signs of it.
So you can kind of know if you're in it or not
and how to get out of it and just navigate it together.
I'm Victoria.
Hey, guys.
I'm Carly.
She may sound happy, but she's not.
I'm so sad.
It's just a little comical to me.
I'm sorry if this upsets anyone.
But it's a little comical to me that is called sad.
It's like very to the point and you can't mess it up.
Well, SAD was something I've learned this year.
I always just call it seasonal depression.
So did I.
I'm going to post a link of a quiz
you can take to see if you have seasonal depression.
I took one.
What was your result?
I was.
Yeah.
Mine wasn't.
Mine was just grumpy.
No way.
It said you don't have SAD.
You're just grumpy.
I would have rather that than I got you need to speak to somebody.
Well, we all know that.
And I was like, well, actually, I'm not that sad.
All the real extras are snapping right now.
Snaps for Carly.
I actually didn't think.
And I'm not going to go by this quiz and say, like, yes, I have it.
Because I actually don't think I do.
I love the winter months because I love my clothes.
And that's an actual thing for me.
That's an actual thing for me.
But I didn't answer the questions correctly, I guess.
No.
What's happening now is that you're not agreeing with the answer.
Yes.
Versus dealing with it.
So it's wrong.
Incorrect.
I agree with you, though.
I love this season.
I love the cold weather.
I'm a winter, not a summer baby.
I like the winter.
I like to be cold.
I like to bundle.
I like walking out in the cold.
Doesn't matter.
I think it has to be in the negatives for me to not go out for a walk.
I know that's cold.
It's crazy.
You look at more than I do.
It's not bad.
Yeah.
So that's why I think I don't have seasonal depression
because I enjoy the season.
However, I do all of the symptoms of what
SAD is emotionally.
I have all of those.
So it definitely, I think I'm like a testament to how
the amount of sunlight affects the circadian rhythms and the body
and how that directly affects the mind.
However, I love the weather.
Do you like the dreariness?
I don't mind.
You don't mind it.
I help people.
I thrive in this.
I love it right now.
It's not a sunny day.
We're recording right now.
It is overcast.
It's pretty cold.
And I think it's great.
I do notice, and this was even before we started to talk about doing this episode,
but I do notice that when it is sunny and cold,
I am way more productive than I will be today.
I already know that.
It was sunny maybe two weeks ago, a week ago,
and I got all this stuff done before 10 a.m.
And I was feeling good.
And I was like, I don't even think I'm going to have my midday crash today.
So I'm just feeling really good because the sun is out.
Yeah.
And then the next day it's dreary.
And I'm like, all I want to do is get back in bed.
Carly, that's called SAD.
But I'm not.
I don't feel bad.
I'm just like, I hate this.
I know that's SAD.
I want to be HAP.
But like, people are wondering, but don't you understand about the whole
episode we're about to talk about?
No, I'm just saying that.
Damn it.
I'm just saying that.
It doesn't get me upset.
Like, I'll get through it and I'm just like, I don't get unmotivated.
Like, I will still do everything that I need to do.
I just am a happier person when it's sunny.
You just said you were going to be less productive today.
You already knew because it's dreary out.
I want to be.
I'm sorry.
Let me rephrase that.
I would like to go back to bed.
I won't because I know I have so many things to do.
I think SAD gets you to actually not be productive.
I just don't want to be on days like this, but I do what I have to do and whatever.
But it's fine.
We all know you haven't accepted it and it's your cross to bear.
That's OK.
So seasonal affective disorder affects about five percent of the adults in the United States
and two to four times more likely for women.
Do you want to know why?
I think this is not part of any of the articles that I read, but because of the light, which
is a huge trigger for SAD, it affects hormones and women have way more of a hormonal imbalance
and balance going on in the body.
So I think that's why women tend to bear that cross.
It's also where you live and where you live.
Well, compared to the amount of sunlight, sunlight plays a big part of it and where
you live affects the increased amount of people that get seasonal depression.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say people in Florida have it a little less than
people in Portland, Oregon.
People in Florida have a one percent.
There's one percent of the people, Floridians.
Floridians.
But not necessarily women.
No, no, no.
Are you talking about women?
No, I'm just talking in general than people in Portland where it's raining every day.
But I mean, if you're born in Portland, Oregon, aren't you just used to it?
Well, the same with Alaska, right?
I believe they have months out of the year that the sun never comes up.
That, right?
Yeah, that I could never do.
But if you're the same thing, if you're born into it, do you know the difference?
Yeah, I don't know.
Most people are affected not just for the five months that it's cold and dark and damp,
but about 40 percent of the year.
That's a lot of the year.
It's a lot of the year to be gloomy and grumpy.
I love that you got grumpy.
It was like, you're fine.
You're just grumpy.
I was like, I don't think I am.
So what is sad exactly?
I'll tell you.
Can't wait.
Here are some of the things you can look out for.
If you're not going to go take a quiz, we'll tell you some of the cues to look out for.
It's if you are low energy, you're feeling sad, loss of interest in favorite activities,
changes in appetite, different sleep patterns, poor concentration, feelings of guilt, and
thoughts of death.
Those all seem very depressing to me.
And sad.
Yeah.
I think that's why it's called seasonal depression.
Yeah.
Well, the good thing about seasonal depression is hopefully you make it out on the other
end as opposed to a long term depression where it's just a hamster wheel.
Well, so that I think is one of the points of today is kind of identifying it for yourself
and seeing if it's a long term type of situation.
Another way talking to a doctor is a suggestion, whether it is SAD or it's a full blown form
of depression in another way.
It starts around October and it will end sometime in the spring, they say around April
due to the sun.
Sunlight.
Yeah.
Because I don't think it's just sunlight.
No, no, no.
Sun is a trigger because in these months we get less sunlight.
So the morning sunrise comes later and the sunset comes earlier.
So because of the less sun, you get less serotonin and it's that chemical.
We're just going to see that.
Yeah.
It's the chemical that is the feel good chemical.
It's what regulates our moods.
Your brain.
Yeah.
So when the sun is not providing us the serotonin to feel good and happy, we can kind of dip
into that really melancholy place.
And so the reverse of that would be really interesting.
I know.
Isn't that crazy?
It also affects your, all right, Dr. Justin, paging Dr. Justin, it affects your melatonin,
which is what happens when you sleep.
And if you're not sleeping well, then you're in a negative for melatonin that you need
to regulate your body's sleep patterns.
So let's just, let's break that down a little bit.
The shorter days is the less sun.
So we get off of our circadian rhythm, which is just that internal clock that we have.
We all have it.
It's sometimes when you don't set that alarm and your body just wakes up because it knows
that it's morning.
That's part of your circadian rhythm.
And sleep is a big factor, right?
So our body's production of hormones, which are the chemical messengers in the body to
tell us what to do, how to do it, when to do it.
And they get affected by it, and one of those hormones is melatonin.
So those gummies that people eat, yes, of melatonin is just extra, yes, oh my gosh, extra
help if you need the help, if you need the help.
So the levels of melatonin rise in the evening and they get released while we're sleeping,
which is why we sleep a little bit deeper or longer or more soundly, whatever it is.
And they drop in the morning hours, which is how we wake up and we don't feel so gloomy
and not gloomy, but groggy stuff like that.
So that's all part of the circadian rhythm.
So when the seasonal shift happens and we get less of that sunlight, what happens is
we wake up because the alarm goes off at six o'clock, seven a.m., let's pretend like that's
a collective thing.
We wake up because our phones are going off, but the melatonin is still being released
in the body, telling us we're sleepy.
We're sleepy.
It's time to sleep.
So it's a complete miscommunication and an imbalance between your body and actual life
that's happening.
So that melatonin is a huge factor.
It's quite the opposite of serotonin, right?
Not opposite.
It doesn't make us sad.
It just makes us sleepy.
Right, yeah.
So that's where it all kind of starts for seasonal affective disorder.
That's very good.
I enjoyed that description because I even understood it.
Well, I read it enough for me to understand it too because I know melatonin.
I know serotonin.
I know you're supposed to wake up to the sun.
It never really clicked for me.
And it makes so much sense that we're waking up, but our body's still trying to tell us
that it's time to sleep.
So as much as we think it's a mental like, I'm just sad, it's super chemical.
It's a chemical thing that our bodies are doing of wanting to keep us in bed.
Well I was reading a lot.
I went on a lot of blogs to see what people were saying about it.
And a lot of the questions were, how do I know if I'm depressed or I have seasonal depression?
Which is a huge thing.
It was saying, when you go to the doctor, your doctors will primarily say, when did
this start, when did you start feeling like this?
And okay, we're going to see about what time this ends or if it ends.
If it doesn't end, it's depression.
It's all about the timing.
And you might not even know or realize it until you say it out loud or talk to your
doctor or just saying it to somebody else.
And be like, oh yeah, it did start when it got dark at three o'clock.
It's the worst.
But if it's really a time sensitive issue, that's how doctors tell the difference.
So it's not a quick fix.
So basically if you're going to go to a doctor, they're not going to know right away which
one it is.
You kind of have to let it play out.
Unfortunately, yes.
You probably wouldn't know that.
She's never gone to a doctor.
So paging doctor Justin.
Don't quite get it from her.
Well let's just say you took the quiz.
You have seasonal depression.
You are sad.
What do we do about it?
Please tell us, Carly.
Let's talk about how to conquer it.
First, acknowledge it.
Lean into it.
And the first, don't even look at me like that.
I turned away.
Are you listening?
Turn away.
The first one says to feel your feelings.
Lean it.
Basically lean into it and feel your feelings.
Be sad.
It's okay.
Believe the quiz and don't.
No, I just say that it's.
Oh God.
You're so stupid.
Just kidding.
I look, I'm laughing and it's dreary.
It's impossible.
Okay.
Please know that this is not an indicator.
You can still laugh and have seasonal depression.
I'm kidding.
I'm sad.
And depression.
Yeah, but on your happy friends, they're most likely very sad internally.
It's true, especially if they make a lot of jokes.
But the number one is feel your feelings.
Really actually listen to your body, listen to yourself.
And it's okay to be sad.
It really is.
Because especially with seasonal depression, know that there's a timeline and you will
come out of it.
So just feel them for a little bit.
And as soon as that sun starts coming out and affecting you, it will be over.
But it's hard, it is hard to see that when you're in it.
The next one, stop looking at me.
Stop looking at me swan.
Name that movie.
Uh, to the Adam Sandler.
Yeah.
But what's the movie?
Yeah.
Big Daddy.
Ooh, tough break.
Billy Madison.
Bill, that's right.
Billy Madison.
The next one is one I don't particularly love, but it's hard to do.
It's staying social.
Oh yeah.
It tells you not to become a hermit and sort of be a recluse for the winter and hibernate.
Don't do that.
Yeah.
I feel very mixed about that because I do know there is a lot of good from going into
this hermit stage of needing to do what you need to do for yourself and maybe not socialize.
Because I do that, you do that.
Oh yeah.
I know.
Well, there's truly a balance there and I don't, I'm going to tell you all right now,
I don't know how to balance that out because I this season went in the hermit way.
Like I was full-fledged hermit.
And I probably could have used a little bit more socialization to keep my brain lighter.
Yeah.
You need those fun times to release.
To release.
The serotonin.
Yeah, exactly.
To take away from the light.
To feel good.
Yeah.
And which is to exercise and whether that means take a walk daily to get whatever little
sunlight is out there with a friend.
You get a double whammy there.
But it says to exercise, keep moving your body.
I would even say go out in nature.
So even if it's cold, get outside the cold air on your skin.
It is a full nervous system like reset.
It's not a magic pill, but you can feel it where you're like, wow, I feel rejuvenated.
Yes, I'm cold.
And that's a piece of what I feel so rejuvenated.
But I'm not freezing and I'm outside.
I'm in nature.
There's life happening.
If you, there's something I noticed actually today when I took a walk this morning.
There's not like a leaf on a tree anymore.
Right.
And there's not even the beautiful snow on the trees can look pretty in the snow.
Right.
Even if there's no leaves, there's branches and it's just that snow covers.
It's a bird storybook type of thing.
So right now it's brown branches, no leaves, no flowers.
The grass is like brown and patchy.
There's really nothing quote unquote beautiful outside.
However, there are animals running around.
There are birds in the sky.
There is life happening in the winter, the dark.
There's life happening in the dark.
And when you get outside and you take that walk, especially with a pup who's super happy
to be outside.
Like sometimes I'll just look down at my dog whose little bottom is going side to side
like, oh, this is the best day ever.
And sometimes you just need that little, it seems silly, but you need that little reminder
to be like, yeah, it's, it's just like you said, it's going to be over.
Right.
And there's so much thriving in this season.
I think you have to be in the mindset of that.
Oh, yes.
Like you're in the mindset of looking at something pretty darn dreary and saying, wow, there's
life here and the world is still turning even though, you know, I'm sad or whatever
it is.
If you need to do some of these things to get yourself to that mindset.
Oh, yes.
And I'm not even like that every day.
I'm not like that every day at all.
No, you got the grumpy on the grumpy.
But that's true.
I mean, if you go take a walk outside, you're knocking two birds with one stone, you're getting
the exercise, you're getting those endorphins.
Endorphins make people happy.
Happy people just don't kill their husbands.
And then you're also getting out in nature.
So it's a Leavie Blonde reference, by the way.
No, that's a new reference.
Andrew's okay.
And believe it or not, the sun is still above those clouds.
So you're getting vitamin D, which is helpful for all of the things that we're talking about.
Which brings us to my last two.
This one is keeping a healthy diet.
I mean, it's pretty straightforward.
What you put into your body is very important in how you feel.
If you put toxins in, you're going to feel bad.
If you put good, clean stuff in, you're going to feel good.
That's just plain and simple.
It's twofold though, because when you're not feeling happy or.
I guess happy and tired.
When you're tired, you don't eat well.
Right.
That's why one of the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder is change in appetite.
And it doesn't mean that you're not hungry.
It means that you just want the crappy things.
It doesn't mean you're craving a carrot.
Or you want to be happy.
And guess what?
Sugar is a drug.
And it will make you happy immediately and then sad immediately.
So what's the number one thing you do though?
You bake.
Yes.
You bake cookies.
We just baked cookies with the kids the other day.
And yeah, that's what you do.
Except when we were growing up, snow days were for tacos.
It was a snow day.
We were making tacos.
We were always a little off.
But that's the best.
I wanted a taco this year.
I know during the snow is I want tacos.
We had tacos.
We did.
You texted me instead.
Are you guys having tacos?
And I was like, yeah, dog.
And I said, yeah, dog.
I had a salad.
But yeah, so the diet is super important.
And the last thing that it suggests is I want to say it's not dieting.
No, no, no.
Diet what you're eating your lifestyle.
Sorry, that's healthy lifestyle.
I'm sorry.
I'm just clarifying.
Yeah, I'm not sorry.
And bright light therapy.
So if you Google or you go on Amazon or you, you know, take a do a little research, there
are actual lights that combat seasonal depression, which I didn't know.
And to me, I just said, like, how is that?
That doesn't work because it's marketed, you know, wake up with the sunrise.
And it's this light, this artificial light that is simulating the if you were to just
like a movie, open the curtains and there's sunlight coming into your windows.
And that's how you wake up.
Here's why.
You should do it as you wake up and there are alarm clocks.
Excuse me.
There are alarm clocks that simulate a sunrise.
Even before, well, I think you can set it to your alarm, but the light is not this LED
light.
It is a light that is specifically for this reason.
And about 30 minutes of this exposure helps with the circadian rhythms and that melatonin
release that we were talking about before.
So it is all connected to hormones and how the light quite literally needs to be connected
to the body.
It's not just like a gimmick.
Like by this light and you'll be better.
Yeah, I thought it was too.
And I was almost going to get one from mom for Christmas, but I got her an alarm clock
last year because she asked for one that had the light on the ceiling.
So she didn't have to look over to the right side.
See man's alarm clock.
Yeah, I should have got her to the light.
No, we don't want her going to the light just yet.
So having said all that about seasonal depression, hold on, you also missed that is BLT, bright
light therapy.
She is on purpose, I would say, ignoring CBT cognitive behavioral therapy, which is talk
therapy with a therapist.
Oh yeah.
Because nine times out of 10, you say, I hate winter, winter's stupid.
I hate this season.
But if you're going to therapy and you're talking through it, you're going to realize
other reasons underlying as to why you think this season is not a season for you.
And that's how you work through it and get through it in a timely manner.
Sorry, I didn't cognate with that.
You know, I didn't skip that on purpose.
Talk it out, talk it out, hug it out.
Don't hug me, don't talk to me.
Now having talked about all that, here's where I think I am on the spectrum.
Okay, let's talk about me.
Can't wait.
Because I think a lot of people are going to resonate with what I'm about to say as opposed
to having seasonal depression.
There's a thing called the blouse.
Did you know about this?
The blouse, B-L-A-H-S.
It's when, and it's another word for it is languishing.
Did you see this?
It's the feeling of being between loving life and depression.
You don't have seasonal depression, but you're not loving life right now.
It's like the in between.
You might feel you're not thriving, but you're not sick.
You're not depressed, but you're not excited, and you're not falling apart, but you're not
functioning on all cylinders.
It's literally you feel blah.
So it's the middleman between depression and enjoying every single day.
I think that's what I have.
I have the blouse.
And it's very common.
Some signs are lack of motivation, lack of joy, wasting time, and boredom.
So I feel like that's more me, because I'm not sad.
I'm just lack of motivating, lack.
Yeah, I agree.
Sad also doesn't mean you have to be grieving something.
Oh, I know.
Sad could just be blah.
Right.
Stress, some of the causes of being blah are stress and lack of social outlet.
Social, well, I can't talk today.
Some of the causes of feeling blah are stress and lack of social outlets.
So one of the things to do is to increase your social life.
Wow.
You're just saying SAD in a different way.
That sounds nicer for those who don't want to attach the word depression to their selves.
Well, maybe, maybe this is like a millennial thing.
Sad is more our generation.
More millennials.
I think this is a Gen Z.
Gen Z, that's what I mean, Gen Z.
Except no, this is a boomer thing.
You think?
Gen Zs are like, I'm depressed, let's talk about it.
Millennials are like, I don't really want to talk about it.
And boomers are like, I'm not sad, I just want to kill everyone.
That's true.
So it's a very accurate description.
Thank you.
I think, yeah, this is for the generation who didn't want to connect to emotion and
attach the word depression.
If you say depression or toxic or trigger or any of those words that are normalized now
to someone of the older generation, it's like they don't want to touch it with a ten-foot
pole.
I know.
You were born in the wrong generation.
Me?
Oh, no, no, no.
I, yeah, what?
Yeah.
I do love the 1950s.
That was my era.
If I could come back, I'd be born in the 50s.
Let's clarify this again, because we've talked about this.
It's for the clothes.
It's for the probably lack of too much responsibility and less to do.
Women didn't have to have jobs, so she'd have a lot more time to scroll on social media,
but not for all of the problems of the 1950s.
So let's not cancel us just yet.
I agree though.
I think you are someone who gets afraid of attaching those words to themselves, because
for a long time they had horrible stigmas.
Like depression still has a horrible stigma to some.
Depression is a disease that can be fixed chemically with proper medication and proper
medical help.
There's nothing wrong technically with having depression.
But what the media, I think the media and what's put out there so often is all of the
problems and people who aren't dealing with depression well is what gets put out more.
I do feel that since COVID, having those feelings and saying it is more normalized.
Accepted.
Yeah.
Totally.
I know we've said that before too, but actually I've been reading that seasonal depression
has skyrocketed since COVID, because a lot of people lived alone.
I mean, how long was COVID?
I mean, 12 years.
12, it's as long as January.
But the blahs, I guess after reading it, it really is the same.
It's the same.
You're afraid to say you're sad.
I think everyone's afraid to say that they're sad, because you don't want to, the purpose,
quote unquote, and I'm quoting this because I don't agree with this, is that you have
to be happy.
Life is meant to be happy.
And that means you can't be sad, but life is meant to find joy.
So you have to go through the emotions of sadness to feel joy.
I was just going to say that one of the things for the blahs, which can also mean something
for seasonal depression, is to rediscover new ways to experience joy by building routines.
People that have routines, I feel because I love routines.
I've loved them since grade school.
I like to know what I'm doing.
I like to plan.
I don't like chaos.
I don't like to write it down.
I don't because my brain is just so great that I just know.
But routines make me feel happy.
I know what I'm walking into.
Yeah.
I mean, don't get me wrong.
Surprises are one of our favorite things.
But you're talking about a daily regimen.
Yes.
And that is a way to experience joy and keep yourself on a schedule, whether that be a
food schedule, an exercise plan, a just daily plan, an alarm clock in the morning to get
you up and get you started.
I mean, we both have talked about that this year, whether it was on the podcast or not.
We get up earlier when we don't have to so that we can enjoy to sit down and enjoy the
morning and have coffee in solitude versus rushing around, putting it in a to-go cup,
getting everything ready, heading out the door, which is how I did it for a really long time.
Well, I think that's how we grew up.
We rushed a lot.
So I don't like to do that now.
Yeah, but we've made that joyous moment a part of our routine.
Right.
That's what I'm doing.
And that is, yeah, could we get another 30, 45 minutes of sleep?
We could.
Yeah.
But that would rush us and start the day off, frazzled.
So it's how, and that's to me, I'd rather wake up early.
Some people can roll out of bed and go right to it.
I cannot.
I did that.
I've been sleeping for so many years and I hated it because I was like, by the time
I get home, I'm just going to bed to wake up and feel crazed and I'm not really sleeping
well anyway.
So once you find that routine and yeah, wake up earlier to have coffee and peace, you can
go to sleep a lot easier.
It just feels easier to do.
And if you do every tip we've ever told you in the past year, your sleep will be amazing.
You'll stop scrolling.
You'll stop wasting your time.
One of these days, I'm going to do them.
Yeah.
We won't hold our breath because we'll die.
But it is all tied to the time you take to do self-care.
And it is also on a timeline.
It will be over.
If we're just talking about seasonal depression, it will be over.
So if you can remember that.
Yeah, just seasonal depression.
We're just talking about seasonal depression or the blahs, it will be over.
There is a timeline.
So you have that to look forward to.
It's just how to get through that.
So January, February and March are not the longest years that you've had.
We're kind of like, I kind of have to be a plant person for this, I think, but we're
kind of like a plant.
Okay.
If you think of it that way.
Because what does a plant do?
It shows you it needs to be watered.
And it gets less sun in the wintertime, even if it's an outdoor plant or an indoor plant.
So when your plant starts to droop, you look at it and go, oh my gosh, I have to go get
some water.
And then you water that plant.
And if you walk away for about 15, 20 minutes and you turn back around, it's perky again.
Because all it needs is to be a little bit fed.
But it's going to tell you when it's drooping and dreary and needs a little bit of care.
We are the exact same way.
We just have way more going on in our heads to distract us from making that the priority.
That is the only plant reference I will agree with.
You happen to be sitting in front of my jungle.
And that's what I was thinking about.
And you know what else happens, because I'm looking at this plant over here, sometimes
they turn brown and the leaves die.
But that's a good thing.
And then all you have to do is trim it off and it regrows healthier, bigger, better and
stronger.
I mean, you're making me want to buy a plant.
No, you'll kill it.
Just to kill it.
Yeah.
But you know what?
You are raising three little plants.
And they're doing pretty well.
God, that little one is really growing on extra speed there, too.
It's like Ivy.
But it's very, it's all about perspective, too.
Because when, just like we said, when you're in it, it's really hard.
It's really hard to see the forest from the trees and see the light when it's a really
dreary January day.
But we hope that this however long podcast gives you that little bit of light or comedy
or laughter or happiness that you need to perk up a little bit.
Because I know that music does that for me.
Some other podcasts do that for me as well.
And if we can take you away from the dreariness of the years of January, then we're happy
to do that.
So we hope you went towards the light with this one.
Don't stressy.
You're just seasonal depressy.
Tell me you just made that up.
Tell me you just made it up right now.
Oh my God.
I'm so embarrassed.
I'm actually embarrassed of you right now.
Don't stressy.
I'm making shorts.
Don't stressy.
It's just seasonal depressy.
Flying off the shelves there.
I'm so mortified for your existence.
So I accept it.
I think that's the difference.
I accept it.
I know you're weird.
I'm healthy.
The healthier you are, the weirder everybody thinks you are.
True that.
You're very normal.
I'm a hustler baby.
That means you're unhealthy.
I just want you to know.
Hustlers are super unhealthy.
I'm waning.
Oh my God.
For a little recap.
Recap.
That's a remix.
I know.
Did you see what I did?
That was me off the cuff.
That was me making stuff up.
Get on the cuff.
Get back on the cuff.
Remix.
I mean, recap.
God damn it.
Recap.
Look for cues of your seasonal effective disorder possibilities.
Are you low energy?
Are you quote unquote sad, a little gloomy?
Do you not want to hang out with your friends?
Do you not want to do social events?
Or is your brain a little bit fuzzy for long periods of time?
I'm just describing Carly.
I was just going to say I raised my hand for every single one.
Fine.
I accept.
Thank you.
Thank the Lord.
I literally was like, hello, Lluia.
But those are the cues.
And if you just feel like you're okay, but you're feeling blah.
Okay, let's tie it all in.
Thank you.
That could be a seasonal effective disorder.
So what do you do?
Force yourself to stay a little bit more social when your friend or your family member texts
you to have coffee.
Go do it.
Just go do it.
And stick to it.
Don't bail.
And then maybe the next day you don't go out.
So to find a balance.
Everything is about balance.
Talk to a doctor if you want to look into cognitive behavioral therapy or bright light
therapy or medication if it needs to get to that point.
And then think about changing your diet or at least eating more of the right foods.
Mediterranean diet, we've talked about it many times.
It is just fish, veggies, protein from plants, fruits, olive oil, no processed sugars, no
sugar, no whatever.
Eat healthy.
Just eat healthy.
I agree to all of that.
And my biggest thing would be if you make plans a month in advance.
And I know, I know it's hard because a month from now you're going to say, yeah, I want
to do that.
I want to do that.
And then it gets closer and closer and you're like, why did I say yes to this?
I am the complete opposite.
I don't want to make the plan a month before.
I don't want to know it.
And if it comes up in the moment, yeah, sure, I'll do it.
I'll probably be really excited about it.
But making the plan, somebody asking me, hey, what are you doing on this date two months
from now?
I'm like nothing.
I'm doing nothing and I'm going, I don't know.
I don't want to do it.
I'm the opposite.
I am very much like, yeah, that sounds awesome in the end of February.
And then the end of February comes and I'm like, oh my God, why did I say yes to this?
Either way, I'm both, you're both.
I'm grumpy cat.
Does that mean I'm smelly cat?
Smelly cat, smelly cat.
It's so blah, that cat.
But for real, for reals, for real, for real, for real.
Make the plans, stick to them.
Doesn't have to be a lot of plans.
Just pick one, go to it and you, that will help you get out, get socialized.
It's hard, sometimes it's uncomfortable, but it will.
What will it do?
Help.
Are you asking for it?
Are you asking for somebody to come see me?
No, just stick to the plans.
Go out with your friends a few times.
Doesn't have to be a lot.
Socialize yourself.
Stick to it.
Sticking to it is the hardest part.
And remember, it is only temporary.
Everything is temporary.
Nothing is permanent.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
You will get out of this dark season of no sunlight and it will change.
So if you can remember that and also remember that you are always fit to be real and always
allowed to be a little extra.
I'm gonna throw some melatonin gummies at you.
I'm honest to God, I thought you were gonna be like, and remember, it's only January.
I was sitting there like this.
Oh my God, that's depressing.
It's four more months.
The ground top of depression.
It's only January.
For legal reasons, we have to tell you that this podcast is meant for entertainment and
educational purposes only.
We are not healthcare professionals.
For all of your health, wellness, fitness, and self-care needs, please refer to the medical
professional in your life.
Your primary care physician, your therapist, a certified coach, whoever it may be.
And then let us know what they say because I guarantee we need to know what to do.
Okay?
Okay, bye.