In April, yellow daffodils and red tulips announce the beginning of spring.
Many people take a sigh of relief that winter is over and warm weather and outdoor fun is on the horizon. But, for some people, springtime ushers in anxious feelings for a variety of reasons. You are not alone! Do you identify with any of these reasons?
· People’s moods are very affected by the weather, and April can be a rainy and sometimes dreary month despite those early flowers.
· Taxes also arrive in April and can be a huge source of stress for many people. Those who are in their own businesses or even “regular” people may panic about not having the amount of money they owe.
· The Spring holidays of Easter and Passover bring families together to celebrate. But often family tensions arise, and people may overeat and/or drink too much to deal with these unresolved family issues. Others become so tense that they cannot eat or may go home and wind up bingeing and throwing up.
· Many people are alone on these holidays leading to a deep sense of loneliness and disconnection which is always painful.
· “Comparison is the thief of happiness,” declared Theodore Roosevelt.
People often think other people are having a better time than they are and can easily get down with feelings of self-pity.
· Certain families tend to evaluate each other by appearances, and this can be anxiety provoking if you have gained some weight since your last visit.
· Women, especially, may have “spring panic” – a dread of warmer weather where arms, stomach, and hips can’t be kept hidden by a big sweater. They beat themselves up for not having exercised enough or for having eaten too much. The media fills our eyes with celebrities and models who work out with trainers several times a day, have plastic surgeries, and
often have private chefs. Us regular folks then hold ourselves to these unrealistic standards comparing ourselves unfavorably.
· Most people weigh more in the winter than summer. This is normal as we get much less exercise and eat heavier winter foods. It is normal for our body to have seasonal fluctuations.
· Some people do a personal (often critical) inventory of ourselves with the change of seasons: Have we fallen in love? Made more money? Gotten skinnier? If we fall short, our disappointment can lead to sadness and depression (and maybe overeating to comfort ourselves).
The challenge for many people is to try to enjoy the longer days and warmer weather. Many single people, especially, feel lonelier during daylight savings time as the longer days make them feel the lack of a partner more acutely. FOMO – the fear of missing out – is more keen during the spring and summer months.
It is important to work on our own self talk and become kinder, more forgiving, more supportive and hopeful as we would with a dear friend.
Rather than criticize and beat ourselves up for what we did not do, let’s try a new healthier recipe, a new form of movement for our bodies, be there for someone else and “get out of our own head.”
Trying to be kinder to ourselves and to others will put a “spring” in our step!!