Self-Care Tips to Practice If You Experience ‘Spring Mania’
Spring symbolizes a new beginning. Flowers are in full bloom, the trees are bright green, the grass is covered in morning dew, and the sun is so beautiful and radiant. You wake up and smile because everything feels new. You may have cleaned your apartment or finally replaced the dull and limp flowers in your kitchen with some bright sunflowers. You are excited and full of energy.
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Springtime, for me, is a time when my mania can catch me by surprise.
Liveliness is in the air and the excitement can spark a manic state. Just like spring, my body and mind feel new once again and ready for the day — maybe too ready. In the morning, I am moving fast and I am ready to go. I love coffee but during this time of the year, I love it even more. I am practically gulping down my coffee like I haven’t had anything to drink in days. It tastes so good! All my senses are in overdrive. The warmth of the coffee that usually burns my tongue and throat feel comforting, like a sunrise.
The creative side of me is abundant! I have all of these ideas that are just stockpiling in my brain that is also overflowing with anxious thoughts. The memories, words and ideas are moving too fast so I simply cannot keep up. I love new ideas and I love what spring represents! As Robin Williams once said, “Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!”
However, it would be in good practice to watch out for signs of spring mania approaching so you can properly care for yourself if a low hits. I know, for me, I find it hard to even sit still. I want to keep moving. The physical symptoms can feel a bit invasive from time to time so it’s important that we learn how to care for ourselves, in every aspect, so we don’t allow our mania or hypomania to get the best of us. Self-care and grounding yourself will be your best friend this spring!
1. Don’t overextend yourself.
It is easy to say yes to everyone and every event. It all sounds so inviting and like an adventure. However, you could end up shortchanging yourself, exhausting all of your energy and end up forgetting your needs. Learning to say “no” will not cause you to lose friendships or relationships. Nothing is worth compromising your own health: mental, physical or emotional. Know your limits! It is completely OK to take care of yourself.
2. Talk.
Talking seems like such a chore and it can even feel embarrassing sometimes. Talking makes me feel like an overexposed photograph of my most embarrassing moment to date. When a manic episode takes place and you’re staring at the aftermath, it can look messy. Being able to sit down with your safe person and discuss who you are and what you’re doing is essential in this process. Talking will help you organize your irrational thoughts from your rational thoughts and it will help you make safe decisions for you and those around you. Talking will help see yourself more clearly, will separate you from your illness and help remind you that sometimes, the choices you have made are not in your control. Talking will help you understand where you are at and who you truly are.
3. Rest.
I know, in my experience when I am manic, I do not think I need rest. There are too many ideas, too many people, too many places, and too much going on that I cannot simply miss any part of it. I will wake up an hour before I even need to so I can start getting ready for the day.
You need the rest. You need to relax. Those ideas and those people, those places and those things will come with time. Remember to pace yourself as you move through these days and make your safe people aware of the overwhelming need to keep moving. Grounding yourself is going to be so important during these moments. Hold your crystals or say a prayer, journal, write, sing, breathe or do what you need to do to make sure you know your feet are firmly on the ground and you are exactly where you need to be.
Look at spring — still, with a beautiful idea of new beginnings. The beauty of this season is for you, but continue to use your self-care tips and practice self-awareness so you will know how to best care for yourself during a potential manic season. Mania has many dark sides too, so please reach out for help if you feel you are in danger of hurting yourself or others. I am so excited for this season because I am going to be going through some major life changes, so just like you, I must remain grounded and take time to love myself.
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Photo by Marcos Gabarda on Unsplash