Signs of Distress – The Winter Blues

As I wrote this blog, the east coast of the United States was hit with a major snowstorm. The room that I work in has several windows and I can see the trees and bushes move back and forth, while the wind howls over the top of the house. This is also the time of the season when the days are short and by the time I finish work, it is getting dark outside. For many, things such as the weather, cold, and short days can leave you feeling depressed. In this blog, I would like to share some signs of distress and provide resources where you can seek help.

Let’s start with what distress is. A quick search on the internet tells me that distress is an unpleasant emotion, feeling, thought, condition, or behavior. It can affect how you think, feel, and act. In my situation mentioned above, my unpleasant pleasant feeling was related to the weather. This is a temporary feeling that will pass as the weather changes. For some, getting over distress can be difficult and they may not even know they are experiencing distress.

According to SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), warning signs of emotional distress may include:

Eating or sleeping too much or too little
Becoming inverted and pulling away for others
Little to no energy
Unexplained aches and pains, such as stomach aches or headaches
Feeling helpless or hopeless
Spending a great deal of time worrying or feeling guilty
Thoughts of harming yourself or others
Emotional outbursts

These are just some of the symptoms of emotional distress. If you are experiencing these symptoms or know someone who is, I encourage you to seek help from a professional counselor. Often, we want to try to overcome this on our own or be a good friend by trying to take on the supportive role. Counselors are trained and have the experience to provide support and assistance. I like to compare using a professional to that of a carpenter. If I try to fix something myself, I often do not have the tools necessary to do the job right. A professional counselor has those tools and resources to help someone get the support they need. With that said, there are some tips from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) to help cope with stress: