Courage Compass Therapy LLC

Wondering why you're not "happy" when it's nice outside?

Many people feel paradoxical mood shifts around the start of Daylight Savings Time due to changes in circadian rhythms. I have found that people who feel this way are less likely to say anything because they will be met with comments like- "Be happy, it's spring! It's nice out!" Or, "Why do you feel that way now as opposed to the fall?"

I will not speak to the harm that dismissive and minimizing comments have right now, but you can see how hearing these statements would dissuade people who are struggling to ask for help or support. Here is an article from 2019 explaining more about the reasons for mood disruption at Spring Forward, and some tips to get through it more easily.

If you don't feel "happy," you are not alone. If you do feel happy and optimistic with more daylight and warmer temperatures, that's also great. As always, we want to be mindful and aware of everyone's individual emotional experiences.

Switching to daylight saving time can be harsh, especially on those with SAD. Here’s how to minimize it. This weekend, we'll move our clocks ahead for daylight saving time. Academics who study sleep and depression say the time switch is unhealthful. But there are a few things you can do to make it feel less harsh.

https://www.couragecompasstherapy.com/blog/stoptheinsanity

Stop the insanity — Courage Compass Therapy When you approach the point of insanity (doing the same things expecting different results) and try to figure out what needs to change in order to get what you want, what if THAT'S the whole problem? The thing you're doing wrong is trying to figure out what you're doing wrong?