Spring: Not Always a Time of Hope

I always get excited in the spring, seeing the flowers begin to blossom and the trees turn green once more.  The extra sunlight and the new growth that accompany each spring season make me feel like a new person, and I always anticipate their arrival.  Somehow, subconsciously, I guess I expect everyone else to feel the same way I do.  However, springtime is not necessarily a joyous season for everyone.

I was interested to discover recently that Seasonal Affective Disorder not only occurs during the fall and winter, but can also occur during the spring and summer.  This is apparently a rare form of SAD, but it does affect some people in this way.  According to Web MD's article on SAD, the symptoms of the spring and summer form of this disorder are trouble sleeping, decreased appetite, and weight loss. When working with elderly and disabled persons, I think it is important to know that this variation of Seasonal Affective Disorder exists and that it can result in these problems. It might be a contributing factor to the depressed mood  of some of the individuals we seek to help and support in our work.

Another factor to note is that for some individuals, springtime may be accompanied by bittersweet memories, such as the loss of a loved one or a life transition that has been traumatic,  Instead of awakening feelings of joy and anticipation, the spring season might stir up pain, anxiety, and sadness. This is just the opposite of what many of us feel at this time of the year, but the experience is just as valid.  And perhaps being surrounded by signs of new life makes the difficult memories even more painful.

Of course, we cannot change the seasons or people's reactions to them, and we all respond differently to various times of the year.  But having at least some awareness of how these seasonal transitions can affect others may help us to be more supportive and compassionate as we work with them.  That, I think, is the bottom line in all our work.