The Mania of Spring
Have you been loving the beautiful, sunny weather we have been having lately?!
Are you pumped that it’s light out until 7:00pm?!
Can you feel that rush of energy running through your body?!
Yeah, us too :)
Coming off of Winter where it's darker and the days are shorter, Spring energy can feel SO GOOD! And, BECAUSE we are coming off of Winter, we can also feel tired and wired - feeling driven to do something but not sure what….
The Winter solstice in December is the shortest day of the year and the days progressively get longer until the Summer solstice in June which is the longest day of the year.The fastest rate of change in daylight happens around the equinox (March 20th and September 20th) the points where there are equal hours of day and night.
This fast rate of change can impact our internal systems and energy which is why some people experience heightened symptoms of mania or hypomania this time of year. Here are some other common impacts of these quick seasonal changes in light, temperature and environment:
Increased workload
Overscheduling yourself and/or over-committing to plans
Avoiding "adulting" tasks because they are boring or you lack the time
Going all week & weekend and constantly feeling tired
Feeling overwhelmed and/or increased anxiety and therefore less presence
Pre-planning all your Summer weekends and forgetting about the necessity of down time and self-care
What are your Springtime tendencies?
Grounding in the Midst of Spring Mania
Grounding, or rooting down, can be particularly useful this time of year.
Grounding is a coping skill used to root yourself back into the present moment by redirecting your attention away from the mania of Spring and focusing it on your in-the-moment experience.
There are different types of grounding such as mental grounding where you focus on the mind (counting backwards by 3’s), physical grounding where you focus on your body and your five senses, and soothing grounding where you relate to yourself with kindness and compassion (“This is hard right now and I’m proud of myself for not giving up”).
Grounding can help when you get overwhelmed with a particular energy or emotional state by redirecting your attention onto something neutral or positive. Remember, energy flows where your attention goes, so if you’d rather not feel so overwhelmed by the energy of Spring try grounding!
Check out this physical (embodied) grounding practice called “The Tree Meditation” by clicking the link below. If you’re a nature lover, you’ll LOVE this one!
LINK: https://insighttimer.com/bravecounseling/guided-meditations/grounded-meditation-the-tree
https://tinyurl.com/Grounding-Meditation-The-Tree
Therapist Highlight: Michelle Thomason
Meet the deep wellspring that is Michelle Thomason.
Michelle is a licensed professional counselor in Colorado who is passionate about helping folks find the right kinds of healing techniques so they can unleash their strengths to discover and tap into their full potential.
Her clinical background consists of working therapeutically with kids, teens & adults in a variety of settings including community mental health, educational resource centers, residential facilities and private practice.
Michelle's approach is strengths-based, trauma informed and body & client-centered. She is trained in EMDR, Brainspotting, Gestalt Therapy, Gestalt Play Therapy, CBT, Applied Behavioral Analysis and therapeutic modalities utilizing art and music. She also has a passion for and experience with animal assisted approaches involving dolphins, canines, and horses.
Currently, Michelle specializes in...
Guiding clients through deep-rooted trauma processing
Offering individualized coping skills for clients seeking support with trauma work, self-acceptance, inner child work, betrayal trauma & somatic awareness
Providing a balanced and creative therapy space of transparency, empathy, and compassion
Utilizing her therapy dog Rex to assist with therapy sessions. (Rex has received specialized training to become a therapy dog and he is very compassionate, affectionate, and attuned)
Michelle as a person↓
Personality: Animal Lover, Empath, Public-Spirited
Activities: Anything ocean related, learning through other's cultures, traveling, comedy, reading, outdoor activities
Foods: Nicaraguan, Italian, Greek
Travels: New Zealand, Central America, Parts of Europe and would like to visit South America & Australia
Quotes: "The most important things in life aren't things" - Anthony J. D'Angelo and "Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." - Dumbledore
Pets: Therapy dog Rex
Want to try out IFS? Connect with us for a consultation at info@bravecounseling.com or 720-923-3033.