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The Christian Bipole

Mental Health for the Christian: Time Changes, Ugh!

If you are like me and just about everyone else who struggles with mental illness, you really ___________ those biannual time changes. I'll let you fill in the blank with the verb of your choosing: dislike, fear, hate, dread, etc. Here's an interesting slant on coping with time changes.


I have yet to meet anyone who likes time changes. In most cases, folks just grin and bear them and then get on with their lives. But for those who struggle with mental illness, time changes can be a real bummer. Why might that be? I can think of several reasons. First of all, there is disruption of the circadian rhythm. For me (and I'm sure for you) good, consistent sleep is absolutely essential for my mental wellbeing. Second, at least in the fall, the time change signals a loss of light, which can be quite depressing. One day you are driving home at the end of the day in sunlight, the next it is pitch dark. A third reason has to do with adaptability. A normal person can be more adaptable to such changes. It may take a day or two to come up to speed in the new "time zone." What is that old adage about how long it takes to adjust to flying across time zones? "A day per hour of time change." So a single hour should take just a day, right? Years ago, maybe, but since my diagnosis I find my time-change adaptability to be much less. An hour of change may mean three or four days to fully adapt. Sigh...


Here are some things to do to mitigate "time change blahs." First of all, and this is hard to do, make what I call a cold-turkey change. The evening of the time change, set your clocks ahead or back to the new time. Then live as if you are in the new time. Go to bed (early or late) accordingly. Read if you need to, to fall asleep. And then, be sure to get up at the same (albeit new) time in the morning. Your cell phone will automatically make the overnight adjustment. But here's the hard part--forcing yourself to stay in bed that extra hour (in the fall), or to get up what will feel like an hour early (in the spring). I know. I hate it too. Then live your schedule as if no change occurred. This includes meal times. And be sure, if you can, to get out in the sunlight. If there's anything I've learned about adjusting to time changes owing to travel, lengthy exposure to sunlight right away is key. So is exercise. It might be good to schedule a workout for the day following a time change, regardless of whether you are due for one.


And above all, practice some "radical acceptance." Accept the fact that "it is what it is, and there is nothing you or I can do to change it." Remind yourself, "This too shall pass." And it will. And here's an interesting Christian slant on all this. Daniel 2:20 tells us that God "changes times and seasons." Yes, Daniel was referring to the change of kings ("he removes kings and sets up kings"--quite a comfort when election turmoil rears up its ugly head!) But in a very real sense, it is the "kings" he allowed to be elected that decided to put Savings Time into effect. And it is other "kings" that are keeping them in place. One day, new "kings" may decide to do away with Savings Time. But until then, I find it helpful, as part of my radical acceptance, to accept the fact that God is in control.


So there you have it. Time changes are tough, but somehow we manage to muddle through them twice a year. What's harder for you? Springing forward or falling back?


Blessings!

The Christian Bipole

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