Dear KYM,
My winter depression makes me gain a lot of weight, and when spring comes, clothes get more revealing and I don't feel like I look as good as everybody else. Can I still look cool while wearing clothes I'm comfortable in?
- Bundled Up
Dear Bundled Up,
Simply put, yes, you can wear clothes that are comfortable and still look cool. The neat thing about people is that we're unique individuals. It's easy to get down on yourself when you're comparing yourself to someone else. Try to remember the things that make you who you are, besides your clothes. Besides, whenever you wear clothes you're comfortable in, you feel more confident. And when you're confident, you look cool!
Dear KYM,
After wintertime is over, I have trouble breaking out of my seasonal depression. A lot of people like spring because it means they can get outside again, but a lot of the time, I just don't feel like it. How can I get as excited as everybody else about spring?
- Sad in the Springtime
Dear Sad in the Springtime,
Some research says that depression can actually get worse in the springtime, but it can also be very hard to break the habit of staying indoors during the winter. Not all outdoor activities have to be physically active! If you like to read, you can go lay in the sun and read a book. Take your dog on a walk, if you have a dog. Play Pokemon Go! The most important thing is to get out in the sunlight when you can. The sun's rays give the human body Vitamin D, which your body needs to release serotonin, a chemical in your brain that makes you happy.
Dear KYM,
I've been hearing about Children's Mental Health Awareness Day. What's that all about?
- Confused
Dear Confused,
Children's Mental Health Awareness Day is a holiday celebrated every May, to raise the awareness of the importance of the mental health challenges faced by young people, from birth to age 18. In Kentucky, we hold an event in Frankfort every year to give information and raise money to help organizations, like KPFC, that help young people. If you want to get involved in Children's Mental Health Awareness Day, you can email Brittany at brittany@kypartnership.org
