Remembering Roses...

REMEMBERING ROSES: THERAPEUTIC INSIGHTS ON THE TRAIL

Have you noticed that summer has passed? There is this stretch in September that feels like a piece of infinity. Where all the fun has played out and we wait, filled with anxiety, for the next season. I know there are times when I have tried to push forward and demand change when it isn’t possible. Sometimes September feels like this. Sometimes I feel like this...

Just Getting Through It? Or Actually Enjoying the Hike?

I have a friend who is horticulturally gifted. I am not, far from it, actually. We hiked together a lot this summer. On one of our hikes, I ended up quite a few paces in front of her, partly annoyed that she was lagging when I was ready to be done. She called out to me, urging me back up the trail “Come back! Come back and smell this!” I. Was. Done. I wanted to be through with the hike and back in the AC of my car. But, I took a breath and obliged, walking back up the trail.

Pausing For A Moment Can Make A Difference

It was a wild rose she wanted me to smell. I took a whiff; I got nothing. My friend rolled her eyes and said, “You have to take a second. Sniff it, deeply.” What is that even supposed to mean? I wondered. I stopped, relaxed a bit, and leaned in for another smell. There was this delightfully fresh scent in that moment. Light and sweet and very, very faint. My friend explained that wild roses bloom for only a short time, and, unlike domesticated roses, you have to pause for a moment to appreciate what they offer. In truth, it didn’t even look like a rose to me. I marched by, totally unaware.

In that moment, I was struck with the thought that I would have completely missed this amazing experience in my hurry to rush on, and without my friend. As I reflect on the end of September, I think about this moment a lot. How often are we demanding a change instead of pausing in the present? If we’re being honest, it is probably pretty frequent.

In Therapy For Anxiety You Have to Take A Step Back

In therapy, sometimes our desire to feel better can cause us to push forward when the season isn’t ready to change. Little insights don’t feel like much when we are in pain, depressed, stressed, anxious, afraid, or exhausted. Or, in my case, sweaty and ready for dinner at the end of a hike. But, I want to invite you back up the trail with me.

Take some time, relax your shoulders and enjoy the tiny scent of the fleeting summer rose, so that as we greet fall, we can remember the sweetness. Remember little steps still lead to big steps. That’s true whether you’re hiking up a mountain, strolling the isles of a grocery store, or sitting in a room, talking with someone who cares a lot about what you have to share.

Start Therapy for Anxiety in Bozeman, MT

Stopping and remembering the roses is not always as easy as it sounds. But it is an important part of being able to step back and enjoy our lives. If you need support in doing this we can help with therapy for anxiety. If you are ready to get started at Bridger Peaks Counseling follow these steps:

1. Reach out to speak with an anxiety therapist

1. Schedule your first appointment for anxiety treatment

2. Start noticing the roses in your life
   

Other Therapy Services Offered In Bozeman, MT

Our Montana counselors offer therapeutic services to support your mental health. This includes addiction counseling, teen counseling, EMDR therapy, and trauma therapy. As well as marriage counseling, postpartum support, rising strong workshops, and more. We also now have a Psychiatric Nurse who offers psychiatric care and medication management.

Summer Blues

For those of us who live in Montana year-round, we generally covet the summer months. They come and go very quickly so soaking in each day with intention is a common quest. It is hard not to notice our population growth during the summer due to the visibility of people out enjoying summer activities. I am one of those individuals who dream of the summer days attaching ambitious goals to all facets of my life. I expect that I will have more energy and overall zest for life as the sun shines a bit brighter. 

But What If Summer Wasn’t As Great As We Expected?

However, I have noticed since moving to MT that my expectations are rarely met. I suffer from allergies and have found my symptoms worse here compared to any other place where I have lived. Fortunately, if I get above a certain elevation my symptoms dissipate, but this treatment requires energy to get to that elevation. And given that spring here is really summer I find relief just about time for school to start and the pace of life picks up.

I am also a morning person and find it hard to fall asleep with the daylight creeping into the late hours. I crave that extra hour of sleep each morning which naturally disrupts my rhythm, particularly my exercise routine. 

And when I do not move my body my mental health suffers.

Seasonal Affective Symptoms in… Summer?

There is more attention given to seasonal affective symptoms during the long, cold winters. So if you, like me, are experiencing summer blues there may be feelings of invalidation. There is a general acceptance and understanding of wanting to hunker down for the winter. But what if this is your experience during the summer? How can you be true to yourself and also take advantage of the weather? Then there is the pressure to do all of the things. The increased socialization, travel and, oh yes, yard work!  Whatever happened to lazy summer days? Do those only exist when you are a little kid?

A Therapists Experiencing On Finding Enjoyment Despite The Summer Blues

Well, this summer I decided to change my narrative about what summer should look like and instead accept summer as it comes. I have learned to let go of my expectations and hold boundaries with other people. I take the time to sleep in, enjoy a nap, or not step outside if I do not feel like it. I am trying to not force summer with an urgency that disrupts my presence and actual enjoyment. 

If this resonates with you I encourage you to honor what you need during this time, even if it means hot chocolate and a warm blanket.

Fight The Summer Blues With Support From A Therapist in Bozeman, MT

If you are struggling to get over the summer blues then it might be time to reach out for support from a therapist in Bozeman. With Depression Treatment you can find actual enjoyment during summer in a way that fits your needs.

If you are tired of dealing with seasonal affective symptoms then follow these steps to get help from Bridger Peaks Counseling.

1. Reach out to speak with a therapist

2. Schedule your first depression treatment appointment

3. Find what brings you joy in the summer

Other Therapy Services Offered In Bozeman, MT

Our therapists in Bozeman, MT offer several different mental health services. This includes addiction treatment, teen therapy, EMDR therapy, trauma, and PTSD treatment. As well as couples therapy, postpartum depression and anxiety counseling, rising strong workshops, and more. We also now have a Psychiatric Nurse who offers psychiatric care and medication management.