As we wave goodbye to the summer months, we turn our attention towards fall. The nights are getting longer, the weather is getting cooler, and we find ourselves inside a bit more often than many of us would like. Unfortunately, all of these changes can make some other difficulties come to the forefront of our awareness. When we’re more isolated and less active, we can find ourselves becoming increasingly aware of the thoughts and feelings that, with some distractions, we’re normally able to keep in line. These thoughts and feelings, while difficult, are entirely normal and happen to a large amount of people.

Maybe we find ourselves lying in bed and sleeping more. Maybe we start feeling on edge and like we can’t focus on anything, or maybe we notice some obsessions or compulsions taking over more often. Whatever it is, these feelings tend to become more prevalent as lives slow down a bit in the fall. Because of that, all of us here at Owens & Associates Counseling & Therapy Center feel it’s important to highlight that October is an awareness month for ADHD, Depression, and OCD. Before we can be aware of these problems, we first need to have an idea of what they can look like! Many of us have an inkling as to what depression looks like, but it’s important to know that no single case is going to look exactly like another. Depression can manifest in a variety of ways, from persistent sad or empty feelings and loss of interest in activities you usually enjoy to feelings of hopelessness and swings in appetite and sleep patterns. Depression is something that can be hard to notice at first, but it’s not uncommon for it to show up in force during the fall and winter months.

ADHD can also look different from person to person. Some people may find that they have difficulty concentrating/focusing. Maybe a student is struggling focusing on their homework, or maybe someone is finding it extra difficult to organize tasks at work and are falling behind because of that. Other people may find themselves acting with impulsiveness or hyperactive. A student may have difficulty sitting still during class, while another person may have found themselves interrupting conversations at work without thinking about it. These are just a few ways in which ADHD can manifest, and you mind yourself feeling more of these inattentive/impulsive feelings as we find ourselves stuck inside due to the cooling weather.

OCD can be seen in the obsessions or compulsions that the disorder makes some people feel the need to participate in. Obsessions often focus on unwanted thoughts, like contamination, need for things to be orderly, or regular intrusive thoughts focused on things that are aggressive, sexual, or even religious in nature. Compulsions, on the other hand, are actions that people may feel the need to partake in, like excessive handwashing, checking things like the stove or door locks over and over again, or even repeated whispering of prayers, words, or phrases. Like, ADHD and Depression, the change from summer to fall may find us engaging less with the fun things we would do otherwise, and we may start noticing symptoms of OCD come to the forefront.

That’s a lot to take in, and all of us here at Owens & Associates Counseling & Therapy Center know that figuring everything out on your own can be extremely difficult. With that in mind, if you feel you’re currently dealing with something like ADHD, OCD, or Depression,

Please, don’t hesitate to reach out. All of us here are more than willing to help you work through the difficulties you’re facing. While we may find ourselves inside and left alone with our thoughts more often, it’s important to remember that, no matter what, you’re not alone in the difficulties you may be experiencing, so if you’re feeling as if you may need some help or even someone to talk to, Owens & Associates is just a phone call away.

Our admin team will schedule you with the clinician of your choosing or will help you find the right fit! 

Phone: 847-854-4333 Email: admin@owenscounseling.com