the winter blues ... the blahs ... the post-holiday disappointment ... SAD ... depression ... whatever you want to call it, this seemingly endless canadian winter just plan sucks.
today, as the snow continues to pile up outside my window, and i am home from work yet again under my blue blanket, i am thinking about how the long, cold, dark days affect us. okay, so the idea actually came from Zed. but i liked the idea.
whether we suffer from depression, or SAD, or we are just sick and tired of the cold and the dark, winter gets old rather quickly. having to put on so many layers, and boots, and then having to shovel the snow just to get to the car. then you have to clean off the car and possibly shovel your way out of your parking spot. only to get to where you have to be and trudge through the snow to get inside ... and then do it all in reverse to go home again. waking up in the dark to go to work. getting home from work in the dark. how can that NOT feel depressing!?!?!?!???
my solution has been to curl up on the couch by my fireplace, to do a whole lot of reading, and sleeping. it's like i am hibernating and just waiting for winter to be over. i am also enjoying a lot of tea, and today i have added chocolate chip cookies.
however, my solution will not actually HELP you to overcome or get through this long cold winter. here are some actual ideas:
1. find a tea you love and drink it to cheer yourself up. experiment with different types of tea. i am not a fan of herbal teas, but there are endless varieties and you might find one you absolutely LOVE. there is also an endless supply of black teas and white teas and green teas. i am a fan of david's tea, and they are good about letting you try samples.
2. make yourself get some exercise. even if you think you are going to hate it. even if you think it's only going to make things worse. you don't have to join a gym. you don't have to take up bob-sledding, or cross country skiing. you don't even have to go skating. you could simply go for a walk. make it a good walk. start by walking to the store for something that you need. then maybe walk to a coffee shop. perhaps your cocooning on the couch reading could be turned into reading in a coffee shop.
3. vitamin D, vitamin D, vitamin D!!!!!!! i can't say it enough. VITAMIN DEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! the sun is such an important part of balancing our emotions. so if there is sun, then get outside and soak it in. and since there isn't much sun right now, go and buy a bottle of vitamin D and take it. seriously. it is important. and while you're at it, eat some citrus fruit and maybe take some vitamin C.
4. there is no reason not to have a dinner party, just because the holidays are over. invite people you like, family or friends, and make your own special occasion. it could be something complicated like a full on turkey dinner, or it could be hot dogs. who cares? it's not about the food, or the decorations, or even the occasion. it is about asking for love, support, and compassion from people who care about you and who make you feel good. for some of us, that IS family. for others, it is absolutely NOT family. create your own special event. maybe you play board games, or drink wine, or just sit and chat. either way, there's no real reason to hibernate for the winter. despite our best efforts, we are not actually bears.
5. there are people smarter than me who have their own lists and i have included them in links at the end of this post.
6. if you feel like your winter blahs are bigger than you. if you feel like you are alone. don't be alone. talk to someone about these feelings. because it is okay to need help. and a quick visit to your doctor to talk about it, might reveal that you need more than a kitchen dance party, or some vitamin D.
xoxo
...
Here is some information on Seasonal Affective Disorder:
http://psychcentral.com/lib/category/disorders/seasonal-affective-disorder
http://www.cmha.ca/mental-health/understanding-mental-illness/mood-disorders/seasonal-affective-disorder/
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/basics/definition/con-20021047
http://www.mooddisorders.ca/faq/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad
http://www.camh.ca/en/hospital/about_camh/newsroom/news_releases_media_advisories_and_backgrounders/current_year/Pages/Seasonal-depression,-winter-blues-and-seasonal-affective-disorder--CAMH-expert-available-for-interview-.aspx
Here are some articles for ways to break the monotony of the blahs:
http://thedevalife.com/beat-the-winter-blahs/\
http://www.canadianliving.com/health/mind_and_spirit/7_creative_ways_to_shake_off_the_winter_blues.php
http://www.wikihow.com/Fight-Winter-Blues
http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/beating-winters-woes
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/wellness_articles.asp?id=341
http://www.psychologies.co.uk/self/10-ways-to-beat-the-winter-blues-2.html
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