The Canadian Mental Health Association (www.cmha.bc.ca) defines Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) as "a kind of depression that appears at certain times of the year."
It usually occurs in the fall and lasts until spring. Paraphrasing from their website, experts aren't really sure what causes it. However, it seems to be connected with a lack of sunlight.
More specifically to our situation here in the north, SAD may be a reason that everyone seems to be a little cranky these days.
Lately, it has seemed to me that most people I speak with are feeling a little bit sad, tired and sick to death of this month. Myself, I'm finding some days are better than others and mostly I just want to huddle inside and stay at home watching TV and praying that someone else does the laundry.
Every February, I feel this way. Every year, I feel like it's worse than last year.
Is this month actually worse than last year? I don't know.
However, what I do know is that if I make an effort to keep moving forward and to try and accomplish at least one constructive thing, I feel better. I have been drinking a lot of tea and have been attempting to resurrect my yoga practice to help me mitigate the February blahs. As a special treat, it's a leap year, so we all receive an extra day to enjoy this gross month.
I am praying for March and trying to enjoy at least one thing about every day.
For instance, today, I am grateful I saw the sun for 15 minutes. That's a positive. I am grateful that both of my children gave me unsolicited hugs and kisses and told me they loved me. I am grateful for my health and for my family. But, sometimes I am still a bit down and that is OK. I am grateful for my children, my husband, my family and my friends who always make me feel better during a terrible time of the year.
I am sharing this because sometimes life is hard and life is tiring and it is during these times that a person's inclination is to avoid people and just try to deal with their grumpiness and depression on their own. There are many people who are embarrassed or ashamed to speak up about their feelings. People in a depression, even if it is a seasonal depression, can feel isolated and alone. Remember to ask for help.
As an obvious caveat, I am not a doctor and not an expert on mental illness.
The CMHA website encourages us armchair doctors to not self-diagnose or treat symptoms. If you are feeling any of the following symptoms on a yearly or seasonal basis, please make an appointment with your doctor or healthcare provider to make sure that you are doing everything you can to mitigate the symptoms and to have a healthcare plan. The symptoms of SAD include:
- Feeling like sleeping all the time or having trouble getting a good night's sleep (although this symptom goes hand-in-hand with having toddlers who don't sleep through the night).
- Tired all of the time (again, toddlers).
- Change of appetite including cravings for sugary or starchy foods.
- Gaining weight.
- Feeling sad, guilty and down on yourself.
- Feeling hopeless.
- Feeling irritable.
- Avoiding people or activities you used to enjoy.
- Feeling tense and stressed.
- Lost interest in sex and other physical contact.
- Please talk to your doctor if you are feeling any of the above and the symptoms are starting to affect your enjoyment of life. Reach out and take heart because soon March will come.
