Febuary blues

[JohnT]

Ok, so now we are in the dog days of winter.

I find that, with February, comes the onset of mid winter depression. Some egg-heads have written papers on how this is a real condition that probably is caused from a acute lack of sunshine.

Given that it is real, I find myself feeling rather blue as of late.

Just wondering if you folks get this way too and what, if anything, do you do to keep your spirits up.

Saying "sipping wine" is off limits. That answer is just too easy.

johnT.

 

[sour_grapes]

I am fortunate to live west of Lake Michigan, rather than east of it, so we get a fair amount of sunshine here. (Clear and cold, but clear.) My wife grew up near Rochester, notorious for lack of sun, and was amazed at how much better she felt when she moved away from there. I bought her a SAD lamp, that is, one of those full-spectrum, light-therapy light sources (but she rarely uses it).

Note that wine, while fun, is actually a depressant.

But, to finally answer your question, mostly I cheer up by using my sauna. That, and a good, 1/2-hour walk twice a day.

 

[LittleBearGameFarm]

I like to plow snow in sub-zero weather. Also, I had begun questioning my decision to install an outdoor wood stove when we built our house, but I guess cutting and splitting wood in sub zero weather is kind of fun... It's better than $5 a gallon propane if you can get any at all!

It seems every winter I tear into another remodel on our house, that I just built in 2007. This year is the basement family room conversion. Keeps me busy and makes me keep up with the how-to's in the remodeling world. Never know if you will ever need to fall back on other talents for work if road construction plummets. And I've always felt a beer at the end of a hard days work tastes a little better

 

[corinth]

Seasonal depression

Yes, there has been a fair amount of research about seasonal depression or seasonal affective disorder. Obviously, some people are more prone to it than others. buying a SAD lamp can be helpful as it also helps wake you up in the morning and help set your sleep cycle. Lastly, activity will work and do not forget to take your vitamins and of course Vitamin Dhttp://www.webmd.com/depression/features/foods-that-fight-winter-depression

I live in Southern California so Santa is still lounging around in a t-shirt and some old Bermuda's!
corinth

 

[BernardSmith]

There is apparently something called S.A.D. or seasonal affective disorder which results in the winter blues for some folk. If you go into a number of stores in the North Eastern part of the country they are selling lamps and light boxes designed to mimic the bluer light associated with natural daylight. None of the lamps , however have FDA approval. So yer pays yer money and yer takes yer chance.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-...nal-affective-disorder-treatment/art-20048298.

Me? I put a resistance roller under my bicycle wheel and I pedal indoors like blazes for 30 minutes every morning.

 

[bkisel]

Well there is the snow removal which depending on how much and the consistency takes 2-3 hours to deal with. That gets me out some and like cleanup the last few days the sun has been out.

I've a friend in pretty bad shape that I generally see twice a week. I'll help Fred with errands and typically pick up a coffee for me and a hot chocolate for him and take an hour or so back roads country ride.

My interest in several shooting sports gets me outside shooting 3D at the archery club or firearms in my back yard.

Pretty much all day Sunday is taken up with church and church related activities.

I could go on and on...

 

[wineforfun]

I am a pretty regimented person so it really doesn't matter what time of year it is to me. Summer: mowing, outdoor activities, etc. Winter: snow shoveling, indoor activities/repairs, etc. All Seasons: work, gym, etc.

I don't mind winter, snow, etc.(though the older I get, the less I like the cold) but I would have some mental issues(more than normal) if I lived in the upper Pacific Northwest where it rains most everyday. I despise rainy days.

 

[grapeman]

In the past I didn't mind winter. It gets cold here but normally makes it up to about 20 most days for a high. We get a lot of snow overall- around 90-120 inches a year but it is concentrated in December and then late Feb and March. There is snow removal, skiing, skating, ice fishing, snowshoing, snowmobiling etc to do for activities. The older I got, the less appealing they have become. This last year I became more sensitive to the cold during chemo and afterwards. We now like to keep the house in the mid to upper 60's where we didn't mind the low 60's before. I can see why so many older people head south for winter as I have become one of them myself. I find myself wanting spring to get here!

 

[Boatboy24]

I find that simply getting outside and doing something makes me feel better. That even includes shoveling snow. Technology in clothing has come so far that you don't have to look like the Michelin man to stay warm and be comfortable when it's cold. I took up running last summer and still do so even in this weather. I was going three times a week, but have been probably only averaging two lately (it's harder to do when the sidewalks and trails are covered in snow and ice). It still helps quite a bit - especially when I can get a run in during daylight.

 

[Scott]

Kinda like wineforfun, work, gym, hobbies, volunteer, oh and go sit on the motorcycle and make varooooom varooom noises!

Endeavor to persevere

 

[Flem]

Speaking of heading south, we are leaving next week for sunny Florida. Will return around St. Paddy's day. Ahhhhhhh!

 

[Wade E]

Im freaking out here. The river has been frozen over for about 2 weeks now meaning I havent been able to fish in 2 weeks and no I dont do ice fishing. If I cant cast I aint fishing and all work and no fishing make Daddy not a pleasant person to be around!

 

[Gwand]

Ok, so now we are in the dog days of winter.

I find that, with February, comes the onset of mid winter depression. Some egg-heads have written papers on how this is a real condition that probably is caused from a acute lack of sunshine.

Given that it is real, I find myself feeling rather blue as of late.

Just wondering if you folks get this way too and what, if anything, do you do to keep your spirits up.

Saying "sipping wine" is off limits. That answer is just too easy.

johnT.

I know what you mean. I find 30-60 min of aerobic exercise is the best antidepressant. It's mood elevating effects last for many hours. I also take a holiday from reading, watching or listening to the news, unless it's sports news.
My patients find the lamps that others have mentioned quite useful.

 

[knockabout]

I agree last week I realized I hadn't exercised in several weeks and was turning into a slug. So back to 2 1/2 hours on the treadmill. weekly.
I was born in Florida and lived there my whole life, Then moved to Montana. In the winter I also had trouble with depression -new to me. I went to visit a tanning salon -I wore a big thick hat and coat b/c I didn't want to be seen imagine my chagrin when my native American friend walked in for his scheduled appt. We talked about it and he also had trouble with depression that the tanning salon helped.

 

[GreginND]

Growing up in SW Michigan, I didn't see the sun for 3 months in the winter. It was very depressing. I LOVE LOVE LOVE living in Fargo. With the bitter cold comes brilliantly bright and clear sunshine. I will take that any day over warmer cloudier conditions.

 

[the_rayway]

I do the winemaking, play music, start volunteering, work out, and take a class or two at university.

Although, this year it's a lot harder than usual. When it's sunny it's way too cold to go out. Then when it's warm they sky clouds over and it snows. Makes for a very long, depressing winter.

Thinking about getting the S.A.D. lights for our bedroom lamps.

 

[grapeman]

Yesterday the low was supposed to be 8F and it was -5F instead. Last night was supposed to be -5F and this AM it was -15F. At least it is sunny outside until tomorrow when we make get up to 12 inches of snow. Come on spring!

 

[JohnT]

Well folks, we (in the northeast) are getting ready to get slammed again by old man winter. To quote my younger brother...

BOHICA!

Yet another spike in that housebound February blues.

 

[wineforfun]

John,
I have been thinking about your dilemma and believe I have found a solution for you to "weather the storm", might we say.

I believe this would be an opportune time for you to find your "inner Welchs". You can really take time now to zone in on what being a Welchs Man really is. Start the morning off with a nice glass of Welchs grape juice and then have another for lunch. This will get the seed planted that I believe you are missing. If you do this for approx. the next 2 weeks, when winter starts to break, you will be a new/converted man come March. Which I might add will give you just enough time to start a batch of Wonderful Welchs Wine and have it ready for the May contest.

Now I know you may have some reservations about this type of winter therapy, but alot of people have found it very helpful and therapeutic. No need to thank me as just watching you blossom into a Welchs Man is thanks enough.

 

[JohnT]

John,
I have been thinking about your dilemma and believe I have found a solution for you to "weather the storm", might we say.

I believe this would be an opportune time for you to find your "inner Welchs". You can really take time now to zone in on what being a Welchs Man really is. Start the morning off with a nice glass of Welchs grape juice and then have another for lunch. This will get the seed planted that I believe you are missing. If you do this for approx. the next 2 weeks, when winter starts to break, you will be a new/converted man come March. Which I might add will give you just enough time to start a batch of Wonderful Welchs Wine and have it ready for the May contest.

Now I know you may have some reservations about this type of winter therapy, but alot of people have found it very helpful and therapeutic. No need to thank me as just watching you blossom into a Welchs Man is thanks enough.

Why would I do this? after all, there is plenty of yellow snow around for me to heat up and drink.