I spent two hours a few days ago, after stupidly insisting on going for "a drive" in a blizzard to take some photographs, stuck in various snow banks, spinning the tough but small wheels of my beloved Mini Cooper and almost smashing into various poles, trees and other vehicles. I thank god I’m a good driver, for were it not for this simple fact, I am convinced that I or someone else would have been seriously injured... and no, I’m not exaggerating or making this up. It's been that bad, and with lightning too: who ever heard of lightning in a blizzard? In all my years, I’ve never heard of such a thing, but then, maybe I’m limited to my own area and we just don't get that here. Also, I confess, I’m not American so what do I know about blizzards and thunder? The answer, quite simply, is nil.
Winter is full on and with it come the dark days and we find ourselves growing more depressed, hibernating and turning inward, becoming harder to reach, more reclusive (why go out when we can hide behind the computer and we have all the nourishment we need?). In fact, the only reason I can think of to go out is for cigarettes if you smoke and even then, I’m not sure I would bother. Perhaps I would leave the house for ice cream, but even that I’m no longer sure of.
To be clear, I have become a recluse and people have started to worry. Am I turning into a female Howard Hughes? Will I soon be saving my hair and fingernail clippings? I’m already germaphobic, rubbing my hands with Purell after every door I touch. Just a tad too neurotic in this regard for anyone to leave me alone in this, and frankly, they are good friends not to do so. One cannot truly live in this state.
I recently acquired a light box (oh, laugh all you want) - one of those things for people with Seasonal Affective Disorder, which I do not have, but I have other issues which various and sundry doctors have confirmed that indeed, such a box might help. And why not, I thought, just stare into it or have it touch my eyes while I’m working on the computer and it will be fine. The doctor warned me though, and quite seriously, "But be careful, dear. People have been known to have high manic swings using light boxes." High manic swings, I heard! He sees this as a bad thing? Could he mean periods of great productivity and work when I can spit out article after article without nary a thought or trouble? This hardly seemed to me a bad if we had to judge it at all - not to me anyway. It struck me as a rather good thing. It would ward off all of the crap that keeps us down in the winter. It would ward off my bad memories of last winter (she says with a shiver, both to the weather and the people involved at the time), and don't ask because it's a long and boring story.
Article comments
1 - Chantal Stone
Sadi---at least you're not alone.....you've got the mesage boards to keep you company. A lot of us are in the same boat.
2 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
hi Chantal: i'm fortunate to have a great husband who always understands my nuttiness, esp. seasonal nuttiness. I always fall into a funk this time of year - it's not S.A.D. though - so i just use the lightbox anyway if the treatment is the same, why not. plus, i have nothing to use. On the upside of things, i can get plenty of work done (i have a ton) and lots of writing hopefully. I have several personal/cultural pieces i'm holding for BC and a piece on copyriht law as well, so i'll have some good subs. I just need to go over them with a fine tooth comb to make sure no errors, typos etc. I have a habit of using i for I, which just comes naturally to me, but which i don't think our editors would appreciate.... so i have to really watch for that, since spellcheck doesn't always get it. Also, since i'm British/Scottish i use often that grammar and puncuation, just naturally. I often forget American standards, which is understandable i think.
Anyway, here i go of on a tangent. Thank you for your message. Those mean everything.
Take good care, and happy holidays to you.
:)
sadi
3 - Ursula Rose
Hi Sadi - I fully understand how winter weather can affect our moods. After spending many years working in London living with the cold weather and miserable summers the only way I got past this was booking myself a holiday which I could look forward to and plan.
I loved to spend time investigating the area I was going to and plan an itinerary. It gave me something to look forward to.
The other thing I would do is find a hideaway by the sea for a weekend off season - a hotel cheap rate - hop on a train with my dogs and take in new scenery. Take loads of photos and eat something different. I would come back refreshed and not so depressed. Now I live in Andalucia - take loads of photos and during the winter educate myself on a new hobby for next year, which is to teach myself picture framing. I am also starting a little venture on ebay selling spanish boots. The best thing is keep yourself busy and plan things to look forward to. At the moment I am now looking at going to Granada for a weekend and visiting the turkish baths - a good few hours in a turkish baths is great - it warms your bones. Ursula
4 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
You've done a lot, Ursula! I can't see myself moving, but the lightbox does do wonders and at present i'm in Florida where the light is different somehow. Brighter and just clearer so that really helps. Maybe i should live here? Where i live on the East Coast is too humid int eh summmer, too cold in the winter, too dark in the winter, it's just too too... so that's never any fun for anybody.... but for now, i'll stick with the simple things and meditation which i also do, and i believe fully in medication if it's necessary (not in my case, but if it is, then hey, why not) . i'm lucky i don't need it, or rather, had a bad experience with it so i won't take it... but that's just me ....
thanks for sharing your story,
i wish you well... cheers,
sadi