This week will see another of my favorite days of the year…the first day of the new year that the sun will stay up till 5 pm at our house! The daylight is screaming back now! 😎 (The Black Hills sit between the Trekkers’ house and the western horizon, so we have to wait a little further into the year for this to actually happen.)
Improved SAD symptoms
I’ve mentioned previously that I struggle with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) in the winter months. The past few years, my SAD symptoms haven’t been quite as severe as I’ve experienced in the past. This could be due to several factors:
–We’ve had fairly warm, mild, and sunny winters…
–We’ve learned to leave just a few Christmas lights up inside the house all winter, and we got a gas, fire insert installed. The warm light from these do wonders to improve my mood…
–Due to some other medical stuff I’ve got going on, about a year-and-a-half ago I started a regimen of 10,000 IUs/day of Vitamin D3. To be clear…that’s A LOT! But it’s done more to help minimize my symptoms of depression in the winter than anything else I’ve ever tried…
People talk about taking anti-anxiety medication or low-dose antidepressants and how these meds are miracles that literally seem to change the way they think or view a situation….well, I’m happy if that works for you but I’ve never experienced it. Not until I upped my dosage of Vitamin D. That truly has been a life-changer for me!
–Working from home makes it easier. I think the biggest advantage of working from home is that it allows me the opportunity to see daylight so regularly. Whether it’s sitting inside with the sun streaming in the windows; watching the snowflakes float down on a cold day; or sitting outside on the back patio as the sun bathes me on a warm day; I’m at least able to experience it now. This seems to make all the difference to help ease the symptoms of anxiety and winter depression that I have experienced in the past, and for that, I am incredibly grateful…
More daylight improves mood!
It’s amazing to me how just knowing the days are getting longer raises my spirits. While we have gained almost an hour of daylight in the last 6 weeks since the Winter Solstice, it is still mostly dark by 5:30 at night. There is something about the fact, though, that when I’m standing in the kitchen, preparing dinner, instead of there being complete blackness outside the window, there is–at least a small hint–of light. That really improves my outlook on things!
I still feel the suffocating frustration at how little daylight we have, but since I KNOW it’s going to continue staying lighter, longer, each and every day, and I KNOW that the beginning of spring is now only a few weeks away, this irritation slackens. It also helps that I know our daylight will continue lengthening for the next 6 months! That’s enough to ease the ache considerably!
As our long, dark days wane, I hope anyone else who wrestles with this exasperating condition is finding their struggle is easing, as well. As our sun comes back and our daylight continues to increase in both duration and frequency, let’s all take a lesson from the Beatles, and get out there and make it agood day, sunshine! 😎
Are you enjoying our longer days? Tell me your thoughts in the comments!
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In this post, I discuss my excitement for the shortest day of the year. We have made it to the Winter Solstice!
🎵It’s the most…wonderful…DAY…of the year!!!🎶You might be thinking I’m talking about Christmas, right?…you would be wrong! 😉 Today is the Winter Solstice ya’ll! (…in the Northern Hemisphere.) It is one of my ABSOLUTE, MOST FAVORITE days of the entire year!
You may ask yourself, “Self, why would someone who struggles with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) be happy about the day of the year with the shortest amount of daylight?” That’s simple! Starting tomorrow…THE DAYS START GETTING LONGER AGAIN!!! WHOO HOO!!! WE MADE IT!!! 🌞 We did it! We survived!
Less sunlight in the winter
It never ceases to amaze me, the first of November arrives and the time change hits, and every year it feels like it will be an ETERNITY until the days start getting longer again. But then you slowly plod through the first week…and then the second…and then it’s the week before Thanksgiving (so things are starting to perk up a bit, I always enjoy Thanksgiving!)…and then the Christmas season is in full swing! Between decorating the house, shopping for gifts, and singing carols, who has time to feel down? Then before you know it, the Solstice is here again (and it usually arrives more quickly than I expected!)
The first few weeks of January are always a bit rough, as well. Everybody takes their Christmas lights down, so their twinkling goodness is no longer present to light up those long, dark nights…the joy of the Christmas season is over, and now you’re just stuck with the COLD! 😨 But, at least the days start getting longer by that point…and the first day it’s still reasonably light out at 5 pm, you know you’ve conquered another LONG, DARK season. 💪
The history of the Winter Solstice
December 21…the Winter Solstice (in the Northern Hemisphere)…the longest night of the year. It’s also called “Midwinter” (which seems odd, since winter is just ramping up, and, according to the astronomical calendar, today is only the initial day of the cold season).
Science confirms the Winter Solstice occurs when the sun reaches its most southerly point, directly over the Tropic of Capricorn. This is as opposed to its summer counterpart—the Summer Solstice–which is when the sun reaches its most northerly point and is directly over the Tropic of Cancer. (If you’re living in the Southern Hemisphere, the solstices are, obviously, switched).
Historically, the Iranians called the Winter Solstice “Yalda Night“; the Druids, “Yule“, “Mother Night” and “Alban Arthan” meaning, “The Light of Arthur” (based on the legend of King Arthur). A ceremony commemorating this day is still held at Stonehenge each year.
The ancient Mayans believed in offering blood sacrifices to the sun god to placate him into returning his light to the people. Fortunately, we don’t take things to that extreme these days (though in the darkest days of winter, I may have considered pricking a finger or something. 😝)
The dictionary defines “solstice” as, “a furthest, or culminating point, a turning point.” The word derived from Latin is loosely translated as “the sun stands still”.
Interestingly enough (according to one of my favorite apps) the shortest amount of daylight doesn’t take place only today, it also occurs for several days surrounding the Solstice. This makes sense as the sun’s southward track has to stop and then reverse itself.
I LOVE the Winter Solstice!
Today is, by far, one of my favorite days of the entire year! It may seem strange, for someone who struggles with depression caused by lack of daylight, to be so excited about the day of the year that offers the least light. But that’s why it’s worth celebrating…we’ve made it! We’re no longer toiling to reach the end of a long, dark tunnel (as daylight wanes). Starting tomorrow, we’re basking in the warm glow of the light at the end of that tunnel (as the days will now begin to grow longer).
This is what negotiating a life with anxiety and depression looks like. It’s all about successfully mitigating the symptoms of these disorders by seeking out the small blips of “light”–whatever gives us a sense of peace and happiness–that are always present, even in the darkest moments.
In case you were wondering, yes, I find the Summer Solstice—or the day with the longest amount of daylight—to be a bit depressing. The reason being, after that day we begin our prolonged trek into darkness.
So get out there and enjoy our ever-increasing amounts of daylight! To our friends in the Southern Hemisphere, you have my sympathies today, as you now commence your long slog to “the Shortest Day”…but, we’ve obliged you all long enough, we’re taking our daylight back! It’s our turn to enjoy the light because…
Do you have any feelings regarding the shortest day of the year? Tell me about them in the comments!
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In this post, I discuss my struggle with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and the tools and techniques I use to help control the symptoms.
“Embrace the Darkness…” It sounds like a title for a death metal album, doesn’t it? 😝 During the fall and winter, I struggle with a condition known as SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, (it’s also called “Winter Depression” or the “Winter Blues”). It is believed, by many, to be caused by a lack of sunlight in the more extreme northern (or southern) latitudes during the winter months.
While this disorder is a constant companion to me during the darker times of the year, I try to not let it define my life. It’s something I have to deal with, but that doesn’t mean I have to allow it to have control over me. I want to share my experience with others who may struggle with something similar (it’s very common) and offer some of the tools I’ve garnered to help manage this condition.
What do SAD symptoms feel like?
Day after day, the sun sets a little earlier (and rises a little later); grey clouds begin to move in causing several days in a row without sunshine (the only time of year this is, at all, an expected occurrence in the Black Hills). The temperature cools, the first hints of frost (and occasionally, snow!) greet us as they kiss the grass blades in the morning. The days grow shorter and the trees quieter as the songbirds start to head for warmer climates.
Winter is coming!
I actually like winter–in the Black Hills at least–I enjoy it as much as summer. The cold doesn’t really bother me–as long as it stays above 10 degrees or so–and I actually prefer it over the heat of summer (you can always add more layers if you’re cold, you can’t take your skin off if you get too hot). 😝 I don’t mind the snow–especially since, in the Hills, it usually melts fairly quickly. There’s also plenty of outdoor activities that we can only enjoy on cold, winter days.
What I struggle with is the dark…”a suffocating, dark fog that slowly seeps in, like something out of a Stephen King movie…it makes you feel as though your chest is being compressed and you can’t take a breath…” That’s the best way I can describe how I feel when my SAD kicks into high gear. It makes me feel claustrophobic like the walls are closing in…
Tools to help manage Winter Depression:
Below is a list of techniques and tools I use to help mitigate the worst of my SAD symptoms. Please understand, NONE of these is a cure. They are simply strategies I use to empower myself and exert control over my symptoms:
—Therapy Lamp:There are several versions of this device, but this is the light, therapy lamp I use several months out of the year. These have been documented to help decrease the symptoms of SAD. You have to be careful which ones you buy as they need to provide at least 10,000 lux of light, the minimum wavelength required to stimulate your brain correctly.
Unfortunately, the good ones aren’t cheap. However, when you’re experiencing several dark, cloudy days, I find this helps, significantly. (To read a review I wrote on this lamp, click here.)
—Vitamin D3: There are several different brands and strengths of this supplement available. Many doctors (including my own) believe SAD is, at least partially, caused by Vitamin D3 deficiency. Sunlight is the best source of this nutrient (it is different than regular Vitamin D that is found in foods like milk) and, obviously, there’s less of our warmth-emanating friend in the winter months. (My doctor calls these “sunshine pills”, some also call them “happy pills”. Both are apt descriptors as the vitamin assists in increasing happiness and makes the world seem brighter, like sunshine). 🌞
I’m not a huge fan of medication, but, this supplement replaces the exact thing that is lacking in your body. This treatment, along with the therapy lamp, are what I find to be the most effective. I usually garner the best results if I start taking it early in the fall before the deficiency becomes too great. I usually only need to continue the regime until mid-March. I also find essential oils to be another helpful, alternative remedy.
—Journaling: I journal, A LOT, throughout the year. Sometimes I write pages, other times, just a few paragraphs. I find it helps to get whatever is bouncing around in my head out of there. Then I can relax because it’s been written down! 😉 Sometimes, it also helps me to see the situation I’m stressing about in a more objective light which can make it less anxiety-inducing.
—Staying busy/active: this is a big one. It’s SO EASY to not be as active in the winter months because it’s dark and COLD (it’s also icy, snowy, etc.) You don’t feel like doing anything but curling up under a blanket on the couch. That’s ok, IN MODERATION. Too much of it just feeds into the depression, making it worse and creating a looping cycle. If you are unable to go outside or just can’t bring yourself to face the cold, find ways to stay active around the house or at an indoor gym. Some studies suggest that exercise can be at least as effective as medications in combating the symptoms of depression.
—Coloring: It may sound childish, but I color. That’s right, I’m approaching 40, and I play with a coloring book. 😁 I’m not particularly artistic, but I find coloring is relaxing and meditative as it allows me to think while keeping my hands and eyes busy, something I’ve found helps me to focus (and I’m not the only one).
You know you wish you had a Star Wars coloring book! 😉
—Lots of self-care and patience: Don’t be afraid to take time for yourself when you’re hurting. This time of year can be stressful for many reasons, and the upcoming holidays can, often, exacerbate this. Don’t be afraid to take a little downtime for yourself (again, IN MODERATION. Isolating yourself completely can also further depressive symptoms).
Also, don’t be afraid to talk with trusted people in your life (a therapist, significant other, friends, family, etc.) It’s perfectly acceptable to admit that you’re hurting. Sometimes, just saying the demon’s name takes away some of its power. 👊
—Allow yourself to FEEL the discomfort: This is a hard one for us in today’s day and age. We don’t like to be uncomfortable for any reason or for any length of time, if possible. Often, with the benefits of modern medicine and technology, we can achieve that goal.
Sometimes though, it’s helpful to allow ourselves to feel the *ouch!* factor, a little bit. I find what helps me is to accept the disorder as a part of myself and not to run from the discomfort. It’s something I deal with for several months out of the year, so it isn’t going away. I find trying to run from it only leads to more angst. I get the best results when I allow myself to feel the ache, and then use the coping techniques mentioned above as a balm.
Embrace the darkness of the winter months…
Every year, sometime in February, I seem to come to the same conclusion…the dark isn’t so bad. I’m not sure if it just takes that long to beat my spirit down so that I accept it…😳😉, or if, by then, daylight is slowly starting to increase in length, so the darkness no longer seems so awful? Or, maybe, I just finally habituate to it. 😝
One of my goals for this blog is to encourage others to embrace the small joys in life, especially those found in our daily environment. I want to implement that idea as a tool to limit my SAD symptoms early on, instead of waiting till midwinter. 😁 Our environment surrounds us with numerous examples of these “little things” if we just know where to look:
Enjoy the winter, night sky:
When the wind isn’t howling, winter evenings in the Black Hills can be a delight! Crystal clear skies *crackle* with the sparkling pinpoints of the millions of stars scattered across them. Shortly after sunset, the sky turns an incredible shade of indigo blue with a hue that is so beautiful it’s difficult to describe.
I only notice it in the colder months. This could be because I’m not usually outside at that time of day in the summer months, as the sun sets so much later. It could also be that the sky is only that crystal clear in the winter, as it’s finally free from haze and the smoke from wildfires in surrounding areas. It does seem that this time of year is the only time the evening sky shows the beauty of which it is truly capable.
Appreciate the quiet neighborhood:
I love the quiet of the neighborhood as we walk the dog in the evenings (remember to exercise!) That time of day is so peaceful, once people have finished rushing home after a long day at work and only the neighborhood deer–and an occasional dog barking behind a nearby fence–accompany us.
Noises sound different in the crisp, winter air. They carry almost a *twang* as they reach your ears. The air smells different too, as it silently bites at your nostrils with every frozen breath you take. You can almost taste the metallic smell of snow and frost. This is also the only time of year you can hear the rustle of downed leaves underfoot. 😁
Embrace the holidays!
Whoever planned the holidays to coincide with the darkest time of the year in the Northern Hemisphere was a genius! 😁 People in our neighborhood like to decorate their homes during these seasons (maybe they all just hate the dark as much as I do). 😉 From the first of October through the middle of January, light-up ghosts, pumpkins, reindeer, and nativity scenes decorate porches and yards, which definitely help put a damper on dark thoughts. 🎅
Enjoy idyllic scenes:
When you look out across your neighborhood on cold mornings and see steam and smoke rising from furnace pipes and chimneys, it’s like a scene from a children’s, picture book or a Norman Rockwell painting.
–I also like it when a jet from the local Air Force base flies over at extremely low altitude with afterburners blazing! (Ok, this one isn’t so tranquil, but it is pretty cool! 😳😁)
To Conclude
For anyone who struggles with the frustrating condition that is SAD, I hope you are able to find unique, comforting things in your own life that bring you joy. Winter comes every year so, we may as well find a way to embrace the darkness!
Do you struggle with SAD? If so, tell me about it in the comments!
Did you enjoy this post? Pin it!
Like what you read here today? Please feel free to leave a comment, like or share this post! Add your email at the bottom of the page, or the sidebar to the right, to be notified when a new post is published. By signing up for the email list, you will also receive a free copy of the Tranquil Trekker’s Top 10 Tips of Trekking Do’s and Don’ts!
You can also follow the blog on social media by clicking the links below!
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