By Marybeth SmithHappy Holidays? Well, for me they are usually more like Horrible Holidays. I have a fantastic family. My life is decent. I’ve got great friends. There’s not really a whole lot to complain about.
Confused?
Yeah, me too.
Nothing needs to be wrong for me to be depressed in the winter. I could be rich in love and in wealth. Life could be perfect. But from November to February, life feels hopeless. I’d prefer to stay in bed and sulk rather than attend family gatherings. I’d rather watch marathon’s worth of ridiculous teenage dramas (did I mention I’m well past my teenage years?) alone in my room instead of watching holiday movies with my husband and kids. I’d rather cuddle up in a blanket and listen to music while eating butter cookies dipped in Cool Whip than wrap presents or trim the tree.
Call it the winter blues, seasonal affective disorder, what have you. It’s all the same. It’s all blur of pointless tears and unnecessary sadness.
Seasonal affective disorder is difficult. It affects everyone near the person with this illness. The good news is, if you or someone you know suffers from the winter blues, there are things you can do to help get through those frustrating months.
A few things to try would be Vitamin D supplements. They help replace the Vitamin D we miss without the sun. Light boxes are also another option. The broad spectrum lighting simulates the missing sun and brightens not only the space around us, but also our moods. Awareness is another helpful piece to getting through the holidays while depressed. The more a person is aware of how they are feeling and why, the easier it is to remind themselves it’s not them, it’s their illness.
If you think you or someone you love suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder, the number one best thing to do is seek help from a medical professional who may be able to provide therapy and/or professional treatment.
Getting the proper help can make your holiday Happy, not Hopeless! Please remember to take care of yourself during the winter season.
Marybeth Smith is the founder of the website www.askabipolar.com. She wrote the Amazon Kindle Best Seller, Fall Girl. Her goal is to teach the world not only what bipolar does to the person suffering with the illness, but also those who are close to them. She is currently working on the sequel which will be released in early 2012 while also pursuing a degree in Child Psychology. In her limited spare time, she designs websites and writes articles for bpHope and The International Bipolar Foundation as well as volunteering for NAMI Michigan.
This was printed in the December 18, 2011 – December 31, 2011 Edition
