February 2001

 

When Winter Comes
Kathy Dothage, dothagem@missouri.edu

When winter arrives, some people seem to become more depressed than at other times of the year. They may suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. If you are grieving a loved one's death and suffer from SAD, your misery is compounded. Even if you are not a SAD sufferer, it is worth understanding that, in general, winter is a tough time of the year to handle sadness or depression. Simply put, the weather and winter season can be an additional burden.

People with SAD notice a decided energy drop. They lose interest in life in general, tend to sleep more, only to find that when they wake they feel unrefreshed. They find, particularly in the afternoon and evening, that they become lethargic and depressed, and have an increased appetite.

SAD leads to poor concentration as well as less motivation to carry out simple tasks. When spring arrives, SAD sufferers snap out of their low state, their mood improves and they have sudden bursts of energy.

SAD doesn't seem to affect any particular race, class, or occupation. Sufferers can be found anywhere in the world.

Light therapy is the most effective and specialized treatment for SAD. The therapy is carried out with a specifically designed box and is usually carried out at a clinic or with physician observation. The box is an ideal therapy provided it is used correctly and on a regular basis.

There are alternatives to a light , the best being natural light. However, the winter months don't usually offer a climate conducive to spending much time outdoors. So there are methods which can be used to encourage light in an indoor environment.

If you find that the "winter blues" seems to affect your grief, the following suggestions are simple things SAD sufferers can do around the home. You may find that they offer some relief.

• Make use of the rooms that have the most natural light, and spend most of your time there.
• Place reading chairs or desks near a window for optimal benefit.
• Make sure plants and shrubs are not blocking the windows.
• Keep the windows clean.
• Make sure that your window sills are free from books, magazines, or plants.
• Keep the curtains drawn back and don't obscure the light with net or lace curtains.

It is also important to keep your interior lighting in mind. Most homes use incandescent lighting which produces a low intensity light conducive to sleep and relaxation.

Brighter fluorescent lighting can offer a little more relief, and mini-compact fluorescent lamps can be used in incandescent fixtures.

Following these tips may help ease those winter blues for the bereaved and provide temporary relief for SAD sufferers until spring!

Source: December, 2000 issue of JOURNEYS, the newsletter of the Hospice Foundation of America. The author is Catherine M. Sanders.