For my own part I confess to living my life drawing on various merits from my illustrious scouting days. I very much enjoyed my boyhood as a scout and relished moving through the ranks from patrol leader, senior patrol leader and finally to scout leader. My metamorphosis from boy to man occurred during this time, well it would do, sleeping outdoors in a bin bag in the confines of The Hellfire Club in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains will quicken up the process!
It’s my old school scout-mastery that facilitates me in schooling my buddies in protecting themselves and their loved ones from the elements. Outdoor survival tips are exchanged with the best ones recorded on the back of beer mats. ‘I.T. Sam’ is one step ahead of us all and shows us how to use our phones – to record the list on our mobiles and not to change the device into a portable campfire that spits out apple logos!
Now it’s Mike’s turn. Mike seldom speaks, never really did, but he has a great nod, like one of those oil-well Texan donkeys, whenever you are in free flow you just have to glance at Mike for reassurance that your banter has not gone astray or will evoke excuses from members of the party to exit from the conversation with a visit to the ‘Men’s’! But it’s during one of my own demonstrations on how to use a car battery to stay warm that Mike interrupts announcing that he is ‘Sad’.
This is a turn up for the books; I believed, like the others present, that Mike had a sweet life – great marriage, happy-healthy kids, and most importantly a secure job! So when the hush developed into awkward mode, and anticipating an Oprah moment, it’s one of the non-drivers who eventually breaks the silence – ‘Did you say you were ‘Sad?’, ‘No, I said ‘I’ve got Sad’. ‘Thank goodness for that, we thought there was something seriously wrong with you and that you were unhappy!’ When the laughter finally subsided Mike went on to tell us a little more of his condition, the other sufferers he is in regular contact with and what methods he has adopted to reduce his symptoms.
Often referred to as 'winter depression' Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is more apparent during the winter season. It is not clear exactly what causes SAD but a lack of sunlight appears to trigger changes in the balance of certain chemicals in the brain, which can trigger a depression-like illness.
It's extremely rare to find people with symptoms of SAD living within 30 degrees of the equator, where daylight hours are long and extremely bright. In Ireland, we are more susceptible to SAD as we are situated in the higher latitudes of the northern hemisphere. As a result, we experience large changes in light levels between the summer and winter. It is believed that SAD affects 1 in 10 Irish men.
I must admit that I had come across this condition previously. A relative had tirelessly worked to secure a small overseas property located in a sunny spot that he could inhabit during the winter months as he found the doom & gloom of Irish weather simply unbearable. He felt his own condition was quite serious and often compared himself to Dr. Jekyll in the summer and Mr. Hyde in the winter. Like any type of depression, SAD can be a difficult condition to live with - it can make you feel stressed, unhappy, tired - resulting in sleep problems, and can affect your diet leading to overeating. There are however a few tips to help you put some sunshine into those dark dreary days including:
Lighten Up
One way to reduce SAD is to undergo light therapy. This treatment consists of sitting in front of a very bright light - a light box, for about a half an hour each day. Also, positioning yourself near windows when you are inside has its own benefits. The use of a dawn stimulator, a bedside light connected to an alarm clock which mimics a sunrise and wakes you up gradually, can alleviate symptoms.
Get Out
Try to spend more time outside. Natural sunlight, even on an overcast wintery day, can also help your mood. Research has also shown that moderate exercise on a regular basis, such as a daily one-hour walk could be as helpful as light treatment for coping with the winter blues. If budget permits, take a winter sun holiday, however this will only temporarily offset the condition and sufferers have reported feeling worse shortly after returning home.
Wrap Up
Staying warm can reduce the winter blues by half. Keep warm with hot drinks and hot food and wear warm clothes and the right footwear.
Eat Healthily
A healthy diet will boost your mood, give you more energy and stop you putting on weight over winter. Fish, chicken, nuts, seeds and green leafy vegetables are particularly good for improving your mood. Look into the benefits of complementary medicine as an option. St John's wort is a popular herbal remedy available over the counter. There is some evidence that it is an effective treatment for mild to moderate depression.
Be More Sociable
Keep your mind active engaging in a new interest or hobby, and, make an effort to stay in touch with family & friends accepting any invitations you get to social events.
Let’s Talk
Sharing your experience with others who know what it's like can be very therapeutic. Talking treatments such as counselling, psychotherapy or cognitive behavioural therapy can help you cope with symptoms.
Finally, if your symptoms are so bad that you can't live a normal life, it is recommended that you see your GP for medical help.
