Sunday, February 17, 2008

I THINK I HAVE THE "SAD"

SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is a type of winter depression that affects an estimated half a million people every Winter between September and April, in particular during December, January and February.It is caused by a biochemical imbalance in the hypothalamus due to the shortening of daylight hours and the lack of sunlight in winter.

This is nothing new. Having lived in the upper Midwest my entire life I fully expect the months of January, February & March to be "the Dead months". That being said, this particular winter season has been especially aggravating, not to mention fucking depressing.

Example: this morning I woke up and thought about how awesome it would be to hit up Trader Joe's and get food to make a killer breakfast - eggs, bacon, potatoes, fresh fruit, sausage - the whole nine yards. Then I looked out of the window that was rattling from the viscous winds and thought "nah, fuck that, I'm staying in".

Eventually I did make it out to meet friends for breakfast, but the little things, like un-parking my car, which was resting upon a bed of ice/slush/bullshit was in and of itself a minor adventure. Really, is it too much to ask not to have to almost get stuck anytime I want to drive somewhere?

After I got breakfast, a freak thunderstorm broke out. I'm talking thunder, lightning, wind - all that shit. It was crazy. Currently the temperature is 45 degrees. Tonight it's supposed to drop to the lower 20's and we're supposed to get more snow. This also means that all the standing water will freeze over.

FUCK. THIS.

Don't get me wrong, there are things I want to do. Today I was planning on going to the Chicago History Museum. Maybe not the "sexiest" thing to do but it seemed like an interesting way to spend a gray afternoon. Now, I'm unsure if I even have the energy to walk to Blockbuster...

This has been a long, hard winter and until now I think I've dealt with it fairly well. But whatever reservoir of patience/steely resolve I have tapped into seems depleted.

Perhaps I'll take tomorrow off from work, or buy tickets to fly somewhere nice and sunny. Something, anything to make me feel less like the Zofolt rock:

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

awww. look at how cute the zoloft rock is though. i think a nice, sunny vacay is in your best interests. i know i am looking forward to my 18 day tour of the sunny south. sorry. goodbye michigan february.

meshugener said...

Hey - know the feeling all too well - in Boston here and it gets very grey. My advice is force yourself to get to the gym - it helps! Some endorphins firing ... and the fringe benefit about feeling good about your body never hurts!

Anonymous said...

Fact: Colorado has 300 plus days of sunshine a year. Just sayin'.

Troystopher said...

I so have the SAD too!!!

::HUG::

Frontier Psychiatrist said...

I hope you're feeling better.

If not, the Art Institute and the Field Museum are free for the rest of the month.

Also, I think SAD needs a new name--one that's not so clever/cute.

S.B. said...

Yet another reason Chicago is still the 2nd City. It has only snowed a few inches in NYC ALL WINTER!!!

Nosokomaniac said...

The SAD ain't pretty, but my pithy yet effective remedy is... wait for it... the tanning booth. Once every two weeks or so knocks my brain back into the silver-lining-clad side of things.

dan said...

hey Jusin, spring is coming soon my friend, hang in there.
later.