
Originally Posted by
jhuka
Philly, I share with you the loss of a parent in February, and of another dear friend in the same month, and I have known a number of friends who face this same problem with winter depression. I find that especially around the dates of those losses I can have trouble--almost like that time is cyclical and coming back around at me. Those are the tougher times for me. But the season in general I get through all right--even with some joy--because, frankly, I love to ski and get out in the whiteness; I find also that if I actively think about the good times I've had with winter, some of them with the very people I've lost, this also helps.
But I know it is not always a question of perspective: one of the people I know who had seasonal depression had been told there was a chemical reason for it; I sympathize very much with this. In his case it had something to do with light, and I remember that he had a special light in his house. It also might help to take an active role in getting involved in the magical nature of the season: I was driving last night in a snowstorm in the mountains. It was a difficult drive, but I found myself staring in wonder at the steady whiteness and the glazed trees and felt, suddenly, very lucky to be where I was, alone on a winding road in the mountains in winter. I don't know if actively seeking out that wonder will help, but you can find trees, sky, fences, buildings--things changed by the nature of the season--that may offer some inspiration when you are feeling down.
I'm sorry for the losses you went through. I really understand how these things change you. I hope you'll be able to find some peace in this season.
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