There are many weird and wonderful diseases and disorders out there. There are many weird and wonderful acronyms out there (why do people just LURRRRV acronyms??). However, there is something that combines both! Yes, people, S.A.D!!
To quote the fountain of all knowledge, Wikipedia: “Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression or winter blues, is a mood disorder in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms in the winter or, less frequently, in the summer,[1] spring or fall, repeatedly, year after year.”
SADS!
Now I’m not saying I have SADs, I know people who do and hey, I might have it, but it is pretty damn hard to be cheerful when it is dark by 4.30pm (hate hate HATE daylight savings) and when it doesn’t stop raining for weeks on end. Ugh. November in Vancouver is enough to give ANYONE SADS!! There are special lamps you can buy that apparently zap the right stuff at you and make you feel better. Wouldn’t it be great if that were the cure for all types of depression (hell, all types of illnesses!!)? A lamp?? Cured!
I am taking a HUGE time out at the moment. I have been feeling run down, yes, even SADS, and need to just get myself together and feel better. The year is winding down (EEEK!!) and that means 2010 is on its way. Aside from the FIFA World Cup in South Africa and the Olympics here, 2010 feels like it is going to be a momentous year. I am not sure why. Is it the stupid Olympic countdown clock? Is it the endless talk about it? Is it that I will hit a rather milestoney birthday??? Who knows? All I know is that 2009 has been very weird and wonderful (like the diseases and the acronyms) and I don’t know how I feel about it coming to an end.
This has been an incredibly difficult year, filled with major ups (Meerkat Communications being one of them) and downs (various) – what a frikkin’ roller coaster. I hate roller coasters. It has been a year of growing and learning, and anxiety and depression, of new friendships and dissipated friendships, of love and laughter, of pasta spoons and rockpools (this has no meaning to anyone but myself and The Baker). Is it just me? I don’t think so. Most people I speak to seem to have had a very strange year. I don’t know anything about astronomy – is it in the stars? are the planets all wonky? Is it me? Is it you? Who knows!! All I know is that I need to declare December the Month of Me!! (shouldn’t every day, every month be about me?? I think so). I am going to practice rethinking and rewording negative thoughts; I am going to try every day to do things that feed my soul and make me feel better. I am going to try to graciously accept help and love and support, and I am going to try (my biggest challenge in life) to LET GO and trust that the universe will take care of me.
SADS? who me?
the canadian chronicles 
November 23, 2009 at 1:15 am
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November 23, 2009 at 1:19 am
If it makes you feel better, my year's been on a perpetual upswing (slow but steady) and it's going to culminate in my confirmation of moving to Vancouver. I can't see things being much better than that (for me at least).That being said, having gone through depression pretty severely myself, I can only recommend a few things:1. Eat well2. Get out more (I know it's raining, but put on some track pants and say you'll go do some open air swimming)3. Accomplish things (like hey, new blogpost!)
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November 23, 2009 at 2:33 am
HAHA – open air swimming. Love it. Definitely trying to do all three of those things, Lloyd! And hope to see you in Van very soon. 🙂
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November 23, 2009 at 2:33 am
Sorry Anonymous, deleted your comment coz it seemed suspiciously like spam. Please post again if it wasn't!!
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November 23, 2009 at 7:33 am
Hi geraldine please don't delete me: I am not spam, it's your friend Donna!Now I have the perfect cure for you: a sunshine holiday in good old S.A! if that is impossibl;e beacause of a certain huge event that is scheduled for next year…know that in 2011 there will be loads of slashed prices and post soccer offers, until then …lts of whiskey, cigarettes and coffee to do the blues with a stylish 30's feel: this method requires a ballgow and top forty radio hits and a friday night alone-release your inner existentialist.I will not regale you with all that is grat about sa in summer, but rather share a great vet story from Nols;(excuse all the colons, it's monday) a womwn rushed in her dashund that she had just spotted gulfing down a dead rat. the rat was dead because it had eaten az piece of deadly cheese. the cheese was laced with black market poisen. (she had purchased said poison outside pick'npay in cvanal walk from a man for 6.99(I mean really). Nolan administered some vet muti(morphine drops into the eye!) and the dachund vomited up the whole rat! it was a mirical! We now have the rat in a jar on the bookshelf(this makes the story far better-although many do not appreciate it). As Nols says; the story is not complete without the cheese in the zip lock bag!lots of lovedonna
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November 23, 2009 at 7:36 am
Hi GraldineI am desparately sorry about all the typos and spelling mistakes in last post: I will edit work in future
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November 23, 2009 at 9:10 am
AWESOME the post we have all been waiting for! 😉 Darling little miss S.A.D.S…This morning I was driving along in full sunshine and I had similar thoughts about rollercoasters and annums ending in 009, particularly those yucky parts in the middle of the year ( crossed those straight off the calendar!). I knew at those sunless moments that the bliss of summer would return AND IT HAS… I don't know about lamps?But I highly recommend WINE! Also …time out seems like a step in the right direction. And yes, I'll raise a glass of Moet to the MONTH OF GERALDINE, formerly known as December! Ps. congrats again on Meerkat! AWESOME!xxx Much love lovely girl! xxx
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November 23, 2009 at 9:36 am
Gerry, its such a beautiful day here again – sorry! I feel SADS for you and only lasted 6 months in summer in the UK due to impending SADSness! I declared the whole of 2009 mine and have had an awesome year – feeling great and things are only getting better. Agree wtih the aboeve guy that getting out there helps:)! Enjoy the swimming. Lots of love and missing! carryn
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November 23, 2009 at 1:04 pm
I think it's a great idea to take a step back and give a month to yourself…where are we all pedalling to all the time anyway? 😉 I love your ideas about being more open to support and re-framing negative statements. I try to be aware that all my thoughts and words are sending an intention out into the universe, new agey as it may sound – and being aware of that seems to keep my mood from plunging too. I also recommend yoga – nothing beats it really. As ever, a brilliantly written piece with lovely humour and your trademark style.
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November 23, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Our so called summer has been just that…so-called.Winter pajamas are stillunder the pillow in november.Gearing up for a white Christmas. Its blowing a hooligan out there but that means the people up north in Jozie get rain and being philanthropical would I deprive them of rain.No! If I stand in the wind willit remove my wrinkles like botox would? AND if I turn around would I look like a Shapei!
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November 24, 2009 at 12:54 am
Thank you for all the lovely lovely comments – will respond properly soon!! oxox
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November 24, 2009 at 7:55 pm
DOnna – yes! if only I liked whiskey and smoked. I am sure I could try :0) I like the 2011 idea – that is probably the soonest I can get a visit home in. Nols shared the rat story, but did not know it made it home to a place of honour on the shelf!! Awesome!! Miss Lawless – wine bubbles yes! I have been a sober cobra for a long time; maybe that's what's missing? :)Caz – yes! a whole year for you! that's awesome. I know every day should be declared our day, but sometimes it is hard. I am taking this day by day and hope to have the same results as you!! Bev – hahah Sharpei!! I like!!
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