Meagan really wanted this Christmas to be “extra special” — not like last year, when the family dinner turned nasty and Uncle Fred left in …
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Seasonal Affective Disorder can be successfully treated. Those with this disorder can find relief through cognitive behavioral therapy, medication, or light. For those with SAD, get help and learn about the disorder.
Thanks, Dr. Smith–I certainly agree. We don’t yet have many good, comparative controlled studies of SAD treatments (e.g., light therapy vs. antidepressant or CBT) but probably each has its advantages and disadvantages. The first step is recognizing the depression and getting help for it. –Ron Pies
A short while back a study found that contrary to popular belief, suicide rates in northern latitudes – for example countries like Sweden or states like Alaska – actually went up in the summer, not the winter. They suggested long daylight hours are to blame, although they went on to admit not knowing why.
I can guess several reasons because I live in Alaska and it’s short daylight hours during the winter.
First, I’m sure therapists will agree that suicide is not the first reaction to depression. It makes sense in a way that someone affected by SAD might be depressed for months before reaching a point where suicide or some other serious reaction takes place.
Secondly the summers in these countries are incredibly short. Maybe 3 months or so before the cold and wet returns in September. Also the season in which a person can be affected by SAD can stretch from October until April or even May. What you’re left with is the depressive knowledge that summer is going to fly by and before you know it, you’ll be back into those horrible, freezing, long winter nights.
Perhaps this is the final straw for people who suffer long months of SAD, year after year.
My point is I’m not sure that it’s true that suicide rates go up dramatically during the holiday season, but rather when tragedy takes place during what should be a festive and happy time, it strikes home all the more powerfully and is all the more noticeable.
I feel that most of those that get seriously depressed during the holidays will take months to reach a point where suicide is considered. It’s easy for tragedy to make the news during the holiday season because it is such sad news, reinforcing the notion that suicide occurs more often during this time.
‘Finally, another good strategy, according to Dr. Hinda Dubin of the University of Maryland Medical Center, is to find ways of helping those less fortunate than oneself. Taking the focus off your own problems and aiding somebody truly in need may be the best gift you’ll ever get during the holiday season!’
Dr. Pies,
I hope you don’t think I am mocking Dr. Dubin, as I am very serious about what I am just about to say.
But I do not think there necessarily is anyone less fortunate around than Meagan.
Her life, and the way she feels, and the way she thinks, and her expectations, and then the facts as well, i.e. her husband being out of work, and she home with three kids alone, (without an adult, her mother, she can visit with) and no money, and then her spending more money of which she doesn’t have?
..it sounds just as bad as can bed to me.
Who is worse of? Being well is so relative, and an outsider cannot judge by his/her assumptions what is more or less good or bad for one and and not another? For one woman in her shoes she may be just fine, with this one it’s awful.
I think the only thing that really helps understand how a person is doing is by what they tell you, and not by some objective data.
One of the ways I deal with the holidays is by bringing other’s to my house, like for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I don’t do that to take my problems off myself but because Christmas and Thanksgiving is so much more fin and harmonious when other than immediate family are present and who often do not appreciate all you cooked, and how beautiful the house look, anyway. And everyone behaves better and has a better time.
But if I were down in the dumps, would I feel motivated to take care of myself in this way, as I really do this for selfish reasons and because my holidays are always great this way, and people are so appreciative and which helps?
I think i am very lucky that I do not have a husband bit still have such a great relationship with the father of my kids?
And my neighbors as well?
I also remember one of the best Christmases ever when my then two year old and I flew to Denver for three days to be with friends. When we got home, the car was at the airport and we drove home, and just as I was going up my driveway I noticed my house was gone, vanished.
On the night we had left the house had exploded, and the firemen risked their loves trying to save us thinking we were in the house. The entire neighborhood stood in fear, when we did not even know anything about it as nobody had been able to reach us.
I left my son with the neighbor then and asked to be alone for a little while. i walked into the mess which was all taped off and nobody was allowed to enter which of course I ignored. And then there was the refrigerator and it had melted to the floor.
And I started sobbing, and could not stop for a while. Why? I did because during that moment, (and that moment never changed) I knew I was the luckiest person alive in the entire world.
Hi, Katrin–Many thanks for your thoughts and observations. I think you make a good point re: Dr. Dubin’s recommendation: it probably doesn’t do us much good to compare who is more or less unfortunate than ourselves. Each of us has his or her own trials and tribulations, and they can’t readily be quantified in terms of severity. I think Dr. Dubin’s basic idea is that we can sometimes avert feeling “blue” or down in the holiday period by taking the focus off ourselves, and helping others who may be in need. I also think your poignant “exploding house” memory is very instructive: it reminds us all to count our blessings! I do hope your holidays are good ones. Take care…Best, Ron Pies