About three weeks ago, it dawned (or darkened) on me. It was an unhappy, gloomy realization that, “Holy Mother of God, it’s dark,” in those sad, thick early evenings at only 5pm toward the end of October. It isn’t a fun feeling, let’s be honest. You’ve just let your summer feeling go, but not too far away. You may still have a tan line from your Saltwater sandals on your feet, or a flower someone picked for you recently dried out on a shelf. And then, suddenly, the lights are really off. Ugh. I’m a nature and socializing lover. I thrive on parties, smiles, conversation, friends, flowers, rainbows, water, and open sky. Scuffling along dark wet urban streets after school or work to get home and make dinner isn’t my idea of lifelong happiness. But, what separates a general malaise toward a season from downright depression, especially in New York City or other dank urban environments that aren’t always rosey (think of a crowded subway in the rain at 6pm in February after work)? For myself, I know that making the best of it is the only answer. But I have friends who are simply down for the count, especially come December. They become stiff to life, have trouble leaving bed, and do not want to socialize at all. If you notice that depressive symptoms come on in the fall and winter, most likely peaking in December, you may want to look into Seasonal Affective Disorder.
SAD is a “mood disorder” that may encompass your feelings of tension, hopelessness, irritability, inability to tolerate stress, feeling fatigued and unable to carry out routines, loss of libido, desire to avoid social contact, and intense cravings for salty and starch-riddled foods which result in weight gain. Although bright light or photo therapy is recommended, one study found that an hour’s walk in winter sunlight was as effective as two and a half hours under bright artificial light. Our brains create melatonin in the dark, and experts believe that too much of it creates symptoms of SAD. With serotonin, it’s the reverse. Its production goes up when a person is exposed to sunlight, so it’s likely that a person will have lower levels of serotonin during the winter when the days are shorter. Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression, whereas increasing the availability of serotonin helps to combat depression. Talk therapy is also recommended for sufferers, mostly because it makes patients feel less isolated and lonely. CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) is an excellent resource. Yoga in New York City is one of the best gifts we have. Go! It will definitely help the situation, even if you can only make it once a week… it’s so worth it! Also, running on crisp winter days can be a great way to break a sweat and get some UV exposure. Making a route around a park or track is a great way to start running if you are new to the sport. Instead of leaning on alcohol, try to drink water and get some light. Excessive alcohol can quickly escalate feelings of doom and gloom in times of despair. If things are really low, please consider medication. There’s no reason to let it get out of control to the point of suffering. Columbia University Psychiatry has a wonderful center dedicated to light therapy and treatments for SAD. Please take care of yourself, let the sun shine in, and keep it light!
Here are some resources for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in New York City:
The American Institute for Cognitive Therapy
The Center for Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy
And some of my favorite yoga places in Brooklyn with good vibes and great teachers that can get you through the blues:
Sacred (hot yoga- amazing!)
Rebecca Conroy is an artist, stylist, and former editor of A Child Grows in Brooklyn. She is from New York City, and has an MFA from Columbia University in Screenwriting. Rebecca often finds herself on film and photography sets making things run or look better, and is the mom of two outrageously wonderful kids.