Beauty Tips for Ministers
Because you're in the public eye, and God knows you need to look good.
Seasonal Affect Dis… Squirrel!
January 7, 2010 on 8:05 pm | In Self Care | 13 CommentsDid you see “Up?” It’s a sweet little Pixar film whose first ten minutes are so poignant that I sat there stunned, saying, “Oh my God. If the rest of the movie is this intense I don’t think I can watch it!” We stuck with it, though, and thought it quite lovely.
There’s a really delightful dog character named Dug in the movie, who, thanks to his Evil Geniuis Master, can talk through a voice box that reads his mind and translates his thoughts into speech. Dug says things like, “I am hiding under your porch because I love you. May I please come in?” Often, mid-sentence, he will break off his train of thought and yell “SQUIRREL!” If you have ever loved a dog, you know how funny that is.
Someone with whom I spend a lot of time thinks that I have the same approximate attention span as Dug. So when he scrambles to keep up with my octupus-tendriled train of thought in conversation I like to say, “SQUIRREL!” while I wait for him to catch up. Friends have alerted me to this over the years; my line of thought isn’t a line, it’s a starburst.
When I have academic papers due on certain deadlines, I have always been extremely disciplined about finishing on time. Now, working on a doctoral dissertation with no deadline but my own self-imposed timeline to adhere to, my Dug-like tendencies have been very prominent. But here’s what’s interesting: I have noticed since the sun came out this week, lo and behold, I seem to be able to concentrate MUCH for a much longer period of time than during our recent dark days. In fact, the difference in my productivity is impossible to ignore.
One of you wrote in the comments yesterday that you have Seasonal Affect Disorder. I don’t know that much about it and have always assumed that it was associated with depression, but is lack of concentration part of it? I certainly wouldn’t blame my tortoise-slow progress on my dissertation on SAD (what’s my excuse for my procrastination over the summer months, for instance?), but I am fascinated by the huge difference in my ability to hunker down, concentrate and produce paragraphs on bright vs. dark days.
SQUIRREL!
13 Comments »
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
Leave a comment
Powered by WordPress with design based on Pool theme by Borja Fernandez.
Entries and comments feeds.
Valid XHTML and CSS. ^Top^
SAD is very real, and is particularly insidious for clergy because it hits right at one of our busiest times (thanksgiving/Advent/Christmas) and resolves in the springtime when things lighten up a bit–it is easy to pass of as mere stress.
I take Wellbutrin (NOT the generic, which is a different drug entirely) September-April, and I go on it and off it reallllly gradually (sometimes taking two pills a week at the end and the beginning). It is life changing for me.
Comment by madgebaby — January 7, 2010 #
I was recently diagnosed with SAD and PMDD, double whammy. Well, I have known it for a long time, just finally found a doctor that listened.
Comment by Linda — January 7, 2010 #
I love that movie, and not just because I think Carl looks like LinguistFriend, but that helps.
CC
Comment by Chalicechick — January 7, 2010 #
I live in Australia, (so not much SAD over here – our winters can be like other countries’ summers!) but even so I know that my cfs gets worse during winter.
Just a thought, even here in Australia I know many people who have Vitamin D deficiencies, who have felt hugely better when put on a supplement. It might be worth having it checked.
Comment by Kate — January 8, 2010 #
I loved UP! (Nothing to say about SAD, sorry!) It was one of the few movies where I burst out sobbing right in the middle of that opening. Let’s just say it made for an awkward popcorn moment.
Love, love, love UP and want it to be my very own movie. I might just go buy it.
Love!
They totally nailed Dug as a retriever-type of dog, and that made me happy.
But that opening- wow. The previews made it look as if Carl was just this old grumpy curmudgeon for the sake of being angry, and those first 10 minutes completely redeem him and make you fall in love.
Comment by Bee — January 8, 2010 #
A lot of people have a Vitamin D deficit in the States during the winter months as well – trying a supplement would not hurt and might really help. Stay withing the guidelines though (that’s the nurse in me).
Comment by Elastigirl — January 8, 2010 #
I watched “Up” with my fiance, and at first, I thought the first ten minutes was the start of the actual storyline– the kid we see in the trailers was the kid with the balloon…. and then, all of a sudden, I realized it wasn’t. Definitely crying by the end, and my fiance and I were holding hands, in silence, just in awe. Quite the opening, yikes. And the rest of it is ADORABLE and wonderful and worth every tear.
SAD definitely includes that scatterbrained quality; it’s depression and lethargy and ADD and stress and mess all wrapped into one. I’ve been diagnosed with depression, but SAD is still new; I don’t know what my solution will be (definitely tucking that Vitamin D idea in my head, and the Wellbutrin), but knowing to expect it is half the battle.
Good luck with the dissertation, PB; I know you can pull it through! Remember, each day gets a little sunnier, and we’re slowly moving closer to Spring.
Comment by Sarah K — January 8, 2010 #
Lack of concentration/focus is most definitely a part of SAD, and it’s been known to knock chronic depression over into the acute form too.
Let me quote writer Isaac Bonewits here, though, from his song, “The Ascent”: ‘Though there’s snow on the ground, I see buds on the branches/Winter is going and Spring’s on her way/’Tis sure I am eager for Summer’s warm laughter/But I’ll have to get there day by day.’
Hang in there, folks!
Comment by PaganBuddy — January 8, 2010 #
SAD is a real concern up here in the north. Many people here replace their regular lightbulbs with full spectrum bulbs to help them get some feel good rays.
People with more severe forms of SAD even fit in front of special SAD boxes that bathe them in full spectrum light for a certain period each day. Light can really help and it sure beats the side effects of medication*.
*I recognize that some people truly need and are tremendously helped by anti-depressents. But if you can achieve results without them, even better.
Comment by Strange Attractor — January 8, 2010 #
The inability to concentrate, general lethargy and lack of motivation are most definitely SAD, acute or chronic depression symptoms. But have no fear! As Mrs. Doubtfire would say “Help is in ze waaayyyy!”
To help with your SADness…
-Vitamin D supplements
-Light exposure: natural sunlight is best, but you can also try sun lamps or tanning beds. You should also look into full-spectrum bulbs/lamps for your home/office when natural sunlight is not available.
-Close your eyes and look toward the light! I know it sounds crazy, but, when you have a chance to get natural sunlight, go outside, close your eyes and aim your face toward the light. Through your closed eyelids is one of the BEST places to absorb sunlight on your body. Just make sure the sun shines on your bare, un-SPF’ed skin. It’s best to do this before 10am or after 4pm. Try to get 20 minutes of exposure.
Comment by Cambo — January 9, 2010 #
SAD has been associated with Vitamin D deficiency.. Mushrooms are full of Vitamin D. I take supplements. I live in Florida and I still don’t get enough sun.
Wellbutrin helps. It ups your dopamine levels which makes you happier and more energetic.
Comment by Joy Lightning — January 9, 2010 #
My sister has a light box she sits under in the winter time. I wholeheartedly agree with the vitamin D. I live in a northern climate, and I don’t even put sunscreen on in the winter, unless I’ll be outdoors for extended periods. I need the D!!
Comment by Elly — January 9, 2010 #
I didn’t think about the supplements but I do those too (Cod Liver Oil with both A & D vitamins and omega 3’s which help with depression.) My doctor also advised me to make sure my retinas get exposed to the the brightest sun of the day for as long as possible (walking when the weather permits but regular exercise and good diet(low carbs helps me) and enough–but not too much–sleep) and she also prescribed a sunny vacation in January–seriously–to jump start the springtime improvement.
Comment by madgebaby — January 9, 2010 #