Frozen awake Dec19 '05
The "winter blues" have begun to hit me, in full-force, lately - and last night was the first night I actually "panicked" at my loss of sleep. (I tend to take sleep seriously, and I get really "panicky" when I can’t sleep.)
It’s understandable that "worrying about losing sleep" will, in fact, make you lose more sleep. But I worried, anyway.
Note: Movies like The Machinist, Fight Club, and Lost In Translation (among many others), will only make you worry more about lack of sleep - since those movies seem to center around that topic. So, when you’re lying awake at night, ask yourself why you watch so many goddamn movies! (referring to myself)
It seems that every December, I’m hit with the "winter blues." My cases, each year, usually range from feeling "down in the dumps," to just straight-out insomnia. There is a "disorder" for this, and many people have probably heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is an "extreme term," meaning it’s a full-fledged diagnosis.
In my case, however, I don’t think I have ever had the "full-fledged" diagnosis. Rather, I just have occasional symptoms - each of which only last a few weeks, at a time.
Well... last year I felt more depressed, than anything - but this year, it’s more about my "inability to sleep." This year, I don’t even feel slightly depressed - I’m more lively and energetic than ever. I have been keeping a regular "blog schedule," which is good for me, and I’ve been fully able to concentrate on my work, and get things done.
Obviously, external factors play a role in how we feel - and this December has just been unbearably cold. It has not been this cold in December, in Chicago, in a very long time. Usually we get hit with sub-zero’s in late January, and they only last for a few weeks.
Well... it’s been sub-zero ever since December 1. Add to that the short daylight hours (constant darkness), and you have a very strong recipe for SAD.
Why am I sharing this with everyone? I don’t feel I have to answer that question, but for some reason, I felt I had to ask it. Most importantly, it’s important to document such things, so you can look back on them, and realize that, perhaps, it’s not the first time it’s happened. So it’s OK. Life will go on.
After all, only three more months until spring! (wishful thinking)
Categories: Health 
, Personal , Weather
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Just for the record, I suffer from the same thing. Only difference is mine isn't seasonal, I just get it from time to time. Parents think I should ... Read more.