I Need Changes In Latitudes!

 

 

 

Well....It's that time of year, again.  The Winter Blues.  I've been very proud of myself so far that I haven't allowed it to set in.....But it's here.  As much as I love Christmas and the holiday season, why the heck does this happen every year?  Try as I might...This ain't somethin' I can shake off!

 

 

I thank the stars above every day that I am not a heavy drinker.  It's times like this that I kinda sorta understand why alcoholics drink.  At least I'm smart enough to know that this, too, shall pass.  But it's still tough!  I have so many things to get done and folks that need me.  And here I sit in my PJs with my butt sore from not moving.  No one would ever understand unless they've been seriously depressed before.  Yes, we get "depressed" when things don't go our way or a loved one passes.  Yes, we get "depressed" when a relationship goes sour.....or our children need things that we can't do anything about.  Yes, we get "depressed" when a fun vacation has to end or when things aren't going as planned for our future.  But it's not the same.  Believe me.... it's not the same.

 

This kind of depression makes me more depressed because I'm depressed.  It goes deep.  It hurts those around me and that is even MORE depressing.  It's a downward spiral that for some reason only the end of winter can cause it to lift.  I've researched this...since I seem to not want to do anything but sit here...and have decided that I have Seasonal Affective Disorder.  S. A. D.

 

 

Seasonal Affective Disorder - Definition And Symptoms

 

In most cases, seasonal affective disorder symptoms appear during late fall or early winter and go away during the sunnier days of spring and summer. However, some people with the opposite pattern have symptoms that begin in spring or summer. In either case, symptoms may start out mild and become more severe as the season progresses.

 

Fall and winter seasonal affective disorder (winter depression)Winter-onset seasonal affective disorder symptoms include:

• Depression
• Hopelessness
• Anxiety
• Loss of energy
• Heavy, "leaden" feeling in the arms or legs
• Social withdrawal
• Oversleeping
• Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
• Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates
• Weight gain
• Difficulty concentrating

 

Yep....That's me to a "T"!  Don't you LOVE self-diagnosis?  The good thing about this is come Spring I'll be back to my old codgety self.  With a smile on my face.  According to studies I need to get me a high dollar fancy lamp (that emulates sunshine) and all will be well.  Hmmmmph.  My mind tells me I just need to get offa my arse and be the person I want to be.  It's not that simple...and dang, knowing I can't do THAT is depressing!

 

The truth is....Santa Claus is going to come to my house no matter how I'm feelin'.  Guess that's why my inner self had me finish my Christmas shopping early.  Hallelujah!

 

I look back when I'm sitting here doing nothing and wonder why it has only come upon me the past 5 or 6 years.  Then I realize that up until that time I always took 2 or 3 short trips to a tropical island each winter.  Hot fun in the hot sun....Scuba diving, snorkeling, bar hopping, laying on sandy beaches, meeting some fun and funny new folks.  Poor financial decisions made by me in the past 10 years put the skids on those trips.  No, I haven't been to a doctor about my problem....and no, I'm not taking any medication.  Heck, it I could afford a doctor and medication I could save that headache and just take a trip!  I KNOW what's good for me...I just can't do it.

 

 

 

Yassuh!  This is JUST what Dr. Kristyemac orders!  Since thats not possible....Look for me in the Spring!

 

 

Now....To end this dang "depressing blog"...My main purpose for putting these things in words is in the hopes that it will help someone else who is going through the same thing I'm going through.  It DOES get better...Winter DOES go away...and NO, you are not ALONE...or CRAZY!  We just can't all have the resources to hit the Keys or the Islands for the winter.  Other folks will not understand our need to.  That's OK.  We will make it through another winter.

 

Just keep singin' this song:

 

"Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes"

I took off for a weekend last month
Just to try and recall the whole year.
All of the faces and all of the places,
wonderin' where they all disappeared.
I didn't ponder the question too long;
I was hungry and went out for a bite.
Ran into a chum with a bottle of rum,
and we wound up drinkin' all night.

It's those changes in latitudes,
changes in attitudes nothing remains quite the same.
With all of our running and all of our cunning,
If we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane.

These changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes,
Nothing remains quite the same.
Through all of the islands and all of the highlands,
If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane

Reading departure signs in some big airport
Reminds me of the places I've been.
Visions of good times that brought so much pleasure
Makes me want to go back again.
If it suddenly ended tomorrow,
I could somehow adjust to the fall.
Good times and riches and son of a bitches,
I've seen more than I can recall

I think about Paris when I'm high on red wine,
I wish I could jump on a plane.
And so many nights I just dream of the ocean.
God, I wish I was sailin' again.
Oh, yesterdays are over my shoulder,
So I can't look back for too long.
There's just too much to see waiting in front of me,
and I know that I just can't go wrong
with these...

 

 

I'll see y'all in the Spring!

 

Until then, keep on dancin' and PLEASE dance one for me!

 

 

 

 

 

I know I'm askin' for it...but while you're here won't you leave a comment?