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GoogleAs I sat here stressing today over things like Lizzie's sudden flea infestation, the dent in my Jeep door for which I'm not responsible, my checks that were lost in the mail, my upcoming "over the hill" birthday, Christmas plans, and writing this column -- when I've had a pretty uneventful week -- I found myself stressing even more.
On the flip side, one of the great joys of writing a weekly column is that even when things aren't so funny, I have an outlet to vent my fears and frustrations, in hopes that whoever chooses to listen to what Sadie Says might read something to which they can relate.
In addition to feeling stressed out over the minor aforementioned things, I've also recently discovered that I am SAD.
After whining to a friend of mine about feeling so tired and frustrated lately, my friend told me two things. First, my friend said, "Well, Sadie, you aren't 20 years old anymore ... your lethargy could be related to the fact that you are getting older."
Once I got over that comment -- which made me feel even worse than I already do about turning 30 in a few months -- I settled down to listen to my friend's second comment, which was even worse.
"Sadie, I think you're sad," my friend told me.
What? First I'm old, and now I'm SAD! With friends like this, who needs enemies, right?
After simmering down for the second time, I realized that SAD is the acronym for seasonal affective disorder ... and yes, I do believe I might have it. Seasonal affective disorder -- the winter blues -- is a mood disorder in which otherwise normal people experience depressive symptoms in the winter.
A few weeks ago, I stopped going to the gym, because it was too dark and cold in the morning, and I just couldn't pull myself out of bed before 6:30 a.m. I began working out after work, but I quickly learned that I can't rely on that routine because it's way too easy to find excuses not to workout at 5 p.m. All it takes is one invitation to do ... well, anything, and my workout takes the backseat.
When we turned the clocks back, it all got worse because now it's cold and dark when I leave the office, and excuses come even easier. And even though it's lighter in the morning, I still haven't been able to pull myself out of bed before 6:30 a.m. Can you say lazy?
Monday night, I went to the gym for the first time in two weeks, and I thought I had overcome the physical recession I'd slipped into. But when I got home at 7 p.m., after having pigged out on Chinese food, and made the bad and premeditated decision not to set my alarm for the gym Tuesday morning (as if 10 hours wouldn't have been enough sleep) I knew my friend might have actually been right about my condition.
Uh oh ... My jeans are beginning to feel a little snug, and I really need to get over this SADness. So now what?
I'm not sure what I'm going to do. First, I'm going to really try hard to get back into a workout routine, even if it means making myself go after work, because I need to get my endorphins back up and running.
If that doesn't work, I might have to try phototherapy -- or else hibernate until spring -- because the fact that I have become so lazy is definitely ... sad.
-- Sadie Fowler is a staff writer for the Times-Gazette. She can be reached at (931) 684-1200, ext. 214, or by e-mail at sfowler@t-g.com. This column is scheduled to print every Thursday.
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Sit in the sun -- even if only for a few minutes a day -- and eat bananas. Don't give up on the exercise, even if it's only a few laps around the gym.
I've dealt with SAD for many years now and the secret is exercise, sunshine and fresh fruits and veggies.
Bubble baths and romantic comedies also help -- especially when taken with moderate doses of good chocolate.
I have SAD also. I've even considered moving to south Florida. I've found if I can get to the tanning bed once a week (not for the tan really, just the light), it helps. My exercise does too.
Good prescriptions!
You might hunt up how the Nordic folk,Inuits and other wintry folk deal with the cold and dark.
I know the downtime is often used for creative pursuits.
(There is that one fellow who makes toys with his elves.)
But the lack of warmth and light may be why so many vampires are portrayed as mean or all angst-y.
As for the age thing,I've found that each decade has made life richer and more exciting.
The thirties begin the departure of acne,erratic hormones and a lot of ignorance and uncertainty and begin a time when one retains a lot of the best of youth while reaping the dividends of experience.
Your girlhood may be behind you but your time as a woman is just getting started.
Oh,this next stage might not provide *quite* as much pleasure and confidence as the next few decades but it'll do until you get payback for the investments you make in your life now.
Adults retain a lot more of the perks of youth than people realize and if we lose a few of the benefits of being young,we jettison far more liabilities.
The older you get,the more you recognize and value what you have and anticipate rewards to come.
Yes,winter means we have to work harder to immerse ourselves in warmth and light.
A slower metabolism means we might have to use a bit more restraint around comfort foods.
But,winter is an excuse for celebrations,cocooning and counting one's blessings that we just don't have while we're battling sunstroke,biting insects and growing all we will harvest later.
That's how our lives are,too.
Right now,you're in the Indian Summer of your life.
You have colorful foliage and flowers.
You are gathering the fruits of your labors but the growing season's not yet over.
You have dreary,bleak moments but you can still be surprised by vivid blue skies and the occasional sweltering afternoon.
It's warm enough to play outside but too cold for chiggers and mosquitoes.
Enjoy the "middlin' time" when you can delight in picnics as well as a warm beverage and good book by a cozy fire.
You're on the threshold of a terrific era:
Old enough to know better,young enough to do it anyway.
I hope you enjoy it more with every passing day.
Yes, Sadie. It is a very difficult time of year for the neurochemicals.
If the tanning bed helps, do it. Another recommendation is to attempt some high intensity interval training. After my bath, I will email you the specifics. The idea is less time in the gym, but at an intensity that is a little higher.
BTW~ Quantumcat is right. I've enjoyed my 30's more than any other time in my life. So, don't let that number scare you or depress you.
Yes, a little sunshine if you can get it, a little time in a tanning bed if you can't. There's no need to go around with a bizarre tan in the winter, just 3 or 4 minutes in a tanning bed once or twice a week seems to help me.
I can relate. As soon as the trees loose their leaves, I don't like it. I can actually feel it coming on around Labor Day, with the sun at a different angle and humidity dropping.
But, all good advice above. Exercise is the key! and diet which seems to go out the window this time of year. Use that window to grab some sun. Even if not sunny, it helps.
Enjoy your thirties! Its a GREAT time!
I have to agree here I hate winter and dislike fall because I know winter is well on it's way.
Grass turning brown and naked trees just don't seem natural to me :>)
And about your flea problem if it's any help everybody that I know is having trouble with fleas right now. I don't know what it is but we didn't have a problem all summer but as soon as it started turning cold they have really come out of the woodwork. Get a good Flea shampoo and some Sulfidine shampoo from wal-mart (medicated to stop the itching) wash her twice once in the flea shampoo and once in the medicated shampoo. Then put frontline on her and back it up with capstar pills. It should take care of your problem on your dog. You will need to go to co-op and get some granules for your yard to kill the fleas also or your dog will just bring them back inside. Be sure and treat your house where your dog lays it is said that only 5% of the fleas actually live on your dog the rest are in your carpet and furniture. Vacuum everyday for at least 3 weeks and toss out the bag because even if you Vacuum the eggs up they can still hatch while in your trash can. It sounds like a lot of work and it really is but if you don't get a handle on them you will end up with a horrid infestation inside your house. Female fleas can lay up to 600 eggs in a lifetime and they only live 30-90 days average. I had a vet tell me once if you put a little white vinegar in your pets drinking water Fleas will not stay on them, he said it made their skin taste bad (which made sense but my picky dog wouldn't drink the water with vinegar in it) Good Luck and Happy Early Birthday...30 isn't so bad just wait til you near that 50 mark..lol