Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 18, 1994 TAG: 9401180057
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURA WILLIAMSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"It's hard to get much done," said Salem's school superintendent, who brought home a briefcase of paperwork over the weekend. "It's hard to get much enthusiasm."
If Tripp sounds like he's singing the blues, listen a little bit harder. About this time of year - when the temperature drops well below most people's comfort level, and the ice and snow seem to perpetually interrupt our plans - a chorus of winter blues rings out from the valley, Roanoke-area mental health counselors say.
Of course, Roanoke's no different than anyplace else. Wherever there's ice and snow and dark of winter, there's sure to be depression.
"A lot of people tend to feel blue or down in the winter," said Conley Saunders, a licensed professional counselor for Carilion Health System. "People are getting up when it's dark and getting home when it's dark. People can't get out as much, so they get down."
But there's a difference between the winter blues - which most people catch at least once in a lifetime - and real depression, said Saunders, who will deliver a free lecture on the topic next month at the Fralin Center for Community Health Education.
And then there's seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression that returns every winter. Counselors say they see few cases locally of this disease, which may be caused by lack of exposure to light.
So how do you know if you're just grumpy from cabin fever or if you've got a serious case of depression?
"It's a matter of degrees," said Dr. Jitendra Desai, medical director at the Lewis-Gale Psychiatric Center.
"The winter blues is more common," he said. "It's most commonly seen after the holidays, and it's generally mild."
But clinical depression can lead to thoughts of suicide and should be treated immediately, he said.
Saunders said depression may be marked by a loss of appetite, feelings of sadness, sleeping too much or not at all, an inability to concentrate, fatigue, lethargy, low self-esteem or a sense of hopelessness.
If you're just ticked off because it's too cold to go jogging and you need to work off that holiday bulge, call that the winter blues.
But don't call it quits, Saunders said. There's a lot people can - and should - do to overcome the winter doldrums.
For one thing, don't stop exercising, she said. If it's too cold to go running outdoors, go to the gym and hop on a treadmill.
"Try to stay as active as possible," Saunders said. "Even if it's just doing an exercise video in front of your TV."
Desai suggested that people take up winter sports if they don't want to exercise indoors. Learn to ice skate, for example. Or to ski.
If you can't think of something active to do outdoors, he said, watch your children or your neighbors' children.
"Children will make the best use of whatever the season has to dish out to them," Desai said. And adults should do the same - even if it means building a snowman or sliding down snowy hills on a makeshift sled.
One thing not to do, Desai and Saunders agreed, is to hole up alone indoors.
"Reach out and touch someone," Desai said. "Loneliness doesn't help the depression."
"Have some friends over for dinner," said Saunders. "At least pick up the phone."
Basically, they said, do the stuff you ought to do all year - eat right, exercise and talk to other people about how you're feeling.
And if you can, go on a vacation, Desai said.
Someplace warm.
\ IF YOU WANT TO GO: "Overcoming the Winter Blues," a free lecture by licensed professional counselor Conley Saunders, will be held Feb. 17 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Fralin Center for Community Health Education on Jefferson Street. Call 985-8190 to register.
by CNB