Doldrums of the Darkness (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

Did you know our bodies go through rhythms that match the seasons and the amount of sun or lack thereof? Some people are not aware of the changes. The disorder that impacts individuals because of the change in the amount of light is called Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.)

S.A.D. Contributing Factors

• Reduced sunlight exposure
• Drop in serotonin levels (mood regulation)
• Disruption in melatonin balance (affects sleep and mood)

S.A.D Statistics

• 5% of U.S. adults experience S.A.D.
• Women are 4 times more likely to experience S.A.D.
• 9-10% of people in northern and cooler climates experience S.A.D. as compared to 1-2% of people in southern and warmer climates
• S.A.D. symptoms last about 4-5 months (October to March)

S.A.D Symptoms

• Persistent low mood, sadness, or hopelessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
• Low energy, fatigue, or feeling of “slowing down”
• Oversleeping
• Craving carbohydrates and weight gain
• Difficulty concentrating
• Social withdrawal (hibernation tendency)

God created the sun, moon, and stars on the 4th Day of Creation to regulate seasons, days, and years (Genesis 1:14-19). Possibly our modern-day, fast-paced, electronic-driven life-style has caused a disconnect from living in God’s rhythm. God’s design was to wake up with the daylight and to go to bed not long after dark. Our modern lights have caused us to burn our candles at both ends. We are more tired and out of rhythm than we are probably aware.

Summer gives us heat and light that lasts up to 15-hours in some places. Plenty of time to get up and run, play, and work. Outdoors is the place.

Fall/Autumn brings crisp morning and evening air with a continuation of heavy heat in the mid-day to keep us wanting to be outdoors, but the time of light is growing shorter.

Winter for many is the hardest season of all. While winter brings skiing, sledding, and hot chocolate and family gatherings…it brings with it “Doldrums of the Darkness.”

What happens in nature that we as humans could take as antidotes and not fall into S.A.D. as deeply. Winter is a time of rest. Trees, flowers, and even animals have a hibernation from the work of summer and fall. Winter is a time of silence and solitude that allows you to step outside on a crisp cold winter morning, and hear the silence. No leaves blowing, no birds chirping. Winter is a time of anticipating Spring.

Spring is the bursting forth of new life, longer days, fresh smells, and sounds of joy.

Let’s look at some strategies of rest, silence and solitude, and anticipation that can boost our morale and carry us through the “Doldrums of the Darkness.”

Rest

Remember you are created to experience rest. We are created in God’s image and Genesis 2:2 states, “By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all His work.”

Remember, our modern day life may have pushed us further from rest than we think. Allowing our bodies to be regulated by the morning light and evening light can benefit our health. Once it is daylight, open the curtains, go outside to breathe in the crisp air. Oftentimes during the doldrums, it may seem you can’t shake that sleepy, groggy feeling.

Keep moving. However, if during mid-day you just can’t do one more thing, treat yourself to a nap and do so without guilt. 10-minutes can be just enough. You’ll find what is best for you. Repeat the exposure to light when you wake from your nap.

Exercise and keep moving during the light of day. Rest, other than your quick nap, should wait for darkness when you have completed your work; then you can rest.

Resting also includes reduction of body metabolism. Therefore, there is a need to reduce calories particularly sugar, carbs, caffeine, and alcohol.

The light rhythm that God created and nature adheres to is viewed in hibernation. We as humans often become gluttons for the comfort foods, holiday spreads, and uncontrollable boredom snacking during winter. This is the perpetual 10-20 pounds each person tries to shed before summer, not quite making it and repeating this winter process again and again.

Bears, squirrels, and other hibernating animals put on weight by stuffing themselves for the long winter nap. It is that excess, high calorie food that sustains and is slowly burned off to maintain the basic life functions as they sleep. By spring, the food has been metabolized and the animals wake up ravenously hungry. As humans we NEVER stop eating and the food can’t fully metabolize as we eat 3-meals a day and snacks, 7-days a week.

The Rest routine may vary and need adjusting depending on your phase of life (parenting small children, parenting teenagers, being in the sandwich generation between young adult children and aging parents, final working years’ push, or retired). Rest will look different in each phase…but remember:

1. Sun up, sun down, complete your work while it is day
2. Take extra rest when needed without guilt
3. Keep moving and soak in sun and air as often as possible
4. Reduce calories or foods that trigger boosts of energy that ultimately results in an energy crash

Silence and Solitude

What’s the difference between rest and silence and solitude? Rest is a shutting down of your body, while silence and solitude is a shutting down of your mind and your thoughts.

The symptoms of S.A.D. can lead to increased mental thoughts and mind gymnastics. Your body is experiencing less than energetic power to cope and sort through less than positive imaginations.

While rest is manifested by physical interventions, silence and solitude is captured by spiritual routine.

Step #1 is taking every thought captive. If left to our own, thoughts tend to take a downward spiral. If not captured early in their development, thoughts take the path of least resistance and can tail-spin into the worst case scenario.

Antidote to capture thoughts:

2 Corinthians 10:5

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Step #2 is establishing the plumb line to which these thoughts will line up…”the knowledge of the One True God.” There are many philosophies and self help books that will steer you to their “answer” to your problem.

Antidote to establish the plumb line for your thoughts:

John 14:1

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.

Read your Bible and Pray everyday. Start in the Psalms and Proverbs. Read the book of John.

Step #3 is to nurture hope. Hope is achieved with the same antidote as Step #2. Read your Bible and Pray everyday. Hope is only found in “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV).

Anticipation

Anticipation is the embodiment of hope. We can thank God that He doesn’t allow any season to last too long. Each season has its benefits in the scheme of creation. But, left to being only one season contributes to pitfalls and dangers.

Spring is assuredly coming because we have seen it and can count on it. Just like the sun rises each morning, we can count on it, because we have seen it.

We can count on God making all things new in our lives as we walk through the darkness to the other side. Jeremiah 29:11 states God’s intention for His children: “‘For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,” says the LORD, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’”

Rest your body.

Feed your spirit.

Anticipate that God as ALWAYS will provide the warm sunshine you need.