[dar-list] yearly Mental Health reminder - Your fire, your soul

[Bimbi, Pamela]

Thank you for that.

"Make the holiday enjoyable for you according to your values, what's
important and activities you enjoy."

This has been the key for me after a rather tumultuous year (including the
shocking loss of a friend who suffered from SAD) came to an appropriately
tumultuous end as I got hit with the double whammy of finding out I'm losing
my job and then having to move on very short notice.  All while pregnant,
which is actually what made me start this reply.  

Last year we did the February cards and I remarked, in probably all the ones
I sent out, that I hoped next year would find me with a little extra reason
to hang tough and look towards the coming of the Spring - and indeed it will!


...sorry, hard to pass up the opportunity to share the news with every
possible person...

;)

A safe and happy end-of-year/beginning-of-year celebration to you all!

-----Original Message-----
From: dar-list-bounces+pbimbi=primagames.com at folkserv.net
[mailto:dar-list-bounces+pbimbi=primagames.com at folkserv.net] On Behalf Of
Sharon G
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2006 4:19 PM
To: dar-list
Subject: [dar-list] yearly Mental Health reminder - Your fire, your soul


Today is the shortest day of the year or the winter solstice. The sun is at
the furthest most point of the earth from the sun in the northern hemisphere.
More than that, it's the first day of winter. Winter is not always an easy
time for everyone and furthermore neither is the winter holiday season. Its
also a ripe time for the Winter Blues. The Winter Blues can be caused by many
things.  The idealistic view of the holidays, the stress of activities, and
the many expectations ( real or imagined) placed upon individuals are
contributing factors to the Holiday Blues. It's also about the notion that at
this time of year, life is supposed to resemble a Hallmark card with happy
families and friends gathered by the fire. And very few families are Hallmark
like. People who are not happy with their lives, someone who has lost their
job, who doesn't have many friends or family or is a single parent, or who
have too many activities on their plate may suffer from the Holiday Blues.
Often times, holidays, especially Christmas, highlight grief. Newly divorced
or divorced individuals, widows or widowers, and those away from their family
at Christmas have added stress.

Symptoms of holiday blues: Anxiety: -insomnia, disrupted sleep -tension in
body, headaches overeating forgetfulness -irritability/jumpiness
-difficulty concentrating/distraction Tips and what you can do to stop it
-Pace yourself, you can't please everyone -Remember, the best gift you can
give your friends and family is a happy, healthy you -If you're feeling
overwhelmed, talk about it. Express anxieties and find support -Find an
outlet so you can feel relief from the burden. Try physical winter activities
like tobogganing, skating or a walk for some fresh air. It's good for mental
health -Lower your expectations, do only what you can handle -Make family
traditions around Christmas tailored to your individual life and family -Make
the holiday enjoyable for you according to your values, what's important and
activities you enjoy. This will make the holiday fulfilling for you or your
family -Redefine what Christmas means to you - forget the hype -Don't over
spend or over eat - the last thing you need is to worry about dieting and
debt in January -If you have a friend or co-worker who you know will be
alone, is depressed or hasn't many holiday plans, extend an invitation to a
social activity, reach out -Volunteer - give back. It puts life and the true
meaning of the Christmas season into perspective

Holiday Blues can also be Seaonal Affect Disorder. The typical symptoms of
SAD include depression, lack of energy, increased need for sleep, a craving
for sweets and weight gain. Symptoms begin in the fall, peak in the winter
and usually resolve in the spring. Some individuals experience great bursts
of energy and creativity in the spring or early summer. Susceptible
individuals who work in buildings without windows may experience SAD-type
symptoms at any time of year. Some people with SAD have mild or occasionally
severe periods of mania during the spring or summer. If the symptoms are
mild, no treatment may be necessary. If they are problematic, then a mood
stabilizer such as Lithium might be considered. There is a smaller group of
individuals who suffer from summer depression.

Today is the shortest day of the year. Starting tomorrow the days get longer,
the sun gets brighter.  Managing the holiday season is hard but also can be
liberating.  Finding your fire, your soul or the thing that will get your
through the holiday season, even if that means not going to the party or the
dinner or getting that last present. Or maybe finding a way to get a little
more "light" this year.

Happy Solstice



-- 
Trust your intuition
It's just like going fishing
You cast your line
And hope you're getting a bite
But you don't need to waste your time
Worrying about the market place
Try to help the human race
Struggling to survive its harshest night
paul simon

sage advisor, does weary mean wiser
dar williams