Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.)-- also known as winter depression or winter blues, is a mood disorder in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms in the winter or, less frequently, in the summer, repeatedly, year after year. ...
I'm not saying that I suffer from this, nor am I taking away from those who do. But I do believe there is something to the lack of sunshine (or bright clouds even) and grumpy moods. It has been raining pretty consistently for six days here. That isn't too abnormal where I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, but it is very abnormal here. I am not depressed, exactly, but I am definitely grumpier than normal. And don't get me started on how I am eating this week. Yikes. Carbohydrate craving is a symptom listed for S.A.D. Unfortunately, I am digging into leftover Halloween (yes, we still have some) and Christmas candy that is stashed in the pantry instead of the bagels or pasta.
I didn't start thinking about the weather affecting my mood until I started noticing Tweets and Facebook posts that sounded a lot like how I am feeling. Several of my friends posted how they were grumpy and sick of the rain. Many of us haven't been running as much as usual due to the weather and that also may be a factor.
I know that my friends in the Pacific Northwest or the Midwest are rolling their eyes at the "freak outs" that we have had here in Southern California. But you have to admit, our weather here has been a bit "freak" worthy. We have had weather that is more appropriate to Kansas in June than California in January. We have had thunder and lightning and even tornadoes! The rainfall this storm is more than the average January rainfall in Orange County, and this is the fourth separate storm this week. In the last three days alone, we have had over four inches of rain. Welcome El Nino!
Check out a couple of before and after picture I took down at the river. The "before" pictures were taken on Sunday a couple hours after the rain started. The "after" pictures were taken yesterday around noon (and it has been pouring ever since then).
The good news is that it is supposed to clear up this weekend. I am planning on running both days. Thank you for your comments regarding my long run. I am going to run my planned sixteen miles and trust in my training.
6 comments:
I grew up in VT and suffered from SAD. Moving to south carolina has been a HUGE help...we only have 1 or 2 months of winter instead of 5! Hang in there, spring is just around the corner!
Wow, those picture show HUGE changes. I know you guys get some really wacky weather - it's kind of hard to imagine. But the pics you have here, and that others have posted on Twitter, realy do show a picture is worth more than 1000 words. Thank you!
I agree with the weather affecting people's moods. Last June and for part of July, we only got about 5 days of sunshine. Literally. And people were grumpy, big time.
I hope the weather normalizes for you guys soon! And good luck on the long run this weekend.
I predict after this weekend we will once again consider ourselves spoiled!
I'm always amazed on how So Cal can't handle any wet weather. We're so built up that all this water doesn't have a place to go and the run-off get crazy. Great pictures!
I get grumpy from too much grey and wet too. I love the PNW, but could never actually live there....
MCM Mama
i was definitely feeling the "SAD" sunday/monday. :-/ it was rainy and gray, and of course it's cold... blah. i think it's all in your mindset though - negativity feeds negativity! i'm trying to be more positive, less whiny :)
those pics are crazy!
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