Well, if you live in Portland, OR, like I do, you literally do have a cloud handing over you virtually all the time.
But I'm speaking metaphorically. Like "did you ever have a feeling there's a dread in your head?" "Sometimes I get the feeling there's a schlump in my rump" "Sometimes I just can't drag my head out of bed." (Thanks, Seuss, for that inspiration)
Sounds a little silly and also fictional. Like it's not a real problem. And it's not ALL the time, just on really gloomy days, or, like, all winter.
This is what I feel like at these times. It's commonly refered to as Seasonal Affective Dissorder. Or: I'm feeling a little SAD.
But it isn't clinically depressed. I do not want or need drugs, especially antidepressants that are chock full of other side effects that will make me feel worse physically in order to feel better emotionally. Besides, I don't know about you, but I feel pretty lousy when I have bad side effects and I am fairly grumpy when I have a headache, so why would I think that my lousy feelings would be gone? They would just be from a different source. No, let's not do drugs. Just Say No, thank you.
*Don't get me wrong, I'm by no means saying antidepressants are bad, or no one should take them. I don't necessarily believe that. I'm just saying in my case, this is where I stand on them. No condemnation on anyone else, OK?*
But, if no drugs, what can I do to feel better when there's such a lack of sun? Well, a couple things. But the question might actually be, "Do I need to do anything at all? Can I cope with this, or not?" Some days are better than others.
On those really sucky days, I use a daytime light.
They're a bit expensive, my husband bought me one on clearance from BestBuy for Christmas. I try to spend time alone in my room with the light on, praying. But only when the kids are all napping. Taking vitamins are a good idea, Especially B vitamins. And Vitamin D, you can get from drinking milk.
Some days, I push through it, and I'm not having a great day, but it's OK. I'll cope.
Diet, I heard, can help. Certain foods are healthier for you, so you feel better when you eat them, and other "comfort foods" make you think you are feeling good, but in the long run, make your body actually sluggish--
more sluggish than you are already feeling, so it's a sick cycle.
Whatever. I'm bummed, let me eat my donuts in peace, will ya?
http://www.zumba.com/
Yay! Just saying the name Zumba makes me smile and feel a bit better. Go to a class with other happy dancers and Salsa the endorphines into our brains, Instant fix!
So, um, why bring this up on a Homeschooling blog? How does this effect teaching at home? Does it? Of course it effects all aspects of my life.
You remember last post when I was dreaming of a land where you can take a day, week or even month off school?
Yeah, so, April was a particularly dreadful weather month for us Portlanders. And I had finished the home school co-op class for the term. And my kids had finished their textbooks already. So, we um, took all April off. (And May, too.)
But then the sun started to shine a lot more and I felt better. So I decided, as a free homeschooling parent, that we could do school when we want. We went out and bought new books and started up again in June. It's quite perfect. I felt lousy in April and May, so we just did Daycare and homecare, but now that I am energized and motivated and inspired, we can do school again. That's the beauty of Homeschooling. No dictated schedule.
I don't know if this post is bumming you out, or encouraging you, or what. I, for one, feel better talking (blogging) about it. It's not that bad. And I am feeling good about the honesty of it. Depression worsens when you don't admit it, recognizeit, discuss it, address it. Community is so important. I know that homeschooling can be very isolating. That is why I highly advocate groups. Bible study groups, play groups, homeschool co-op groups, Zumba groups, etc. Find a place to belong and feel connected. Get out of the house sometimes! It's not good to become cut off from the world just because we don't go to school. And we need to feel accepted and comfortable enough in our groups to have people understand what we are going
through and encourage us. Even hold us accountable. Ask us those tough questions.
Amen, Sister! (oops, did I say that out loud? Sorry)
Well, I must be off to conquer another cloudy Oregonian day! God bless!
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