Winter Blues
Depression is such a common malady for TBI survivors (and probably their caregivers if anyone ever pursued that issue) that it seems like a good idea to look more closely at this condition and some ways to cope with it now that we are entering “the bleak midwinter” (TS Eliot may think “April is the cruelest month” but I vote for almost any month in winter).
Causes of post-TBI depression are pretty obvious: changed abilities, circumstances, and prospects; concerns about the future in terms of finances, social relationships, independence, and productivity; in some cases, ongoing pain, sleep deprivation, and other physical problems. Winter can make things worse because of SAD (seasonal affective disorder – what happens to some people if they don’t get enough sunlight in the winter), reduced opportunity to enjoy the outdoors because of cold and the fear of falling on icy surfaces (thus making exercise even less appealing), holiday blues from Thanksgiving through New Years with Valentine’s Day fast approaching.
So what can a survivor and family do to short-circuit winter blues? Even if you can’t walk outside, malls, stairs, treadmills, and stationary bikes offer exercise opportunities. You can use weights and do leg lifts in your recliner while you watch tv (I confess that I do). Seek out humor - Readers Digest jokes, comic strips, tv shows that make you laugh. Find music that peps and cheers you up – maybe exercise to it. Don’t compare the current you with the pre-accident- you. Look at how far you have come since the accident, and set reasonable goals for the future. Learn something new. Research shows that effort invigorates. Investigate the exciting ideas of Dr. Martin Seligman who has developed a very sensible and upbeat approach to life with his work on Positive Psychology. http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx
© 2010 Brain Recovery Support Sytstem | Dr. Clair Hinckley. All rights reserved.