SAD

My co-worker/friend and I were chatting today about how we both have this overwhelming feeling of "sadness" that has come upon us since the weather has been so crappy.  Nothing is wrong....not one thing at all, but I just feel so BLAH!  My training has been par, but what is missing is my usual itch to race.  This has turned into a desperate feeling of wanting to get these races OVER with....not actually race them!  What on earth!?  So I spent a little time with my friend Google tonight....maybe I'm not so crazy after all.  

"Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression, winter blues, summer depression, summer blues, or seasonal depression, is a mood disorder in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms in the winter or summer, spring or autumn year after year.  SAD is not a unique mood disorder, but is "a specifier of major depression".

"Some people experience a serious mood change when the seasons change. They may sleep too much, have little energy, and may also feel depressed."

There are many different treatments for classic (winter-based) seasonal affective disorder, including light therapy with sunlight or bright lights, antidepressant medication, cognitive-behavioral therapy, ionized-air administration, and carefully timed supplementation of the hormone melatonin."

In addition to one additional unnamed factor, this about nails it:  "They sleep too much, they have little energy, and  may also feel depressed".  I laid in bed until after 2pm yesterday and I had to drink a cup of tea (real caffeinated tea!) before my swim.  I felt like a total slug!  Well by golly, seems like I'm just SAD.  

What am I gonna do about it?  Nothing.  I'm pretty sure I don't need ionized-air administration, 100 watt lightbulbs in my bathroom or any sort of medication to snap out of it.  In the meantime, I'll continue to go on with my daily life understanding its just the weather, but I sure am ready for it to pass!  Having today totally "off" from working out has helped in one regard because I finally feel rested, but as we've discussed, days off usually leave me a little "tightly strung" otherwise, and today is not much different.  A 7-mile run and a 30 min recovery swim bright and early should have me back on track in the morning. And maybe a little...

So, if you're also feeling SAD...don't feel too BAD....just don't make me MAD or I might have to hurt you.  :-)  haha.