To my group this morning.
"Hi, my name is John and I'm a SAD sufferer."
"Hi John..."
SAD as in Seasonal Affective Disorder
It figures that the #1 response in Google would be this article from the Mayo clinic, which is located here in Minnesota.
Seasonal affective disorder (also called SAD) is a type of depression that occurs at the same time every year. If you're like most people with seasonal affective disorder, your symptoms start in the fall and may continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody. Less often, seasonal affective disorder causes depression in the spring or early summer.
Treatment for seasonal affective disorder includes light therapy (phototherapy), psychotherapy and medications. Don't brush off that yearly feeling as simply a case of the "winter blues" or a seasonal funk that you have to tough out on your own. Take steps to keep your mood and motivation steady throughout the year.
I don't mean to make light of depression - my mother struggled with it for much of her life. But this morning a number of us decided that even jokes about how bad the weather is here, are depressing. Worst one I've heard was this morning; "John, I'm not sure I'm ready for winter to start again..." Not sure if it was intended as a joke, but it got a few chuckles from the other's who heard it.
There is treatment available. Bright light therapy is supposed to be effective. I'm all about finding solutions to problems. This morning I may have come up with a way we could introduce this much needed therapy, as part of a special class we could offer.
An Indoor Tanning Triathlon!
We could run it just like a regular indoor Tri, except participants would recover between each leg with a few minutes enjoying some rays in a tanning bed. Our club is always forming marketing partnerships with local business. Why not have the local tanning salon roll a bunch of beds in for an afternoon?
You'd come out of the pool, dry off and then spend 5 minutes in a turbo tan - we could even have special UV protective swim goggles made so you wouldn't need to change them. Then into the cycling class, which ends with another blast of vitamin D, before a short run on the treadmill.
I'm thinking this could be awesome.
Originally posted 2013-04-18 08:54:17.
John is a member on the AFS (Association of Fitness Studios) Advisory Council.
Holding certifications from; Schwinn, Heart Zones, Team ICG and Life Time Fitness, John's held regularly scheduled cycling classes between 1998 and 2015 when he moved to Florida.
When the weather permits, you'll find him riding and leading outdoor groups by himself or with his Tandem partner (wife) Amy.
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You just need a LONG tropical vacation with Amy…oh, that’s me! 🙂