MARK LUETKE
LOOKING SIDEWAYS
Now that we’re more than halfway through January, I need to ask, how is everyone feeling? If your response is “kind of down” or “a little blue”…you’re not alone.
Health care professionals dub January as the “Monday of months” because of the high incidence of people they see expressing loneliness and despair. A recent poll by the American Psychiatric Association reports that 52 percent of midwestern residents (more women than men) indicate their mood declines during winter months. The poll shows that wintertime causes some to sleep more, feel fatigue or depression, or lose interest in things we normally like.
“This time of year in northwest Ohio, we may feel a little less active or sleepier,” observes Bryce Roberts, a local licensed professional counselor. “There is less sunshine, it’s cold, and specifically in January, we are dealing with the end of the holidays—which makes it a drearier time.”
“We anticipate the holiday season in December, spend a lot of time with loved ones, family, and friends–then it’s over. January kind of shuts things off,” he says. “There are others who must get through the holidays without a loved one–or in some cases without anyone at all. January comes at a time that triggers that lack of connection.”
Roberts is quick to point out that January blues should not be confused with a diagnosable condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. “As it gets darker, people feel more lethargic or experience swings in mood and symptoms similar to clinical depression that require medical support,” he noted.
The general melancholy that people feel in January also has a particular impact on those who have suffered the loss of a loved one, points out Nancy Rank, a licensed professional counselor and on-staff grief counselor for the Walker Funeral Homes.
“The season following holidays adds another layer of emotion to what is already a challenging time,” she explains. “In addition to all of the things that the general public experiences in January, people who are grieving find it even more difficult to navigate this time—along with the loved one’s birthday and anniversary of the death. These times bring out memories that can add to their sadness.”
Rank says that the advice she gives to people who are grieving is the same as what she would give to all people who have the blues in January; beware of not getting isolated, get some form of exercise, eat healthy, and limit exposure to electronics.
“In addition, look for other forms of expression such as journaling, listening to music, doing photography,” she suggests. “It helps to have some sort of schedule. Pick out two funny movies to watch each week to expose yourself to laughter.”
“Make a list of people you’ve been thinking about and call them. The more we connect people, the less likely we are to focus on ourselves. Make your world a little bigger by bringing more people into it,” Rank says.
Roberts agrees, but adds that some people also benefit from getting assistance to get in touch with their loneliness. He sees an uptick in people who seek counseling at the beginning of the year, and his approach also often includes encouraging people to connect more with others.
“The low hanging fruit is to find connectivity with others,” says Roberts. “One bit of counsel that a friend of mine used to give is when you think you matter to no one, go out and matter to someone.”
Longtime Sylvania resident Mark Luetke has served on city council, the board of education, and numerous foundation and community boards.