The toughest time of the year....

[RonW]

well, at least for me.

Here I am; sitting at home... indoors... feeling awefull.
Why?
The seasonal change is upon us, giving me my annual "downtime". I suffer from springdepressions. My personal situation is making that even worse.
Outside the temperatures hover around freezing, it's windy and there are showers of (wet) snow and (freezing) rain. Many of my joints are stiff and sore, especially the ones in hands and legs.
The ever changing weather is wreaking havoc on the scartissue in my sinusses and facial cavities, making my head feel like a basketball, pressurised with water and about to burst everytime I bend over.

I know; my troubles seems insignificant and pale, when compared to some people's here and elesewhere, but still...

I've read all the interesting books on my shelves at least once, swinging an axe, working a saw or stomping through the woods and hauling a pack isn't much fun either.

Any of you guys familair with any of these circumstances and how do you cope with them???

Maybe I should make a few things clear, befor hand;
I am not looking for sympathy, which allthough nice, doesn't help me.
For the depressions and pains I have sought medical attention, but all the drs. seem to do, is fill me up with chemicals in order to make me feel "better".
I'm looking for practical/natural solutions that will help me make these circumstances a bit more bearable and/or less painfull, so I can enjoy this period a bit more, without being drugged up and it might help others, too!

 

[Ogri the trog]

Not much I can offer for the joint pain, but for keeping a clear head I have been prescribed a basic saline spray for my nose.

As a child I suffered massively with hayfever and despite it easing somewhat nowadays, I still get a very uncomfortable blocked nose every spring and whenever the children bring a new disease home from school. I can use the spray as often as I like and it seems to work very well at keeping any nasal blockage to a minimum - allowing me to breathe more easily and hence sleep better and cope with colds etc. much better than the menthol/decongestant medication that I used to get.

Not saying it would be a definite step forward for you, Ron, but it might be worth a try!

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[Robbi]

Drink heavily .....always works for me

 

[Suffolksteve]

A couple of suggestions would be along the lines of look into seasonal affective disorder which is a real thing that affects peoples mood. A former colleague of mine suffered from it and had a massive (special) light on his desk for a number of hours as it made his body naturally produce happy hormones that he wasn't making.

The main other suggestion would be to have projects that you can do to inside which are related to your passions, I have always noticed your love for traditional kit so maybe you could make personalised alterations or your own versions of it. I just finished a knife sheath which was engrossing and it's surprising how involved and positive the feeling of finishing it was. Sometimes it is really hard to actually get on and do things, but when you push through that and actually do something you always feel better for it.

I use a journal to keep tabs on things which need doing, finances etc which I find really helpful as it allows you to break down the mass of issues and worries that every day life brings into more manageable smaller tasks instead of 100's of problems that all build up and seem insurmountable.

As far as books go, is there a library system based where you are? If not have you looked for second hand books online, abebooks.co.uk is pretty good but I don't know if they post to your location but it would be a free or cheap way of getting more books and it allows you to be more flexible in what you read instead of paying a fortune for a new version of something you might not like.

This hard time will come to an end and you will feel better soon, this is only temporary though it never feels like it at the time. I find talking is really beneficial to, whether that is family, a professional or a friend.

 

[Toddy]

Ah

I get the choked up sinuses this time of year too; wake up with a massive face and head ache and feel unslept because of it.
What does help is a sauna, and failing that a really steamy bath or shower. It opens everything up, let's it drain, soothes the inflammation.
Meadowsweet tea is very good too, or across the counter ibuprofen anti inflammatories.

The other thing that really does help, and Northern Europeans are particularly susceptible to it's lack with our long overcast Winters and cloudy skies, is VitaminD.
It's the sunshine vitamin and we are seriously deficient in it. Our pale skins help us absorb it but we then cover them up with clothing all year long and that inhibits the take up of what little there is.
I'm not much of a one for supplements, diet ought to be sufficient for most, but this vitamin makes a tremendous difference.
For the cost of a few pounds every couple of months, it's well worth it

Hopefully the weather will improve for you soon, we've been blessed with a beautiful Spring here

atb,
Toddy

 

[Dreadhead]

whisky, fire, music, and some friends. a recipe for disaster and chaos which seems tae put things in their rightful place

 

[sandbender]

Goose fat and raw onion sandwiches.

The fat keeps you warm and throws the 'happy' switch in your head, the onions help your sinuses.

Works for me.

If your stuck at home put some music on or play with the kid(s).

That also works.

 

[RonW]

Thank you ever so much, lady and gents!!
I did what you doctors ordered me to, took a few painkillers, wrapped myself is my woolen clothes, grabbed my favorite stuff and made myself some coffee old fashioned style. The weather decided to play nice, too. It wasn't long befor my wife and kids joined me....
I enjoyed some sunshine, had good coffee, some fresh air, if I disregard the many moments I got "smoked" and after my family left me in piece after a while, I heard many birds singing. All in all a good afternoon!!
Cheerfull, old me.....

The depression in itself isn't as severe as it used to be in previous years, and I did get treatment and councelling at the time, but the unemployement, social isolation and financial hardship, because of our emigration last autumn, are taking their toll too. Many (artificial) drugs do have some serious negative side effects, because I have a sensitive system and I quickly feel my system being poisoned.
And it is not the sinuses that are clogged. I had surgery a few years ago to take care of that problem. They widened and openend up some of the passages between the cavities, because these were too narrow, clogged up real fast and thus giving me inflamation of the cavities 5-6 times each year. It is the scartissue from those surgeries that messes with me know and sometime I wonder which problem is worse!

Anyway.....
While sitting there, thinking, I asked myself the question what the outdoors means to me and I set myself the goal of capturing that in one picture. And I found out I couldn't! So I settled for the next best thing; what are the basics I seek.
This is what I came up with;

The fire; warmth, light, security and a way to prepare food
The coffeepot; the simplicity and basicness of outdoorlife
The coffee; a moral booster on low moments and an highly enjoyable, relaxing drink after a hard days work
The wooden gear; essential skills and crafts and use of natural resources without leaving a longlasting trace or having a destructive impact.
The knives; Steel, the only artificial material that somehow to me remains natural. It can be made from all natural materials without much longlasting polution and still is degradable over time without a trace (to my knowledge) and, combined with other natural materials, like wood and leather for handles and leather and even fishskin for sheaths, makes an essential tool, simple and effective.
The canteen and breadbag; Steel and canvas. Simple, effective, no nonsense items. Functional and in tone with the rest of the gear and enviroment. Reminders of the olden days, when life was simpler, more basic and less cluttered and poluted.

 

[British Red]

You need to come here Ron - my Apricot tree is in blossom today

 

[Sappy]

No experience of SAD but i'm bi polar so i get the depression bit.

The only thing that helps me is getting out lighting a fire and carving something though its never easy and doesnt always work. However just get out as youll feel better when there.

Just had another bad we spell myself and got sectioned again but finally dragged myself out today and feel better for it

Hope this helps bro

 

[mrcairney]

Try not to worry too much about Spring depressions. They bounce back.

 

[Smudge]

Suffered from depression not seasonal though, all I can say is thank heavens for my dog (at the time) getting me out and away from everything.

A good dogs the best company and helps cure a multitude of ailments in my opinion.

 

[British Red]

Try not to worry too much about Spring depressions. They bounce back.

Get your coat

 

[forestwalker]

Have you tried mindfullness based therapy? Works well for some people. Have projects with a attainable goal (e.g. make a bunch of small stuff for gifts/selling on markets)? Plan a trip later in spring, get kit sorted for it, etc?

 

[Shewie]

It sounds like you could do with a holiday Ron, what about a week in the sun somewhere quiet?

 

[Adze]

Re the sinus thing - Otrivine works, really works.

 

[Bucephalas]

Some sound advice given and I can't add much other than to say that sleep is key. Sleep depravation in itself causes depression and apathy.

I'm no stranger to depression myself ( not for a year or two now though), I found that my children gave me the strength to go on and sorting my sleep problem has taken care of the rest.

I wish you well.



---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=51.761316,-3.001347

 

[grey-array]

Good to hear that everything is straightened out a bit Ron, and be sure to always follow your passion and your needs, but always try to chase the things that you desire else you will become apathetic, making no-one happier.
And stick to your needs, I often wished I was borne in another time, or place, but the though know that sometimes I can just ravel myself into the simple things, as carving or just being out there lighting a fire the way it was supposed to with no obligations, even if it is only for a while.
From that I get my vitality

Yours sincerely Ruud
Dont lose your bearings my man ^^

 

[cbr6fs]

Can't help with the depression as i seem to be one of those annoying jerks that nothing gets them down.

For the pain though i find keeping busy helps a hell of a lot.
It doesn't really matter how you keep busy either, i do everything from working on radio controlled cars, heli's planes etc, to maintaining and tuning my full sized car, i have 2 aquariums, i go fishing, hiking, swimming, out with mates pretty much anything that distracts my mind from the pain.

If i have a busy day the only time i struggle with pain then is when it's time for some shut eye at night.
To be honest when the weather is changeable it's often difficult to sleep without some serious painkillers.

Luckily over here we tend to get 7 months of hot, hot, hot so i'm able to cope better in the summer and clear my system out, i still have problems with pain when i go back to the UK in summers though.


A good tip when your really banging your head against the wall is to buy some ear plugs, go to the bedroom, grab a good book and read.
If your like me you'll find that it's difficult to read at first as the pain makes your mind drift and you end up reading the same sentences again and again.
Keep at it though and you start to concentrate more after 15 mins and this in turn takes your mind off the pain.
The ear plugs are essential though especially with kids in house.

Explain to them your suffering and that you'll need 30 mins every now and again and they'll understand.
It's better for you to take 30mins out and be sorted for a few hours than plod on getting more and more aggravated.


To be honest i have a pair of ear plugs with me all the time, if i start to struggle with the pain then i pop em in.
Everyone around me knows the score so they know i'm not being rude and that i just need a few mins.

So ear plugs and keeping are what have helped me tremendously.

 

[wildranger]

Carving bowls and spoons, crafting baskets, making pots of coffee, I don't believe are going to rekindle a dimmed spirit. I don't think we can ever be truly passionate about these affairs. They are engaging and require patience and the final product gives one satisfaction, but they don't necessarily give us reason to bounce out of bed in the morning. I have found that more physically engaging pursuits are the most psychologically rewarding, such as parkour and other athletic endeavours, tree climbing and swinging from branch to branch, slinging rocks for distance, running fast along the edge of the waves, launching atlatl darts as far as one can. Only through intense exercise do we feel truly alive. What modern man needs more of is exercise, intense, strengthening, enriching meaningful exercise, not repetitive workouts on weights machines, not running on a treadmill. Having friends to do these things with makes them all the more enjoyable and worthwhile. But that body must be taxed, sedentary lifestyles in my opinion, are a large factor in causing depression.