It is November. There is more to knowing this than looking at the calendar, seeing the changes in scenery, and feeling the changes in the atmosphere. My brain knows it on a deep physiological level. My doctor tells me it?s the pineal gland. Shaped like a tiny pine cone, it lies near the center of the brain. The pineal gland produces, among other things, melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate sleep patterns. My doctor says the pineal gland is what instructs bears to hibernate during winter.
As a kid I enjoyed those weeks between summer and fall. That?s when the package would arrive from Sears & Roebuck. There were long pants and long-sleeved flannel shirts and T-shirts and socks my mother and I had selected from the catalog a few weeks prior. I liked putting on these new cozy clothes in preparation of the transitional change in weather.
Now, the change in weather means a change in mood. This year it happened quickly, with the transition from daylight savings time to daylight wasting time.
As the days grow shorter, the mind tends tends to sluggishness. Several years ago I read about seasonal affective disorder. I then understood why I was always so tired this time of year. Shorter days means less sunlight coming through the retinas to stimulate the brain. The brain says it?s time for sleeping. Being tired and mentally sluggish most of the day has an effect on mood. It?s difficult to keep positive under these circumstances. There is work to be done, places to go, people to see. Tomorrow. Maybe. Right now I cannot resist the oppressive weight behind my eyes. I just want to close them. ?Why bother?? becomes a fitting mantra.
I tried light therapy. I installed a bank of full-spectrum lights in my work area. That didn?t do much for me. Antidepressants – serotonin reuptake inhibitors – didn?t do much either. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter and also thought to play a role in moods. I gave up on both long ago. A new strategy I?ve adopted is meditation. Specifically, during meditation I concentrate on focusing light on the pineal gland. Wake up. It?s a bright world out there.
If that doesn?t work, it?s reassuring to know that on December 22, the days will begin to get longer. Just the thought of it is uplifting.
One Comment
Hello,
My name is Mark and I’m doing a project on Buddhist blogs for my Eastern Religions and Philosophies course at Drury University. I’d really like to send you a quick questionnaire to fill out about your beliefs and blog. If you could help me out, I’d really appreciate it. Feel free to email me back at the address given if you’re interested. If not, life is good! Thanks for your time!
By the way, stumbling across this blog was very enjoyable. I’ve to make it a point to revisit!
-Mark