Der natürliche Tagesrhythmus verschiebt sich, man hat ganz anderen Appetit und veränderte Essgewohnheiten, ist ständig müde und kann abends doch nicht in den Schlaf finden, man ist träge, lust- und motivationslos. Es fühlt sich an, als müsste ein Auto ständig geschoben werden, anstatt es zu fahren. Was uns im vergangenen Frühjahr völlig unvorbereitet und nichts ahnend traf, hat einen Namen mit klar beschriebenen Symptomen und geht auch jetzt nicht spurlos an uns vorüber: Winterdepression. Obwohl die Tage wieder deutlich länger werden ist dies eine typische Jahreszeit dafür, und das ewig trübe, schneelos-nasse und dunkelgraue Wetter tut sein Übriges. Dieses Jahr hat unsere Familie es lange nicht so ausgeprägt wie 2007, aber Karen, Ole und ich selbst sind mal mehr, mal weniger betroffen. Weder der Glaube an Jesus noch ein Job als Gemeindegründer macht immun dagegen. Es hat aber geholfen, viel darüber gelesen zu haben um Bescheid zu wissen und vorbereitet zu sein. So haben wir z.B. versucht, sich täglich längere Zeit an der frischen Luft zu bewegen, auch wenn es schüttet und stürmt. Oder jeden Sonnenstrahl mitzunehmen, der sich bietet (aber das waren nur 3 oder 4 bisher…). Und für die nächste Saison steht eine Investition an: Spezielle Lichtwecker, welche die Dämmerung simulieren und die gemäß skandinavischer Studien und vielen Erfahrungsberichten eine spürbare Verbesserung bewirken sollen. Wir werden sehen.
Your daily biorhythm shifts abnormally, your appetite and eating habits change, one feels always tired and yet it’s hard to find sleep, you’re lethargically, without motivation, not feeling like doing anything. It feels like you have to push the car all the time rather than driving it. What I am describing here hit us last year unprepared and unsuspecting. It has a name and clearly defined symptoms: Winter depression. Now it’s a typical season for that although each day is getting longer and longer again – at least in terms of theoretical sunset and sunrise times. But the permanent rain and snowless, colourless country, and the ever grey conditions keep each minute gloomy. This year the winter depression is not as heavy as it has been for us last year, yet Karen, Ole and I are again affected by it. Sometimes more, sometimes less. Neither faith in Christ nor jobbing as a church planter protects you from that. But just knowing about it e.g. by reading some studies which have been done in Scandinavian countries helped a lot to be prepared. This year for instance we tried to “train” us by having a daily time outside, no matter what the weather’s like. Or catching every sunbeam you can get (unfortunately there had been only 3 or 4 so far…). And for the next season we plan an investment: Special light alarm clocks which simulate the dawn. According to several studies and personal reports they cause a noticeable improvement. We will try and then we’ll see.
* * *
Your daily biorhythm shifts abnormally, your appetite and eating habits change, one feels always tired and yet it’s hard to find sleep, you’re lethargically, without motivation, not feeling like doing anything. It feels like you have to push the car all the time rather than driving it. What I am describing here hit us last year unprepared and unsuspecting. It has a name and clearly defined symptoms: Winter depression. Now it’s a typical season for that although each day is getting longer and longer again – at least in terms of theoretical sunset and sunrise times. But the permanent rain and snowless, colourless country, and the ever grey conditions keep each minute gloomy. This year the winter depression is not as heavy as it has been for us last year, yet Karen, Ole and I are again affected by it. Sometimes more, sometimes less. Neither faith in Christ nor jobbing as a church planter protects you from that. But just knowing about it e.g. by reading some studies which have been done in Scandinavian countries helped a lot to be prepared. This year for instance we tried to “train” us by having a daily time outside, no matter what the weather’s like. Or catching every sunbeam you can get (unfortunately there had been only 3 or 4 so far…). And for the next season we plan an investment: Special light alarm clocks which simulate the dawn. According to several studies and personal reports they cause a noticeable improvement. We will try and then we’ll see.
Kommentare