January
is when the lights go out. Holiday decorations have been stripped from houses
and trees and New Year’s confetti and frivolity have been swept away. Now is
what people with winter depression have been dreading, and so have their family
members. When even one person in the household starts to shut down with minimal
words, loss of humor and a heavy spirit, the contagion spreads. How can the
kids act silly when Daddy seems so mad? How can the family enjoy a festive meal
if Mom can barely make it out of bed? How can a couple have a date night out if
they’re worried about their brooding desperate teen at home?
Do
something! If you’re in such a situation, take action. If you’re the one who’s
depressed, go to a doctor and a counselor. Even if it takes every ounce of your
energy to make those phone calls, do it! If you’re a family member living with
a depressed person, step up to the plate. They may not be able to be proactive
in their own care, so you may need to take the lead. Tell them their getting
help is essential for the whole family. Someone needs to take action to start bringing
all of you out of this place of suffering.
If
you don’t know where to begin, consider calling someone who could help you
formulate a plan of healthy action. (Call the Des Moines Pastoral Counseling
Center at 515-274-4006 to find a counselor near you.)