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Photo Illustration by Dan Thrift - Bonanza News Service Living across the street, Erika Howard can escape to Hot Gossip at South Shore for a warm-up on dreary days.
Buried in snow, then fog, then rain. Another storm is on the way. Although the days are getting longer, spring is still far off.
January and February are the most common months for depression, according to the National Mental Health Association. The blues can be compounded by colds that haunt the winter season and lingering stress from the holidays.
Combating cabin fever is tough, and can become a matter of willpower.
Regardless of the season, it's important for people to find meaning in their lives and to search out challenging, invigorating activities to do when confronted with lingering doldrums, says South Shore psychologist Phil Middleton.
"One of the things that happens in the winter in Tahoe, is it's so cold, (that) it might be uncomfortable to be outside. People engage in activities that may not be challenging," Middleton said. "If you are passively laying around watching TV, you are not engaged."
January and February are the most common months for depression, according to the National Mental Health Association. The blues can be compounded by colds that haunt the winter season and lingering stress from the holidays.
Combating cabin fever is tough, and can become a matter of willpower.
Regardless of the season, it's important for people to find meaning in their lives and to search out challenging, invigorating activities to do when confronted with lingering doldrums, says South Shore psychologist Phil Middleton.
"One of the things that happens in the winter in Tahoe, is it's so cold, (that) it might be uncomfortable to be outside. People engage in activities that may not be challenging," Middleton said. "If you are passively laying around watching TV, you are not engaged."
Reading, shoveling, exercising, going to social events, movies, bookstores and coffee houses are ways to put boredom or troubling thoughts at bay, an informal survey of people in South Shore found.
In his nearly three decades as a psychologist, Middleton said he would also see a lot of people in January and February who were still coming down from holding their breath during the holidays. The frustrations or conflicts that were put aside start to get dealt with.
Winter is also a time when many suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder. According to the National Mental Health Association, winter's change in sunlight patterns interferes with biological clocks, causing depression.
"The most difficult months for SAD sufferers are January and February, and younger persons and women are at higher risk," according to the association's Web site, www.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets/27.cfm.
Darkness from shorter days causes our bodies to produce more of the hormone melatonin, which can cause depression. The mental health association recommends spending more time outside in sunlight or buying full-spectrum fluorescent lights to help the body reduce melatonin levels.
In his nearly three decades as a psychologist, Middleton said he would also see a lot of people in January and February who were still coming down from holding their breath during the holidays. The frustrations or conflicts that were put aside start to get dealt with.
Winter is also a time when many suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder. According to the National Mental Health Association, winter's change in sunlight patterns interferes with biological clocks, causing depression.
"The most difficult months for SAD sufferers are January and February, and younger persons and women are at higher risk," according to the association's Web site, www.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets/27.cfm.
Darkness from shorter days causes our bodies to produce more of the hormone melatonin, which can cause depression. The mental health association recommends spending more time outside in sunlight or buying full-spectrum fluorescent lights to help the body reduce melatonin levels.
Many enjoy winter in Tahoe because there is still a lot of sunshine despite the shorter days. Skiing is of course Tahoe's favorite winter pastime.
"I was not able to buy a pass, so this winter's been a bit of a drag for me," said Angelina Carter, an employee at a South Lake Tahoe coffee shop. She said she usually enjoys skiing, but too much has been happening in her life this winter.
"If you live here, you need to get up on the mountain so you get the most out of winter," Carter said.
Although many do hit the slopes, some still enjoy winter here without them.
Beau Blackstone, resident manager at Doc's Cottages in Stateline for 14 years, spends a lot of time indoors.
"I was not able to buy a pass, so this winter's been a bit of a drag for me," said Angelina Carter, an employee at a South Lake Tahoe coffee shop. She said she usually enjoys skiing, but too much has been happening in her life this winter.
"If you live here, you need to get up on the mountain so you get the most out of winter," Carter said.
Although many do hit the slopes, some still enjoy winter here without them.
Beau Blackstone, resident manager at Doc's Cottages in Stateline for 14 years, spends a lot of time indoors.
He said he works 11 hours a day and does not ski, but he loves the winter here. A key for him is doing a form of soft martial arts, or Go-Ju, which he describes as similar to Tai Chi.
"I find the physical exercise gets out the negative thinking. I try to make a daily choice to make life enjoyable," said Blackstone, 60. "If you want it bad enough, you can find a solution."
An optimist, his advice to others is to look at the glass as half full. And stay away from alcohol.
"Don't drink a lot, I think a lot of people ... with the snow, they gravitate toward increasing the alcohol, and alcohol is a depressant," said Blackstone.
It's important to not keep your troubles to yourself, Middleton said.
"I'm a believer in people reaching out to others for help, and it may be family and friends or it may be a therapist or support group, we all need help at some point from other people," Middleton said. "It doesn't make any sense to isolate oneself when you are feeling down and out. It's much better to reach out."
"I find the physical exercise gets out the negative thinking. I try to make a daily choice to make life enjoyable," said Blackstone, 60. "If you want it bad enough, you can find a solution."
An optimist, his advice to others is to look at the glass as half full. And stay away from alcohol.
"Don't drink a lot, I think a lot of people ... with the snow, they gravitate toward increasing the alcohol, and alcohol is a depressant," said Blackstone.
It's important to not keep your troubles to yourself, Middleton said.
"I'm a believer in people reaching out to others for help, and it may be family and friends or it may be a therapist or support group, we all need help at some point from other people," Middleton said. "It doesn't make any sense to isolate oneself when you are feeling down and out. It's much better to reach out."
