Alaskan winter: depression at its finest
Chowder
(other than cannabis)
Dave Thompson
"Chowder" <cl...@chowder.com> wrote in message
news:su7jec4...@corp.supernews.com...
> What would YOU suggest to stay happy during the winter here in Alaska?
> (other than cannabis)
>
>
Skiing, snow boarding, camping, community service, driving seniors where
they need to go. If you live in Los Anchorage try the opera, symphony,
theatre.
In other words, get out, get involved, get happy.
Dave
AKsourdoh2
skiiing and many more. And finally SEX SEX SEX. sorry couldn't resist, has kept
me from the blues for years ! ;-)
bookbu...@my-deja.com
"Chowder" <cl...@chowder.com> wrote:
> What would YOU suggest to stay happy during the winter here in Alaska?
> (other than cannabis)
>
"when birds sit brooding in the snow
And Marian's nose looks red and raw,
When roasted crabs hiss in the bowl,
Then nightly sings the staring owl,
Tu-whit, Tu-who, a merry note,
While greasy Joan doth keel the pot."
bookburn
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
The Hateful Donut
keep spirits up.
In article <8s0s38$fnp$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
--
______________________________
The Hateful Donut
http://www.bigfoot.com/~goshrx
AllAdvantage JTE-173
______________________________
r_o...@remove_this.worldnet.att.net
folks. :)
Robert
r_o...@remove_this.worldnet.att.net
The winters are getting nice and toasty down here in Wisconsin lately
Chowder. Maybe they would be more to your liking.
:-)
Robert
P.S. I would have said much to my disappointment ( i.e. the warmer
winters in Wisconsin ), but then I'd risk sounding like a whiner
myself ... in an opposite sense. Haha.
snow...@xyz.net (Jan Flora) wrote:
>We all wear heavy woolen hats all winter, so we can't hear the wimps
>whine.
>
> Jan
>
>PS: Hey Chowder: would you like some brie with that whine?
>
>In article <6ci8us0q66vlqvehn...@4ax.com>,
Chowder
seems a little depressed, if not severely depressed.
It's obvious with the natives (no prejudice intended) that they suffer from
depression a lot due to the high alcoholism rate.
Anyhoo, S.A.D. (seasonal affective disorder) is a pretty common thing in
Alaska, so it's not to be taken lightly. I was just asking for suggestions
on how to combat it..
<r_obert@REMOVE_THIS.worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:6ci8us0q66vlqvehn...@4ax.com...
bookburn
sits. bookburn
"Jan Flora" <snow...@xyz.net> wrote in message
news:snowshoe-111...@196-pm4.hom.alaska.net...
> In article <su7jec4...@corp.supernews.com>, "Chowder"
> <cl...@chowder.com> wrote:
>
> >What would YOU suggest to stay happy during the winter here in
Alaska?
> >(other than cannabis)
>
> Ski, snowmachine, ice skate, snowshoe, take photos of the scenery.
> Go ice fishing. Shovel snow for the old farts in your neighborhood
> who can't do it anymore.
>
> If you know anyone with a sled dog team, offer to do chores in the
> dog yard in return for learning how to drive a dog sled. (It's not
as
> easy as it looks on TV.)
>
> Get outdoors for awhile *every day* -- it makes a big difference in
> fighting depression, even when it's really yucky out.
>
> Cook fancy meals and invite all of your friends. Invite the
neighbors
> and play cribbage. Play on a dart team. Take up a new hobby and get
> good at it (tying flies is a cool one). Read books. Write books.
>
> Make quilts. If you're a guy, design and make your own outdoor gear.
> (My SO bought some leather and made his own saddlebags, chaps and
> rifle scabbard, using a sewing awl. He also repairs all of his tack
during
> the wintertime.) Most sewing machines will sew heavy material, if
> you use the correct needle. (You can buy cordura and other heavy
> outdoor fabrics from "The Rain Shed" [they're online] and probably
> buy patterns from them. If not, I've got links for outdoor
patterns --
> just ask.)
>
> Build some bird feeders, fill them with black sunflower seed, then
watch
> all the birds that show up and figure out what they are. (The
library
> has bird books and books on neat feeders you can build.)
>
> Make a bunch of something to sell at your local Christmas craft
shows.
>
> Get into ham radio and talk to people all over the world. (Learning
> morse code might take you all winter!)
>
> Take a fun class at the local college or community schools.
>
> Design next year's garden, send for catalogs and order your seeds.
>
> Volunteer. If you're in FBX, volunteer at the Yukon Quest office --
> they throw a bunch of benefits to raise money for the race. They're
> a blast! Then you can work the race start/finish.
>
> If you're in ANC, volunteer for the Iditarod. Or at your local food
pantry/
> soup kitchen/homeless shelter. Or for Meals on Wheels. Or to read to
> kids. Or to teach adults how to read (local Literacy Council).
>
> Our animal shelter in Homer uses volunteers to walk dogs (!) and to
take
> home a dog or cat, when they need medicine every day or can't be
> adopted out yet for some reason. They rely heavily on volunteers
down
> there, to keep the shelter going on a shoestring budget.
>
> If you're out in one of the smaller towns, take EMT training and
join your
> local volunteer fire department. (Talk about something that will
make
> you feel useful!!)
>
> There's LOADS of really fun stuff to do up here during the winter --
just
> figure out what you're interested in and go for it :)
>
> Jan
f...@asdf.com
atheletic club, bowling, and if you can't be physically active then a
hobby you have a real interest in. Staying busy is important and
enjoying your busy time is key....I doubt that pot or any other drug
actually contributes to happiness in any meaninful way.
Chowder
> actually contributes to happiness in any meaninful way.
Actually it varies among everyone. I find moderate cannabis use to be a
life-saver when I am suffering from SEVERE bouts of depression (I suffer
from clinical depression, not just "the blues"). Within 5 minutes of
smoking a bowl of potent buds from the bong, I feel relieved, happy, and
have a general sense of well-being.
This is a 180° turn from severe depression, and I greatly welcome it in
_moderate_ use. The key, as in eating fast food or chocolate, is
moderation. This is light years ahead of any prescription antidepressant
that is available legally. It's completely obvious why the pharma industry
lobbies against its legalization, because everyone would just smoke pot
instead of take anti-depressants.
What will be great is the day that pot is legalized completely (could happen
this November at the state level), because then anyone will be able to grow
it and add it to food like oregano or any other herb.
Smoking anything is generally bad for the lungs (duh). But eating cannabis,
as with chewing coca leaves (where cocaine comes from) like South Americans
used to often do, is harmless and can be very beneficial to your health.
Robert Bolton
Chowder <cl...@chowder.com> wrote in message
news:su9jp39...@corp.supernews.com...
> Heh, just being honest. Every person I've met in
Alaska during the winter
> seems a little depressed, if not severely depressed.
>
> It's obvious with the natives (no prejudice intended)
that they suffer from
> depression a lot due to the high alcoholism rate.
>
> Anyhoo, S.A.D. (seasonal affective disorder) is a
pretty common thing in
> Alaska, so it's not to be taken lightly. I was just
asking for suggestions
> on how to combat it..
200 footcandles of light minimum for at least 15
minutes a day I've been told. As Jan said, go outside
everyday (while it's light out).
Robert
Kev
"Chowder" <cl...@chowder.com> wrote in message
news:su9jp39...@corp.supernews.com...
> Heh, just being honest. Every person I've met in Alaska during the winter
> seems a little depressed, if not severely depressed.
You have met one now, I have never suffered from winter depression. In fact
I prefer the winters over the summers. Can't stand all that blasted light.
r_o...@remove_this.worldnet.att.net
r_o...@remove_this.worldnet.att.net
>Wow, what a great list. Sometimes I sits and thinks; sometimes I just
>sits. bookburn
>
Hehe.
r_o...@remove_this.worldnet.att.net
>> enjoying your busy time is key....I doubt that pot or any other drug
>> actually contributes to happiness in any meaninful way.
>
>Actually it varies among everyone. I find moderate cannabis use to be a
>life-saver when I am suffering from SEVERE bouts of depression (I suffer
>from clinical depression, not just "the blues"). Within 5 minutes of
There are effective treatments for that now. I'd encourage you to
look into them.
Robert
Sir Mildred Pierce
It sounds to me like he has found an effective treatment. Or
is "effective treatment" a label that can only be applied to a drug by
the pharmacutical industry?
I would assume that he has looked into him, otherwise he wouldn't be
able to make the claim: "This is light years ahead of any prescription
antidepressant that is available legally."
I congratulate him for not falling for the evil propoganda in this
nation of ours. I'm glad to hear that someone out there has recognized
one of the great benefits of cannabis.
There are excellent alternatives to the pharmacutical industry out
there. I'd encourage you to look into them. ;)
--
-- Sir Mildred Pierce
-- s...@bananadine.com
-- www.popamericana.com
-- www.bananadine.com
-- www.mp3.com/76
-- icq 30816451
r_o...@remove_this.worldnet.att.net
Kiss my butt pal. I made the suggestion because at one point in my
life, I was in his place. You obviously know very little about the
workings of the brain, and the effects of clinical depression on it.
Robert
K. Kae
> look into them.
>
I'm very curious who and what can help with manic-depressive disorder within
south-central Alaska for someone who's managed to survive well to 74 years
old, with his wife of 47 years help. It just seems that he can flip into
mania which is quite drastic and destructive, and depression that is scary,
and I hope there is treatment for it.
Thanks for your help.
julie hart
have a 6 hour layover in Anchorage - is there anything that's a must see
while there that can be seen in that time frame? Also is an expensive
side trip to Barrow worth doing?
Thanks for any info - I'm really looking forward to the trip and seeing some
of your state.
Julie
Dave Thompson
"julie hart" <JUL...@worldshare.net> wrote in message
news:8t7ktk$mck1r$1...@ID-46863.news.dfncis.de...
Barrow is ALWAYS worth visiting. The people and the culture will make your
visit memorable. Cost is relative. Normal travel for Alaskans is expensive
from Anchorage to Barrow. I'm sure a tour company adds a lot to that.
Having lived in Anchorage for entirely too many years, it's tough for me to
get beyond the Los Anchorage view and recommend things. However, here goes.
While you will be there in winter, some things will be difficult but not
impossible.
Drive to the top of Arctic Valley for a great view of the entire Anchorage
Bowl.
If you are into skiing, Alyeska Ski Resort is one hour south of town and has
world class slopes.
In conjunction with the trip to Alyeska, notice one of the highest tides in
the world in Turnagain Arm.
If open, visit the Native Cultural Center on Tudor Road.
Visit the Anchorage Museum of History and Fine Art. Much history and lots
of Northern art.
r_o...@remove_this.worldnet.att.net
But does anyone know of a mental health organization in south-central
Alaska that this individual can call for direction to the nearest
treatment? I know where I live ( Wisconsin ) that there are local
agencies, often goverment affiliated, that will help a person find the
best resource for mental health treatments. I assume Alaska has a
similiar organization(s)?
Robert
Robert Bolton
Hi Kae,
I live in Anchorage, and here's about all I think I
know.
About 10 years ago, the wife of a friend of ours had a
job with either state or the city as a mental health
coordinator of some sort. They had a program where
volunteers would agree to visit a mentally ill person
who had no social contacts for at least one hour a week
for a year. My wife visited a lady who had been
hospitalized for schizophrenia, and was out and
maintaining with medicine. We became friends and
visited with her for 4 or 5 years until she moved out
of state. This lady wasn't manic depressive, but was
paranoid to the extent that she thought she was being
followed. She was a little eccentric, but seemed to get
much better over time. Maybe she was just shy at
first. She was doing pretty good, and improved over a
couple years.
So, they do have medicines that can really help with
many disorders. I don't know much about schizophrenia,
but I think manic depressive is a form of it. I'll dig
through my records and see if I can find the name of
the program. They gave us a pamphlet on the illness so
you wouldn't be afraid of the person you were visiting.
It may be that they would have good sources for help.
With typical depression, the standard mode seems to be
that they first take tests to rule out other possible
causes of the behavior. If there doesn't seem to be
another problem like a malfunctioning thyroid or
something, they then make educated guesses on what
medicines will work for you. This part is really
frustrating because it seems like they don't know for
sure which medicines will work, and don't know if you
need a combination of meds. You end up taking
something for three weeks or so to see if it helps.
You might try two or three different meds before they
find which ones help. In general, a lot of them are
synapse blockers, and reduce the concentration of
certain chemicals used in the synapse area. Serotonin
is one chemical they inhibit, and melatonin (please
excuse me if I have the names a little wrong) is
another. There are several different meds that target
different chemicals in the brain. They are trying to
reduce the brain activity that is causing the abnormal
behavior. I've got a feeling that LSD was meant to be
one of these inhibitors, but that's another thread.
I would guess that treatment for manic depression would
be similar.
Don't take any of the above as gospel, but I'm telling
you what I think I know. I'm not even well read about
this. The worst that will happen is that the meds
don't work. The next worst is that the meds that work
may also make him pretty dull. Maybe he's got another
problem. Ideally, you just want to reduce the peaks,
but you can end up pretty tired with many of these
meds. I worked with a guy who had a problem, and it
seemed like either the meds didn't work, or he wasn't
taking them all the time, as his extreme paranoia
eventually got him fired.
I'll see what I can find, and I'll e-mail you to let
you know. In the mean time, you might try web
searches. I was looking up anti-depressants a while
ago and learned about different meds and what they do.
I hope it works out for you,
Robert (but not the Robert below)
"K. Kae" <alas...@tampabay.rr.com> wrote in message
news:AhqJ5.158$646.1...@typhoon.tampabay.rr.com...
Dag Korsnes
> What would YOU suggest to stay happy during the winter here in Alaska?
> (other than cannabis)
>
2-3 weeks in a warmer climate?
Dag Korsnes
countries too!
In addition internet makes it easier to live far north during the darknes of
mid winter.
"Jan Flora" <snow...@xyz.net> wrote in message
news:snowshoe-111...@196-pm4.hom.alaska.net...
>