Winter rain can prompt depression

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We’re heading into the dark season, and every Pacific Northwest resident who has been through one knows what to expect.

Ken Kesey describes it well in his novel, “Sometimes a Great Notion.”

“The same old rain, and, if not welcomed, at least accepted – an old gray aunt who came to visit every winter and stayed till spring,” he wrote. “You learn to live with her. You learn to reconcile yourself to the little inconveniences and not get annoyed. You remember she is seldom angry or vicious and nothing to get in a stew about, and if she is a bore and stays overlong you can train yourself not to notice her, or at least not to stew about her.”

The Oregon novelist might have played down the effects, though. Winter rain and the dark days that accompany it trigger depression in many people, according to mental health professionals.

Dave Peterson, a licensed mental health counselor for 17 years in Battle Ground, said it’s common for people who suffer some degree of depression year-round to see it spike during winter months.

“Everybody who lives in this part of the country needs a game plan,” he said.

That includes simple things such as getting enough sleep – but not too much. Peterson said people should avoid sleeping 13 hours a day, for example, although that might be a temptation.

“If you can afford it, plan a vacation away from this area in the winter or go east of the mountains,” he suggested.

“Exercise is important, and on those days when it’s only a misty rain it’s good to get outside for a walk,” he said.

Other natural antidotes include activities such as cross-country skiing or steelhead fishing, which can make people feel better, Peterson said.

“We have to adjust what we’re doing according to the season,” he said. “It’s worse when we just sit on the couch.”

Light box therapy can be effective in reducing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression brought on by the lack of sunny days during late fall and winter. Light boxes mimic the sunshine people get naturally during summer months.



The boxes, which are available from stores and Internet sources, come in different shapes and sizes and have varied features, according to information from the Mayo Clinic. Different models produce different types and intensities of light.

Although light boxes are designed to be safe and effective, they aren’t approved or regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, so it’s important to understand the options and consult a qualified healthcare representative in choosing one, the Mayo Clinic advises.

“Some insurance plans pay for them,” Peterson said. “Not everyone responds to them, but for those who truly have SAD it can be very effective.”

Prices range from a couple hundred dollars up to thousands, he said.

Simply sitting in front of a lamp or other common light source each morning for 20 to 30 minutes is a less expensive alternative that works for some people.

“You have to make it a habit of your day or it won’t help,” Peterson said.

He also said staying active with hobbies, church activities or volunteering also can lessen the seasonal effects. He warned that the holidays are a particularly difficult time for some people.

“A lot of people seem unhappy about the holidays,’’ Peterson said. “It’s generally related to some kind of childhood trauma or bad experience that time of year.”

Peterson warned against using drugs or alcohol to “bury the memories of the upheaval.”

No matter what Clark County residents do to ward off winter blues, Peterson said it often comes down to accepting the Northwest’s climate.

“You have to embrace the rain to some extent,” he said.