Today the snow continued to fall here in Calgary, Alberta. The nice thing about it is that it isn’t too cold, just a little brisk. 🙂 It is always a long winter; chinooks are a nice break usually and the year-long sunshine is definitely a huge bonus.
However, the cold and the long winter does take it’s toll. What do you do to counter the cabin fever? How do you handle the extra aches and pains that accompany -30 – -40 degrees Celsius? Who do you turn to when even healthy (non-CFS) family and friends are desperate for a reprieve? Where do you go to escape the reminders of winter? Why do we live in a place that boasts a whopping 2 month summer if we’re lucky?
Countering Cabin Fever
- Watch a favorite movie
- Order in from your favorite restaurant, play a summer themed soundtrack in the background and dance around your living room
Countering Extra Aches and Pains
- Get a massage (from someone who knows Fibra Myalgia)
- Give yourself extra time when doing things &/or getting ready to go somewhere. Most people seem to move slower with the cold; even more so with CFS/FM!
- Have a warm bath. Don’t make it too hot or it will drain your energy even more. Add epsom salts or a soothing bubble bath.
Who To Turn To
- Understanding family members
- Close friends
- Therapist, clergy or other counselor
Remember, almost everyone has trouble at some point with the winter blues. Asking for help or a hand to hold shows strength, not weakness.
Where To Escape
- In an ideal world (wait, we wouldn’t need to be concerned with the winter blues in an ideal world, right?), you can run away from the winter even for a few days in a beautiful, warm tropical paradise with the cooling ocean breeze and the salt water dancing across your toes…
- Cozy up with your partner and a warm blanket in front of a fireplace.
- Read a romantic book, re-read a treasured novel you’ve forgotten about or curl up with the latest celebrity gossip magazine.
- Call up an old friend and spend an hour just chatting and sipping a warm mug of tea.
Escape can be had, even for just a few minutes by focusing on some wonderful memory or dream
Why DO We Live Here??
For me, my friends here are the best I’ve ever had. They are the family I chose. Then there is the sun factor. The best thing for me in Calgary is the SUN!!!! I’ve lived in a lot of places, bar none, Calgary has the most sunshine all year long than any of them. It may require long underwear, a sweater, heavy coat, scarf, hat and 1-2 pairs of gloves or mittens just to step outside but there is high possiblity I’ll need sunglasses too. The sunshine is what makes me look up at the clear blue sky and forget for half a second the seemingly endless winter. Then my cheeks start to hurt from exposure and I tuck my face back into my scarf!!!
We’re almost through the majority of the winter here. It should be getting spring-like conditions soon. Then we’ll have even more sunshine! Hang tough and look forward to warmer conditions! Soon! 😀
Life with CFS 