Summer-lover wants to keep spirits up
Dear Harriette: I have been having a great time this summer hanging out with friends, and I’m sad that it is coming to an end. My favorite time of the year is summer, and I start to dread the cold weather the moment this season ends. It’s weird. My attitude changes almost instantly, and I get moody. I want to figure out how to keep my spirits up as the seasons change. Do you have any recommendations? — Getting the Blues
Dear Getting the Blues:
Seasonal changes can affect people dramatically. Know that you are not alone if it is happening to you.
Because you relish the summer so much, you are holding on dearly to those experiences rather than walking into the next season of your life. I recommend that you give thanks for what you have experienced up to this point, and then tell yourself that you are ready to experience what is coming next, whatever that is. Schedule time with loved ones to meet and engage in fun activities that will keep you active. Go on adventures and explore your environment and the wonders of this season.
If you find, even with all of the effort you can muster to stay in the moment, that you still can’t climb out of negative feelings, check in with a therapist. Seasonal affective disorder is a real condition that impacts many people. You may need psychological or medical support as you enter this season. Just remember that your attitude about being in the moment and relishing the good in it is essential for your happiness.
Dear Harriette: I am beginning to be forgetful. I never was good at remembering people’s names, but now I seem to be forgetting chunks of time. Sometimes I will be mid-sentence and forget what I was about to say. I know this can happen to people, but I’m worried that I might be getting Alzheimer’s or dementia or something. I am not yet of the age when this typically happens to people, but this is a concern to me. I don’t want to seem like a hypochondriac.
When I mentioned my fear to my spouse, he instantly told me I was overreacting. That wasn’t helpful. Since I’m still in my 50s, should I just let it go or take some vitamins, as a friend suggested? — Memory Loss
Dear Memory Loss: You are not overreacting. Go to the doctor and get a full medical checkup. Describe your symptoms in detail with as many examples as you can. Start taking notes so that you will have concrete information.
You may be referred to a neurologist who specializes in treating the brain and the nervous system. With professional guidance, you should be able to determine what’s happening in your body and receive guidance for what to do next. There may be vitamins and supplements recommended to you as well as other medications, diet and exercise. Don’t try to deal with this alone.