Summer is coming to a close here in the Northern Hemisphere, and I'd be lying if I said that didn't leave me a bit melancholy. I consider myself lucky to have had the chance to spend the entire summer back in the saddle, stringing together weeks of consecutive rides after not having ridden more than two days-in-a-row for nearly four years! But as road cyclists, we live for sunny days when we can roll out in short sleeves and the dark Oakley lenses. And soon enough it will be arm warmers and persimmon, before thermal jackets and long-finger gloves. Oh how I dread the winter.
BUT - we're not there yet! Hopefully we'll enjoy the luxury of an Indian Summer, and then it will be off to sunny SoCal (or somewhere warm) for xmas and the new year. Wouldn't that be nice?
Anyone have any experience with Ergon Bike Ergonomics' TP1 Shimano SPD cleat-alignment tool? If so, please leave a comment and let me know what you think.
Mike Creed is feeling unloved. Follow him on Twitter and give the guy a virtual hug, why dontcha?
I love military history, primarily WW2. My father and both of his brothers served in the US Army, and one of my favorite memories from childhood is sneaking up to our attic and discovering my dad's duffel bag. Perhaps I'd never have found cycling if cancer didn't kill him on its third-try, because I'd have chosen national service instead. Probably not, though! One amazing rider who did throw-away a promising career as a top-professional was American Jeff Evanshine, the 1991 Junior World Champion. Had he won worlds in the "Modern Era" (the time in cycling since the widespread-acceptance of the Internet), he might be in a position similar to that of Damiano Cunego, another former Junior WC who just signed a massive contract renewal with Lampre-ISD. Instead, Evanshine joined the Army, only to find that it was not at all what he'd expected. I remember standing with Mike Fraysse in his Victorian mansion in upstate-NY in 1996 when some correspondence or message arrived either directly from Evanshine or on his behalf, asking Fraysse (who was president of USCF and had a seat on the Board of Directors) to try to help the poor kid get out of the service.
Anyway, back to military history: check out this video and tell me if at minute 3:23 you don't think the pilot who's still flying is attempting to murder the downed aviator who's taken to his parachute?! Remember, gun camera only records when the trigger is depressed...
U-Boat, anyone?
Remember the Strock Case?
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Monday, March 08, 2010
Our Home-Cure Remedy for SAD: Seasonal Affective Disorder
Throughout the centuries, poets have described a sense of sadness, loss and lethargy which can accompany the shortening days of fall and winter. Many cultures and religions have winter festivals associated with candles or fire. Many of us notice tiredness, a bit of weight gain, difficulty getting out of bed and bouts of "the blues" as fall turns to winter.
However some people experience an exaggerated form of these symptoms. Their depression and lack of energy become debilitating. Work and relationships suffer. This condition, known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) may affect over 10 million Americans while the milder, "Winter Blues" may affect a larger number of individuals.
The typical symptoms of SAD include depression, lack of energy, increased need for sleep, a craving for sweets and weight gain. Symptoms begin in the fall, peak in the winter and usually resolve in the spring. Some individuals experience great bursts of energy and creativity in the spring or early summer. Susceptible individuals who work in buildings without windows may experience SAD-type symptoms at any time of year. Some people with SAD have mild or occasionally severe periods of mania during the spring or summer. If the symptoms are mild, no treatment may be necessary. If they are problematic, then a mood stabilizer such as Lithium might be considered. [Ed: WTF?!? Hmmm. Sourced!] There is a smaller group of individuals who suffer from summer depression.
SAD is recognized in the DSM-IV (The American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic manual) as a subtype of major depressive episode. The classic major depression involves decreased appetite, decreased sleep, and often, poor appetite and weight loss. It has long been recognized that some depressed individuals had a "atypical depression" with increased sleep and appetite along with decreased energy. Some, but not all of these atypical individuals also had a seasonal pattern. Some people with winter depression also have mild or occasionally severe manic mood swings in the spring and summer. If these episodes are severe, the individual might be diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. (formerly called manic depressive illness)...
Treatment Options
Outdoor light, even when the sky is overcast, provides as much or more light than a light box [Ed: Not to mention the fact that the only expense associated with gathering outdoor light is your time, whereas a quick Google search for light boxes turns-up a model priced at nearly $500, the Sun Square Plus.] There has been a study showing improvement in SAD symptoms when individuals took a one-hour daily walk outside. Outside light is often brighter than the light boxes. Spending an hour outside each day can often produce beneficial results in some individuals. However, one cannot get early morning outside light in the winter. Not everyone's job will allow for an hour-long outside walk. Only highly motivated people will continue their daily walk when it the rains or snows.
SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors--Paxil, Zoloft etc.) have been shown to be effective in SAD and in some cases of PMS. Some people prefer to take a pill because it is less time consuming than sitting in front of a light box. Some individuals need a combination of light therapy, medication, and psychotherapy. For those with winter depression and spring-summer mania, a mood stabilizer such as Lithium may be useful.
Daily exercise has been shown to be helpful, particularly when done outdoors. For those who tend to crave sweets during the winter, eating a balanced diet may help one's mood. Conversely, as the mood improves, craving for sweets may abate.
Psychotherapy can help the depressed individual look at her depressive assumptions and negative expectations. It can also help one identify relationship difficulties so that interpersonal mistakes might not be repeated. Research has shown that cognitive psychotherapy does help relieve depression faster and more completely than no therapy.
Some individuals continue to have a certain amount of energy fluctuation with the seasons. If one is aware of this, one can plan for it and work the expected fluctuations into one's life plans. [Ed: Or you can simply reject the idea of darkness's ability to kick our butts and format the dual monitors set-up in your spot in the cube farm with a desktop similar to what follows. Sun, Soccer and Señoritas - not so S.A.D. anymore, are you? Enjoy!]
However some people experience an exaggerated form of these symptoms. Their depression and lack of energy become debilitating. Work and relationships suffer. This condition, known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) may affect over 10 million Americans while the milder, "Winter Blues" may affect a larger number of individuals.
The typical symptoms of SAD include depression, lack of energy, increased need for sleep, a craving for sweets and weight gain. Symptoms begin in the fall, peak in the winter and usually resolve in the spring. Some individuals experience great bursts of energy and creativity in the spring or early summer. Susceptible individuals who work in buildings without windows may experience SAD-type symptoms at any time of year. Some people with SAD have mild or occasionally severe periods of mania during the spring or summer. If the symptoms are mild, no treatment may be necessary. If they are problematic, then a mood stabilizer such as Lithium might be considered. [Ed: WTF?!? Hmmm. Sourced!] There is a smaller group of individuals who suffer from summer depression.
SAD is recognized in the DSM-IV (The American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic manual) as a subtype of major depressive episode. The classic major depression involves decreased appetite, decreased sleep, and often, poor appetite and weight loss. It has long been recognized that some depressed individuals had a "atypical depression" with increased sleep and appetite along with decreased energy. Some, but not all of these atypical individuals also had a seasonal pattern. Some people with winter depression also have mild or occasionally severe manic mood swings in the spring and summer. If these episodes are severe, the individual might be diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. (formerly called manic depressive illness)...
Treatment Options
Outdoor light, even when the sky is overcast, provides as much or more light than a light box [Ed: Not to mention the fact that the only expense associated with gathering outdoor light is your time, whereas a quick Google search for light boxes turns-up a model priced at nearly $500, the Sun Square Plus.] There has been a study showing improvement in SAD symptoms when individuals took a one-hour daily walk outside. Outside light is often brighter than the light boxes. Spending an hour outside each day can often produce beneficial results in some individuals. However, one cannot get early morning outside light in the winter. Not everyone's job will allow for an hour-long outside walk. Only highly motivated people will continue their daily walk when it the rains or snows.
SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors--Paxil, Zoloft etc.) have been shown to be effective in SAD and in some cases of PMS. Some people prefer to take a pill because it is less time consuming than sitting in front of a light box. Some individuals need a combination of light therapy, medication, and psychotherapy. For those with winter depression and spring-summer mania, a mood stabilizer such as Lithium may be useful.
Daily exercise has been shown to be helpful, particularly when done outdoors. For those who tend to crave sweets during the winter, eating a balanced diet may help one's mood. Conversely, as the mood improves, craving for sweets may abate.
Psychotherapy can help the depressed individual look at her depressive assumptions and negative expectations. It can also help one identify relationship difficulties so that interpersonal mistakes might not be repeated. Research has shown that cognitive psychotherapy does help relieve depression faster and more completely than no therapy.
Some individuals continue to have a certain amount of energy fluctuation with the seasons. If one is aware of this, one can plan for it and work the expected fluctuations into one's life plans. [Ed: Or you can simply reject the idea of darkness's ability to kick our butts and format the dual monitors set-up in your spot in the cube farm with a desktop similar to what follows. Sun, Soccer and Señoritas - not so S.A.D. anymore, are you? Enjoy!]
Friday, June 05, 2009
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