Overeating, depression mark our winter of our discontent

March 14--Constantly tired? Overeating? Lack motivation to get to the gym, to work, get out of bed or even engage in anything that provides pleasure?

If those symptoms describe an unfamiliar sense of melancholy that's set in lately, you aren't alone, according to Amesbury psychiatrist Debra Little. It's another sign of the burden this long, snowy and frigid winter is placing on usually hardy New Englanders.

After a few days of mild weather, yesterday the winter returned with a wrath. Rain turned to snow, and snow begot slippery roads and a flurry of minor car accidents throughout the region -- yet another hassle for winter-fatigued residents.

"Absolutely, this winter has taken a toll," Little said. "It's not so much anxiety I'm seeing as depression with a melancholia feature. Individuals who have a history of depression have been affected, but I'm also seeing people who have never had a problem with depression before. This long winter has just chipped away at their normal stability. This cold just hasn't let up since Thanksgiving, when the first spell of frigid temperatures arrived. It's been every week, oppressive, and it just isn't letting up."

Little said she's prescribed more medication this winter to address the issue than previously, and along with just about everyone except ski venue owners, she's hoping spring will make an permanent appearance very soon.

As for crime, the cold brings both good news and bad. Salisbury police Chief Thomas Fowler said there's a general theory when it comes to crime and cold weather the colder it is, the less crime there is on the street.

"There's a saying that Jack Frost is the best cop there is," Fowler said.

But there's another side that's less savory, he added.

"Anecdotally, I can tell you that we see more dispute related calls during the winter when it's cold like this and people are all cooped up," Fowler said. "We see more domestic violence and more disputes among neighbors."

At the Pettengill House, which provides social services to many in the region, the winter has escalated problems for clients already dealing with lower income levels or psychological problems, according to Director Deb Smith.

"Oh my gosh, yes, we're seeing more (winter-related) problems across the board," Smith said. "Many of our people already have histories of economic problems, made worse during cold spells, and mental health issues. For those already struggling, this winter has made their problems seem bigger than life, especially those who suffer with depression."

Staff at Pettengill has been impressing upon their clients the need to follow through on "self-care," to combat winter's impact. That includes the use of lamps that simulate sunlight, she said. Known as light therapy, the lamps combat seasonal affective disorder, depression caused by the lack of sunlight on shorter winter days.

Lahey Health and Behavior Services provides teams of critical care clinicians who do emergency psychological evaluations for emergency room patients at the region's hospitals, including Anna Jaques Hospital. According to LHBS mental health counselor Jack Petrias, his organization isn't necessarily seeing more psychological patients this year than in winters past, but there has been an exacerbation for those with existing problems because of this winter's harshness.

"But there can be a positive side," Petrias said. "The cold forces families into staying in and staying close. It can be a good thing because families are forced together and end up doing more fun things together. Of course, there can be a little too much closeness, which can be stressful."

And there's the aggravation factor, Petrias said, and some are so fed up with the winter they can get irritable.

But everyone, including Newburyport Council on Aging Director Roseann Robillard, worries about the isolation caused by the extended cold weather for those who don't have the opportunity to mingle with others.

Long periods of being alone might sound peaceful to those who live hectic lives, but it can be problematic for the elderly, or those who already suffer from anxiety or depression. Because they're afraid of falling on brittle bones that don't heal easily, cold, snowy, icy weather can cause the elderly to stay home alone for extended periods, Robillard said.

"For people who don't have a good social network of friends and family, isolation is a problem and does affect people," Robillard said. "Those with good social networks do better."

"Everything goes up when people are isolated," Smith said. "Alcohol consumption goes up, people worry more and they can just brood over their problems, which makes everything seem worse."

Being alone for long stretches with no one to talk to can allow dark thoughts to fester, said Petrias, whose organization also sees individuals in their homes and at its clinics.

"Isolation is, in an of itself, one of the more common risk factors to people getting feelings of urgency," he said. "It can cause them to make a visit to the emergency room to speak with a health professional. We tend to feel better if we can talk our problems over with others."

But that's not to say that everyone's suffering. Robillard said the Council on Aging does see calls from its senior citizens cancelling appointment when it's icy out, because they don't want to drive on bad roads or walk on icy sidewalks. But, there are others who bundle up and head out anyway, no matter the temperature.

Even yesterday, she said, one woman called to say she'd be late because the doors of her car were frozen shut, but promised she'd be in as soon as they thawed. Others call, even during frigid and snowy weather. to ask Robillard if the COA van is still running so they can go shopping. The answer is usually, "yes," she said.

"We have a lot of very hardy Yankees who grew up here and say: 'It's winter in New England. Deal with it," Robillard said.

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