In more severe cases, paronoia, an urge to run away, and fatigue accompany the symptoms. The long nights, short, grey days and lack of sunshine, cold, closed spaces, and lack of mental stimulation trigger a shutting down of cognitive abilities, and mild to moderate depression can set in. You notice that you have more bruises than usual and vaguely remember bumping into things and dropping things, as your coordination and balance become impaired.Ĭabin Fever hits most Northerners in the middle of winter, around mid February. And if you hear one more complaint from a whiny, high pitched voice, you are going to scream.
You stand in front of the open refrigerator with no idea what to cook for dinner, your creativity gone with the last load of dishes that you washed and pulled the plug on. You can’t remember where you put your coffee cup, so you pour another one. The listless routine of every day, that allows your mind to wander, so that you forget what you were doing. Have you caught it yet? The dull, cold that creeps into your bones. But once you understand what it is you will have in your hands the way to overcome cabin fever.
Laurie says, "Cee Lo rescued me from the downward spiral of despair!" Soon, she was dancing and shimmying in her car, all the way to meet her husband.Cabin fever, seasonal affective disorder, mild depression, whatever you call it, it is a malady that affects rural people and northerners in the middle of the winter, in the dreariness of winter weather. Her mood was heading south fast - that is, until "Forget You" came on. Then, I got caught behind a slow-moving convoy of huge Marine trucks." Laurie writes, "My husband locked his keys in his car, so I was a little 'peeved.' I had to leave a very busy workday to go rescue him. Laurie Nardo-Kunst says her suggestion - Cee Lo Green's "Forget You" - was inspired by just such an occasion. For those, too, the Cabin Fever playlist has an answer. Romance has its pitfalls: Break-ups, letdowns and - even in the best of relationships - plenty of frustrations. One of our listeners discovered that same weightless feeling after putting on Jackie Wilson's "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher." RP Whitmore-Bard explains, "As soon as I did, a smile broke onto my face, and I started laughing, singing, and dancing around my room."Īs we well know, though, love doesn't always take such happy turns. Luckily, the playlist has that covered, too. But sometimes, love can inspire moods decidedly less smooth - when it's all you can do to keep from throwing your arms to the ceiling and hopping like mad. Of course, the playlist sports some romantic powerhouses like Barry White and Al Green - artists and songs fit for any candlelit evening. And while many of us may be prepared to address our notes of love and thanks to our space heaters, it's best also not to forget those people who bring warmth and joy into our lives. With midwinter comes another date to keep in mind: Valentine's Day. That's eight weeks (or more) of snow and staying in, shivering and waiting - and waiting - for spring to arrive.īut that's exactly why we're also two weeks into our mission to keep those winter grays at bay - by sharing our songs.
It may feel like a lifetime to many of us, but we're already eight weeks deep in winter.