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Printed from https://webx1.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/13432-Seasonal-Affective-Disorder.html
Spiritual: November 05, 2025 Issue [#13432]




 This week: Seasonal Affective Disorder
  Edited by: Annette Author IconMail Icon
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

“In the middle of Winter I at last discovered that there was in me an invincible Summer.” ~ Albert Camus


Letter from the editor

Seasonal Affective Disorder


Close to the poles, nights and days are at their most extreme. While summers in the north are marked by endless days that can lead to insanity for lack of good sleep, the winter months bring the opposite. Barely any daylight and cloudy skies that prevent seeing the sun at all, sometimes for weeks on end.

How do people get through that? Humans migrated to those areas thousands of years ago and figured out ways to overcome. Mostly by making light and creating community events and festivals centered around piercing the long nights with bright lights.

Even in a world that has a lot of artificial light, we still revel in decorating trees with lights. Some cultures have night walks with lampions. Places of worship in most cultures include light festivals that coincide with the darkening of the season.

Some of the most prolific writers were afflicted by some kind of mental illness.

Franz Kafka was most likely depressed, had anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder. He wrote in dark and cold Prague.

Edgar Allan Poe likely also had depression and was bipolar. He wrote several of his works in cold New York.

Norse mythologies are filled with horrible monsters and gods who spend a lot of time partying at large bonfires. A clear indication that the people in those countries sought out ways to break the long nights up with merriment.

Writers are told "never begin your story with weather." But what about a whole season of weather? What about the despair that is unique to nights that last 23 hours a day? What about daylight so short that it disappears if you blink at the sky in the wrong angle? You can use these to good effect in storytelling and even make those part of the character's motivations and methods.

How do you deal with less daylight?


Editor's Picks

STATIC
Forest Nymphs Open in new Window. (E)
in a Tanka poem
#2200860 by Dave's trying to catch up Author IconMail Icon

STATIC
No More Seasons in the Rain Open in new Window. (E)
Poem Entry
#2232899 by ♥OctOGre tHiNg♥ Author IconMail Icon

 
STATIC
Lights Open in new Window. (E)
The lights of the season are one of the greatest parts of the holidays for me.
#2106262 by Jay O'Toole Author IconMail Icon

 Season upon Seasons Open in new Window. (13+)
Changes come in spurts, to paraphrase Emily Dickinson.
#917118 by a Sunflower in Texas Author IconMail Icon

DAWN Open in new Window. (E)
1st Place in Shadows & Light Poetry Contest
#2326912 by Stargazer ~ DavidtheDreamer Author IconMail Icon

 
STATIC
Wardrobe of Photons Open in new Window. (E)
A poem inspired by light and seasonal changes.
#2331608 by Hibernatin' tato🌲 Author IconMail Icon

 
STATIC
 Naw-Rúz in the North Open in new Window. (E)
Mud season and the hope that spring brings
#2336644 by Kåre เลียม Enga Author IconMail Icon

 The Seasons of My Faith Open in new Window. (E)
A Journey With the Lord
#2271794 by lbidler Author IconMail Icon

 
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Word from Writing.Com

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Ask & Answer

Replies to my last Spiritual newsletter "Free to Make Faiths" Open in new Window.

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