by Rich Caplan
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
With forecasters predicting more possible snow events, I believe that this New England winter deserves its own diagnostic category and for those of you effected by it (and please,who isn't?) we now have a new DSM IV diagnosis called "Snow Depression". This occurs, of course, when you have had just too much of the white stuff.
Worried you might be suffering from snow depression? Below are a list of symptoms so you can tell when you have come down with snow depression*:
The Weather Channel is starting to scare you. In fact, any mention of the word "weather" in any context is getting scary.
You've seriously considered buying a snow plow.
You've seriously considered moving to Florida.
You realize that you have snow blower envy every time your next door neighbor plows out his driveway with his new 300 horsepower, triple action Z200 with heated handles and the ability to throw snow over a mile away.
Your favorite section of the newspaper is the travel section and you spend hours looking at the pictures of palm trees on sandy beaches.
At the mention of the word "snow" you throw yourself under your bed pleading to the higher power of your choice to please leave us alone.
You have purchased enough "snow-melt" to treat the parking lots of all the malls on the east coast.
So, if any of this sounds vaguely familiar you may be afflicted with "snow depression". Here, in the Boston area there is only one cure...knowing that the Red Sox are at their spring training complex in Florida, and the days are getting longer.
Now, don't you feel better already?
*Snow depression is not a real diagnosis.
Rich Caplan has been a social worker since 1982. He specializes in addictive disorders and strongly believes in the healing power of laughter. His book, "Do I Really Have to Read This?" (a book for men about relationships) is available at Barnes and Noble.
