Surviving the SAD winters: How Triveni, Aylesbury can make a difference?

Winters in UK are a challenge and more so for the fun-loving people as we miss all the
picnics and celebrations going on back home. Christmas & New Year is our short saviour.
However, January and February bring on the biggest challenges. Gloomy winter brings on
it’s own problems in forms of respiratory infections, frequent viral infections for kids
causing big challenge for parents and last but not the least, well-recognised Winter Blues
or as we call in medical term Seasonal Affective Disorder ( SAD ).
Winter blues or SAD is a spectrum ranging from increased frequency of swami-stree
koloho (arguments between partners or spouses) and failing to understand why we are so
irritable and going all the way to the extreme emotion of feeling down, low energy, poor
appetite or overeating and unusual sleeping patterns. It can affect people of all ages, sex
and ethnicity. Apart from the winter weather, it is triggered by factors like unexpected
viral pandemics or ongoing chronic medical or mental health illnesses, stress at school or
work, lack of sunlight and lastly, but most important for me, the fact that there is no
celebrations during these challenging period.
I can admit it affects me personally in some forms and I feel a bit of apprehension as
winter approaches. While writing on this topic, I started asking myself how a strong local
community as Triveni can help each other to tide over this time of the year in a way that
we can make a difference. How can as a group we can take the next step to support each
other as a family during the most difficult times?
General NHS advice on SAD listed on NHS websites are as follows:

• Keep active and get outdoors – At least an hour of walk while there is daylight.
• Keep warm – Chronic respiratory illness can be prevented by heating homes above 18- 21C
• Eat healthily – Balanced diet, avoid carb craving to avoid weight gain.
• Take up a new hobby
• See friends and family
• Talk it through and join a support group

I would like to request every member of Triveni to come up with ideas, as part of Triveni
family of ‘Aylesburyians’, to support each other. I can think of some activities like
organising winter walks together with the kids, coming together for Saraswati pujo
(Basant Panchami) which can perfectly break the Jan-Feb deadly combo, kids’ craft
sessions, preparing jewelry and decorations for next year’s Durga puja as is done in
Bengal by the craftsmen. However, the list is not enough unless all of us contribute with
ideas. We are diverse in many ways, however, we are united by the spirit of Triveni
Aylesbury family. Hip Hip Hurray for Triveni Aylesbury!!

BY DR. ARIN BOSE