It was the day before Halloween and I was in a good mood. Though not my favorite holiday, All Saints Day eve nevertheless marks the beginning of the holiday season, a time of family, food, good cheer, three- and four-day weekends, championship football, and religious expressions of “peace on earth, good will toward men.” The rituals of turkey basting, trimming the Christmas tree, exchanging gifts and good wishes, and proclaiming New Year’s resolutions are set against a backdrop of the lights, songs and memories of the season. Nat King Cole again sings “Chestnuts Roasting On an Open Fire,” and Jimmy Stewart once more discovers “It’s a Wonderful Life.” I welcome the early night-falls, affording as they do longer enjoyment of Christmas colors. Even Southern Californians hope for a white Christmas, most of the time settling for a little nip in the air. No matter, it’s the holidays, and I’m feeling pretty good.
And then I read the paper. An article titled “Seasons of Sadness” heralded the discovery of a new affliction: Seasonal Affected Disorder, or (how perfect is this?) SAD. I’ve got to hand it to the shrinks, they’ve discovered the reason people are bummed out for what we used to say was no good reason. SAD often strikes as the calendar rolls toward winter. “The nights lengthen, the temperature drops,” and just like that disconsolation rears its ugly head. Worse, experts tell us SAD can strike even in the summer, a rare occurrence explained thus, “It depends on how sensitive the sufferers are.” Well, I’m not very sensitive, but my mood was quickly turning ugly. Many of the things I like about this season, such as shorter days and cooler temperatures, are now causes of depression and reclusiveness. Bummer.
In fact, I’m not buying. Psychiatrists and psychologists no doubt have shed light on conditions and diseases tormenting real victims, and practitioners have manifestly improved the quality of life of many a sufferer. But, along with real diagnoses and treatments have come a seemingly never-ending string of bogus oppressions used to explain and sometimes excuse otherwise unacceptable behavior. Is your kid messing up at school? Better get him an Advanced Brain Mapping Evaluation because he’s probably a victim of ADHD. Medicate the little tyrant and all will be well. You didn’t flunk out of school because you were lazy and feckless; you were suffering from Conduct Disorder (CD), something your blockhead teachers didn’t understand. You don’t beat your wife because you’re a cowardly loser; you were victimized by Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PSD). You haven’t thrown your marriage, career, and children away because you are a no-good-fall-down drunk; you’re really Obsessive-Compulsive for goodness sakes and it’s not your fault! All you need is some very powerful medicine.
The plain truth is too many Americans are unwilling to be responsible for what they do and say, and how they feel. Millions have learned the value of assigning a recognized syndrome to their behavior or mental state, a ploy allowing the offender to gain status and sympathy as a victim. Tourette’s syndrome is an extremely rare condition, but nevertheless was used to justify every foul-mouthed punk in the country. SAD falls into an even lower category; it’s hogwash. A change in seasons never caused anyone to become depressed. Accepting a diagnosis of SAD masks the real problem and therefore inhibits the needed cure. The holidays should be happy times. If they are not, take responsibility, discover the issue within, and fix it. Or, just look forward to being a slave to the calendar.
Feelings are controllable. Just because someone lost a relative at Christmas time doesn’t mean December must always be painful. We can and should choose to focus on pleasant memories, present blessings, and place our hope in a bright future, mental disciplines which produce good feelings. It’s all about personal responsibility. Reject SAD and it’s purveyors. Rejoice that we live in the best country on earth at the best time ever to be alive. If those two truths don’t ring your bell, embrace AA: Attitude Adjustment.
Posted by Jerry Pomeroy in Cultural Insanity, Ethics