LY #102 February is the Cruelest Month

 This Saturday marks the start of the second February in a row that I have not been enjoying the lift I once got from anti-depressants.  A lift I enjoyed for most of 20 years (and, off and on, many years before).   February is a good time of year in many ways as it contains the many gifts of Black History Month and marks the annual return of the Western States Communication Association convention.  But it's also an "anniversary" month for me.

The "anniversary reaction" or "anniversary effect" is a well-documented psychological experience involving a cluster of uncomfortable responses to dates or times of year that mark the anniversary of traumatic events.  Jessica Hamblen, PhD, Matt Friedman, MD, PhD, and Paula P. Schnurr, PhD writing for the National Center for PTSD (part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) say, "An increase in distress around the anniversary of a traumatic event is commonly known as an 'anniversary reaction' and can range from feeling mildly upset for a day or two to a more extreme reaction in which an individual experiences significant psychiatric or medical symptoms."

It was Professor Fox who, during one of our three mile runs at Utah back in the mid-80s, first noticed that I was most likely to collapse into despair in February.  No one had ever noticed that before.  At that time the anniversaries were already at the decade mark.  Yet "getting over it" is a long process, longer for some than for others.

What can those who have experienced trauma do about the troubles that arise with the anniversary?  Well, we can take drugs, as I've done over the decades (fluoxetine and sertraline the most recent), or get EMDR which is new enough that I've never tried it, though I've heard it has great benefits.  Dr.s Matthew Erlich and Lloyd Sederer, writing for the Huff Post suggest a combination of foresight (be prepared), rituals (commemorating losses) and the presence of friends.   Deborah Serani, Psy.D., author of the book Living With Depression, writing in Psychology Today, also suggests being aware of the date and notes that self care, support and comfort are helpful in the relief of the stress.  She also suggests what this year I'm going to do:  "4. Express your memories and feelings when an Anniversary Effect happens. You can do this by talking with a family member or friend, journaling, blogging, or finding creative ways to express your inner experiences."

So regular readers should be prepared for a journey into darkness over next week or two.