Opinion: Winter woes inspire call for kindness
By Sarah Trick For most people this season marks the start of some fun adventures, like skiing, sledding, or snowball fights. But for people in wheelchairs like me, the first snowfall is a cause for pure dread. My motorized wheelchair, which gives me so much freedom most of the time, is completely useless in the snow. I wasn’t too worried this past Sunday night as I made my way to an Advent carol service. In fact, I was looking forward to getting into the spirit of the season. While on the bus, I thought about what I wanted to say in my op-ed column for this week’s Times. I wanted to get across to readers how much harder winter was for some of us, how it rendered us either housebound or in peril. I’ll give lots of advice to clueless able-bodied people, I thought. It will be great. But when the bus stopped calling out the stops and let me off far from my destination, I knew I was in trouble. As regular OC Transpo riders know, a few years ago the transit company started an automated system for calling the stops, which has been a godsend for those of us with disabilities. Obviously it helps people with visual impairments to know where they’re going, but since wheelchairs must face the rear of the bus, it tells us too. But last Sunday night, the automated voice went silent, leaving me adrift in an unfamiliar area of downtown. I missed my stop without even knowing it had gone by. The bus driver was sympathetic but was no help, saying he “had to focus on driving.” After pointing me in a direction (which I later found out was the wrong one), he was off to his next stop. The sidewalk wasn’t plowed and the snow was too much for my chair. I hadn’t gone very far before my wheels were spinning. Undaunted, I did what any resourceful young person would do: I got out my phone and started whining on social media. This accomplished nothing except to worry my mother. After about half an hour of cursing, I noticed a young woman walking by and called for help. She quickly called her roommates, and the four of them began an epic quest to get me back to the main road. This took up much of the rest of their evening, since they had to fish me out of several more snow banks as I kept going, and I am very grateful. So instead of ranting about how the able-bodied just don’t get it, I will thank Samantha, Laura, Jenna, Kelly and...
Winter bite prompts seasonal depression
By Sarah Trick and Allison McNeely Photo by Shannon Lough The snow, cold temperatures and dark skies of winter cause many people to feel a little down, but for some it can trigger a serious mood disorder. It’s more than the winter blues. Professionals call it seasonal affective disorder. Delaney Dunlop, 23, has had winter depression every year since she was a child, “It’s hard because I lead a very busy lifestyle. I’m constantly going places and doing things, but as soon as the fall hits, I don’t want to go anywhere or do anything.” The main symptom of any kind of depression is a loss of energy, according to Marie Clemont, a counsellor with Catholic Family Service Ottawa. In the case of winter depression, Clemont said medication can be useful, but should be used as a last resort. ‘I definitely think the medical establishment needs to take it more seriously.’ –Delaney Dunlop A treatment that helps many is light therapy, which consists of sitting in front of a special kind of lamp for 20-30 minutes per day. But not everyone has this option. Dunlop said she is unable to use light therapy because of a sensitivity to light. But she noticed this fall that spending a little more time outside has helped. She is currently studying criminology in the MA program at the University of Ottawa after doing her undergraduate degree at Carleton, where underground tunnels connect the buildings. Dunlop said she notices her grades usually drop in the fall, but at the University of Ottawa she is now forced to spend some time outside going to classes, unlike at Carleton. Dunlop said she feels doctors brushed off her condition at first. “I definitely think the medical establishment needs to take it more seriously,” Dunlop said. “Doctors don’t seem to want to deal with it.” Krista Shackleford, 31, has also suffered from the disease for several years. She says the most effective coping strategy is to deal with the symptoms before they become too severe. “I think being aware of your body is important,” Shackleford said. “I find if I ignore the symptoms too long, I get stuck in this vicious circle where I don’t want to exercise or do anything at all to make it better.” She said the best way to be supportive of someone with the disorder is to be encouraging but not forceful. “Try to get them to get out and do things, but don’t drag them out of their comfort zone too much,” she said. “For example, instead of having them go out of their way you could go watch a movie at their...