Winter can be hard for those living with chronic illness and chronic pain. But even despite this, however, there are still many reasons for loving winter.

What Immediately Comes to Mind When You Think of Winter?

When imagining winter, which words or images are conjured up in your mind?

For many, they would answer with images such as the nights drawing in during the early evening. Heavy rain lashing against the windows. The sounds of the howling wind outside and fighting against the constant outbreaks of colds and flu.

This myriad of some of the images synonymous with winter paints a pretty miserable picture. Especially when juxtaposed with images of summer such as the bright, warm sunshine, colourful and vibrant flowers and so on.

"Images synonymous with winters such as heavy rain lashing against windows and the sounds of the howling wind outside paints a pretty miserable picture. Winter is indeed the cruellest and relentless of the seasons." Share on X

Winter is a time to dread. Summer a time where everything feels alive and happy and time of endless possibilities. Winter is indeed the cruellest and relentless of the seasons.

It is only the start of the autumn and winter seasons, and already, I have heard many people complaining and griping because of the cold, wet weather.

The Unrelenting Horror of Winter When Living With Chronic Pain

For those suffering from chronic pain, winter can be a challenging time. The freezing temperatures can exponentially increase the amount of pain experienced, for example.

"For those suffering from chronic pain, winter can be a challenging time. The freezing temperatures can exponentially increase the amount of pain experienced, for example." Share on X

In my experience of living with spastic paraparesis (causing stiffness and weakness in the legs) the bitter cold weather and the constant downpour of rain increase the level of rigidity and instability that I experience, thereby increasing my pain levels.

During previous years increased levels of pain, stiffness, and weakness has left me reliant on my wheelchair for the majority of the time when out of the house.

Winter weather can often exacerbate symptoms especially pain

There are steps that I, and others living with a chronic illness and chronic pain during the winter months. These can include wearing thermals underneath warm clothing to lessen the effects of the cold temperatures on our chronic pain. Hot water bottles, warm blankets, and snuggly pyjamas are also fantastic at helping us keep warm. These steps can help us with the physical pain associated with our long-term conditions. However, they do not lessen the emotional impact that winter has on our psychological well-being.

"Steps can be undertaken to help with the physical pain associated with our long-term conditions. However, they do not lessen the emotional impact that winter has on our psychological well-being." Share on X

The Emotional Impact of Winter on Emotional Well-Being

Many people experience some form of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) a kind of depression associated with reduced exposure to sunlight. Light therapy involves sitting in front or beneath a lightbox. As well as more conventional treatments for depression, including cognitive behavioural therapy and sometimes antidepressants can help ease the symptoms of SAD.

Winter can be a miserable time for many...and not a good time for those with chronic illness — Winter can be a miserable time for many and not a good time for those with chronic illness – Pinterest

I have talked about positive psychology before regarding helping cope with living with a long-term health condition.

One example of an exercise within the field of positive psychology is keeping a gratitude journal.

A gratitude journal encourages individuals to write down at least three things that have made them happy on that day.

Research suggests that by doing this, it can change the brain’s thought processes. It can even result in more favourable thinking patterns. Therefore, to be more positive and happier during the winter months, perhaps we need to remind ourselves of the reasons to love winter.

"To be more positive and happier during the winter months, perhaps we need to remind ourselves of the reasons to love winter." Share on X

Why Should We Start Loving Winter, Then?

So what are some of the reasons we should love winter?

Reasons For Loving Winter: The Opportunity to Stay Indoors Without Judgement or Provocation

The cold and wet weather during the winter months provides the ideal opportunity to stay indoors. One that is the same for most people regardless of whether they live with a chronic illness or not. When I tell others I want to stay indoors; there is disbelief on their faces during the summer months.

I am barraged with well-meaning encouragement to venture outside, supposedly an apparent cure for all my ills. In the winter, on the other hand, others do not comment on my love of staying indoors. Let’s face it everybody wants nothing more than to snuggle beneath a blanket and enjoy a box-set binge when the bad weather hits.

"In the winter, others do not comment on my love of staying indoors. Let's face it everybody wants nothing more than to snuggle beneath a blanket and enjoy a box-set binge when the bad weather hits." Share on X

As well as being not judged for spending so much time indoors, I also feel that I am not going to feel envious or that I have missed out on anything fun. Friends and family are also spending the majority of the time at home, choosing to stay in and binge the new series of TV programmes that tend to start when the weather begins to deteriorate. Recently some of my favourite television programmes have returned to the Autumn schedule, such as Grey’s Anatomy and Criminal Minds.

Nothing more enjoyable than wrapping up warm during the cold winter weather or sit in front of a fireplace (if able) – Pinterest

Reasons For Loving Winter: Comfort, Blankets and Netflix!

Winter provides us with the perfect excuse to stay indoors and curl up with a blanket and a mug of hot chocolate. It furthermore provides us with the ideal opportunity to enjoy an exciting book; or watch a film that you might never have otherwise watched via Netflix. In other words, winter can provide us with the unique opportunity to bask in the enjoyment of being able to appreciate the little things that give us comfort and joy while also protecting ourselves from the atrocious weather. Whereas summer is all about the fast pace and cramming as much fun in as possible, winter allows us to savour each moment.

A mug of hot chocolate is so comforting during winter - always make time when out shopping! — A mug of hot chocolate is so comforting during winter – always make time when out shopping!

"Winter can provide us with the unique opportunity to bask in the enjoyment of being able to appreciate the little things that give us comfort and joy while also protecting ourselves from the atrocious weather." Share on X

I also love going to bed during the winter months and getting beneath my delectably thick winter duvet. For me, this duvet is comforting, especially when feeling the effects of chronic illness. Our winter wardrobes are also another enjoyable aspect of enjoying the cold and dreary months. To feel snuggly and safe beneath layers of warm layers of clothing such as big thick jumpers, woolly scarves and hats and thick socks when venturing outdoors.

I own a pair of Ugg boots which I continuously wear through the autumn and winter. They are so comfortable and also keep my feet incredibly warm. These boots are among my favourites and which people often comment on when out, which makes me feel good about myself.

Reasons For Loving Winter: The Delicious and Comforting Food and Drinks on Offer

A further reason to love winter is the food! Winter food provides comfort during the cold months. Mince pies, apple pies, pumpkin pies and other seasonal treats that appear in the supermarkets. Winter vegetables can be roasted or used as ingredients for bowls of steaming soups or even baked into delectable pies.

"Winter food provides comfort during the cold months. Winter vegetables can be roasted or used as ingredients for bowls of steaming soups or even baked into delectable pies." Share on X

Chilly evenings also provides the perfect pretext to enjoy a steaming mug of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and marshmallows or sprinkles of cocoa powder. And if the weather is keeping you indoors, there is plenty of time to put everything you have learned from The Great British Bake Off into practice. Assembling a gingerbread house or experimenting with the abundance of seasonal recipes that you have always wanted to try but never found the time.

Reasons For Loving Winter: Halloween, Bonfire Night and Christmas!

Lastly, the most important reason to love the winter season is all the exciting events that occur during this time. Halloween, Bonfire Night and everyone’s favourite Christmas! These events provide excitement and wonder and the opportunity to come together with those whom we may not have seen for some time. It is hard to dislike Bonfire Night, as beautiful, colourful and vibrant lights are seen decorating the night skies.

"Halloween, Bonfire Night and Christmas provides excitement and wonder and the opportunity to come together with those whom we may not have seen for some time." Share on X

Even if we are too unwell to attend a local fireworks display, it does not mean that we have to miss out. We can still enjoy the firework from the comfort of our own homes, which I often do.

Doesn't everything look pretty and magical with fairy lights during the winter months? — Doesn’t everything look pretty and magical with fairy lights during the winter months? – Pinterest

Throughout November and December hangs the air of excitement and wonder as Christmas approaches. Houses, shops, and town centres illuminated with colourful lights and vibrant decorations which are beautiful and cheery against the dark and dreary winter nights.

"December hang the air of excitement as Christmas approaches. Houses, shops, and town centres illuminated with colourful lights and vibrant decorations which are beautiful and cheery against the dark and dreary winter nights." Share on X

Furthermore, with Christmas also brings a collection of beautiful food, heart-warming and cheerful family films. Television specials, festive events and activities, happy festive music as well as time spent with loved ones exchanging presents.

It is true that Christmas also brings a lot of activities that can deplete the number of limited spoons. Still, in my opinion, it is worth it for the happiness and the formation of happy memories that Christmas brings.

What are your reasons for loving winter? You can contact me via Twitter using @serenebutterfly or sending me an email at brainlesionandme@gmail.com.

Or comment below.

In 1969, the Swiss American psychiatrist Elizabeth Kübler-Ross published her groundbreaking book called ‘On Death and Dying’. In the book, she introduced the now famous ‘Five Stages of Grief’. Her theory suggested that there are five stages of adjustment after a loss, which are:

Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance

The theory described the five stages of grief concerning the mourning of a loved one. However, these five stages have also been used to describe many areas that involve a loss.

These five stages of grief can also apply to a diagnosis of a chronic illness or the onset of a progressive disability. Mourning the loss of good health, the loss of a future that we may not have as a result of the diagnosis. And for the activities that we once enjoyed but which may be prevented by the symptoms of the chronic illness or disability.

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An example of these stages in action can be as follows:

Denial

We immediately are in denial of the new situation and cannot accept that it is true. Regarding chronic illness, we may question the doctor and ask whether he is confident that the diagnosis is correct. A request may be made for further investigations as we cannot accept the diagnosis as fact. We may also not be open to new medications or treatments suggested as that would mean the condition is real.

Anger

Like many others, anger is a normal feeling when living with chronic illness. We are angry at the illness itself due to the severe symptoms that it causes; angry at the limitations it places upon our lives; doctors who made the diagnosis as well as those who didn’t believe you. We are often angry at people around us who are still able to do all the things that we are no longer able to do. Anger is one of the five stages that those living with chronic illness reverts to, especially when symptoms are particularly severe.

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Bargaining

Although anger stays for a while, we eventually progress to the third stage which is bargaining. Often, when living with a chronic illness, we become lost in a world of “What if” and “If Only” statements. We want to return to the life we had before illness, so we attempt to bargain with our bodies.

We promise that we will take all our medications correctly, and keep to a healthy diet in exchange for the condition to disappear. A promise is made to do anything in exchange for a cure and to be able to return to a normal life.

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Depression

As times passes; we slowly realise that bargaining isn’t working. As there is no sign of a cure or a return to our old life we begin to lose hope. Often, we slide into a depression. The depression isn’t a sign of a mental illness however but a response to the loss of our previous life. We turn inward and withdraw from life, and get stuck in a fog of sadness, despair and hopelessness.

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Acceptance

The move into acceptance is a slow and gradual process. To reiterate it is not a state of being perfectly fine with being chronically ill but is perhaps a state in which we have more good days than bad ones.

However, this is not a single process. These five stages of grief are linear and one in which we often regress to previous steps. The need to work through them all over again, especially at times when the condition gets worse. As we worsen we return to the first stage of denial and we need to work through all the stages just like we did after the initial diagnosis. As our health deteriorates, we are essentially mourning the loss of another piece of ourselves.

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The importance of acceptance can be brilliantly summed up by a famous quote by Joseph Campbell:

This post is about acceptance – to acknowledge the changes in our situation and declining health. It is not about being completely fine or deliriously happy about the illness or disability. Acceptance is about finally recognising and acknowledging the permanence and reality of life after diagnosis.

To learn to readjust to our new reality we need to embrace the life we have now. Acceptance is not about giving up.

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I thought about the ‘Five Stages of Grief’ recently after a day out with my carer. As my regular readers may be aware, I have had to start using my wheelchair on a much more regular basis, especially when out for hours due to the worsening weakness in my legs.

Last week, my carer commented on how much more confident I seemed since I started using the wheelchair and how I seemed to enjoy days out much more. A reason for this is because I am in the wheelchair, I am not always on edge that my legs will give way, or on the days when the weakness is severe, I am not waiting for my legs to collapse.

However, as I also live with constant dizziness and regular bouts of vertigo and as a result of the continual movement while in the wheelchair, it was challenging for me to use it. So why do I seem so much more confident using the wheelchair than sitting down, and enjoying being out much more when it causes such symptoms?

accepting the need of a wheelchair when living with a chronic illness — Accepting the need for the wheelchair has made going out so much easier and more enjoyable

One possibility is that as suggested by the theory discussed, I have finally accepted that I need the wheelchair. Perhaps, I have finally moved through these five stages and now accepted my new reality. Before, I became worried not only about the wheelchair’s effect on my vestibular system but also with the judgements of other people. That however no longer is a concern of mine and happy to be in the wheelchair.

Perhaps, it is much easier to live with a new situation when we have reached acceptance. We need to embrace the new reality to live life to the fullest despite any limitations that chronic illness has placed upon our lives.

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