Seasons and their impact: celebrate or survive? Café Psychologique, 28 November

Seasons define our weather, our daylight, our environment; but their impact goes much wider than that. They dominate our diaries and calendars; our holidays are organised around them, they drive retail sales, they define fashion trends, they set the punctuation of regular family gatherings. They also have a massive impact on mental well-being. At the least, many of us notice and respond well to the longer daylight and warmer temperatures of spring and summer. For others though, the impact is profound, where the impact of Seasonal Affective Disorder makes Winter a trial of depression, anxiety, listlessness and isolation.

We might have thought that the impact of seasons would be dispelled by electric light, by the isolation from the weather of modern transport, by the disconnection from the natural environment of living in cities. Yet, our lives are still readily affected by Christmas shopping, spring wardrobes, summer holidays and autumnal hankering for fireworks and bonfires.

Our responses vary too; one person’s luxuriant sunbathe is another’s perspiring torment; some see sap rising in spring, while others are irritated by gamboling lambs unless served with mint sauce; and while some kick leaves down the lane, others give up going out after five pm for six months.

Whatever your lifestyle, seasons impinge on us; the question is whether we can embrace and enjoy the variety and opportunities they offer, while not being dominated by their disadvantages.

This café will be introduced by Vicky Ola, an artist with an MA in psychology, who is interested in the seasons and will bring an ‘Autumn Tree’ with her to help the conversation along. Se will introduce this Café Psychologique on Tuesday 28 November, 8.00 pm to 9.45 pm in Seven Arts, Chapel Allerton, Leeds. The Café costs £4 on the door.

There is a poster to download here:
Café Psychologique November 2017

You can read the Café Rules here: Café Psychologique Rules