In his book Artic Dreams, Barry Lopez writes about the cold winters in this environment and the depiction of the season as a nightmare that sometimes deranges people:

"Winter darkness brings on the extreme winter depression the Polar Eskimo calls perlerorneq. According to the anthropologist Jean Malaurie, the word means to feel 'the weight of life.' To look ahead to all that must be accomplished and to retreat to the present feeling defeated, weary before starting, a core of anger, a miserable sadness. It is to be 'sick of life,' a man Named Imina told Malaurie. The victim tears fitfully at his clothing. A woman begins aimlessly slashing at things in the iglu with her knife. A person runs half naked into the bitter freezing night, screaming out at the village, eating the shit of dogs. Eventually the person is calmed by others in the family, with great compassion, and helped to sleep. Perlerorneq. Winter."
— from Winter

Although it may not manifest with these extreme symptoms, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real problem for many people during the winter months. If you suffer from this mood disorder, consider light therapy or talk with your doctor about other treatments. If you are not affected by winter darkness, be compassionate toward and sensitive to the needs of those who are.

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat in Practicing Spirituality in Winter