You could have SAD also (seasonal affective disorder)and need at least an hour of sunshine/fresh air daily. I, myself am convinced that the overload of emotional and physical stress is what creates my "crash and burn" episodes. YES...anxiety and stress are culprits of CFS/FM flareups.

Remember the old term, "Fake Bake". I remember we called tanning beds that and you never dared to let anyone know your tan was not real. How silly. But that does help me. I got real down a few weeks back after so much snow and grey and I went 2 separate times. Then the real sun came out and within a couple of days of being out and in the direct sun, I began feeling so much better. I felt like a real person. I know it is a false sense of reality but still. Give it a shot.
Heather

I've heard about the tanning bed thing being a possible help, but my mom lived in the blasted thing as she can't tolerate the sun and developed a form of skin cancer. Scared me PALE and have never been near one. But I do like brightness in my home. Thanks for the ideas.

Stress definately aggravates my symptoms. I have found that when times are more stressful I need to limit my exposure to TV and newspapers. Anything that creates an emotional response in you is considered stress. Your body can't tell the difference if you are actually upset about something or upset because you are watching/reading about something upsetting. Also, I have found that cold weather (another body stressor)aggravates my symptoms so I always bundle up extra well. I can't always tolerate a lot of sun either, I get an allergic response (red flushing skin and slight itching). I definately feel better in the warmer months though.

I'm very similar to you in that I do better in the late spring through autumn. I think it could be partially SAD and partially that I "let go" during the holidays and eat the "BAD" foods. Not everyday but enough to get me feeling bad again. I try to stay on the candida diet most of the year but can't resist come winter. Once I give in, it's really hard to get back on the diet and since I'm feeling crappy all the time, I tend to want to eat the feel good stuff: chocolate. It's really a visious cycle for me.
I've heard that a sun lamp (one of those expensive ones that people with SAD use) could help but I haven't looked into that yet.
Btw, I think I know what movie you're refering to and I don't even have kids. lol

Kelly

yes it sounds like cfs to me but how do u get a dr to help with ptsd,fibromyalgia and cfs when i cant find 1 that will acknowledge them together help???anyone

I have been seeing a new doctor for a little over a year now. He believes in preventing trouble, rather thatn treating it after it pops up. He does not treat me as a hypochondriac, and is truly interested in helping me. He believes in my problems, and has some really inovative ways of helping. He says that definitely all of my problems derive from the stress I have had for the last several years.