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FF The darkness got me

Community Leadermujicaptsd
mujicaptsd
I have been fortunate lately, but when I got home from work tonight pretty tired as usual I took a nap and then something weird happened. Since it was my first work day after changing our clocks, it was dark out when I woke up.

It suddenly affected my mood downward in a way I hadn't experienced in a long time. Since kidney disease has me off all PTSD and other meds I haven't been on antidepressants now for 4 years. For a few minutes the mood drop spooked me, then, because it took a few before I realized it was because of the darkness at the time of day I wasn't used to.

Anybody else affected by the clock change darkness?
bluedragon41
bluedragon41
I actually get perkier in winter. Houston is so hot.
bluedragon41
bluedragon41
...but...yeah, it gets dark so early.
Rizen
Rizen
I'm up a lot at night due to insomnia. I have a 'happy light' here that synthesizes sunlight. That might be able to help you if lack of sun during the winter months depresses you.
arfie
arfie
Yes. Daylight confusion time gets me twice a year, every year. Humanity at its most irrational.
LeoX3
LeoX3
Messes me up for a week, either direction. Partly my med schedule for my epilepsy (do not play with that). I know it's wasteful but I spend the first week of DST to Standard with more lights on than usual. Or I keep a few candles burning in pretty holders. It seems to help me, and Hubby (who has mild seasonal affective disorder) also seems to benefit.

Gentle wishes for feeling safe and sound, Muji.
Community Leadermujicaptsd
mujicaptsd
Thanks for letting me know I'm not on my own here. With all the other stuff to put up with concerning PTSD I don't indulge myself in being finicky. But for the 20 minutes or so this darkness had my mood in its hands and took a plunge, it wasn't just being overly sensitive and finicky. For those minutes it was real and scary, which is odd to me since I've faced other things that would be more obviously scary.

TW

I think there's a reason. After I was molested as a kid, we moved to the USA from URuguay for a year so my mom could have surgery here. That was when I told her what had happened and started to get punished for it instead of being comforted. In Uruguay we hadn't had daylight savings time back then, but did here. Those punishment times came after dinner with mom in those early dark hours, so my body just kind of braces itself with dark dread.

BOdy memory. Weird, huh?

Rizen, I like that "happy light" idea. I'd like to get one for this after supper period in my day.
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