Seasonal Affective Disorder Support Group

Seasonal affective disorder, also known as S.A.D., winter depression or the winter blues is an affective, or mood, disorder. Most SAD sufferers experience normal mental health throughout most of the year, but experience depressive symptoms in the winter or summer. The condition in the summer is often referred to as Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder. Seasonal mood...

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Aversion to the dark

MaybeICanHelp
MaybeICanHelp
Does anyone else have an aversion to going out after dark? It is not that I am afraid of the dark, its just that I do like being out in the dark. I don't like cold weather either, so when its dark AND cold its even worse. In the winter, the very thought of going out somewhere when its dark and cold is repulsive. I am fine going out and doing all sorts of things while the sun is up. But once the sun goes down, I just want to shut myself indoors with the lights on and the blinds closed (so I don't see the darkness outside.) Its a real problem this time of year when its already dark when I get home from work. It means I can't do much of anything during the week outside of working.
blueviolet725
blueviolet725
I feel that way at home, but when I was just visiting family, I was outside and it was beautifully clear and I saw gorgeous stars.
I thought it was because it is always cloudy here...
I don't close all the blinds, but I do limit going out. 5 pm and I am done for the day??? I did manage to go around the block to look at christmas lights one night...but again, it was before dinner...still so early.
My husband and I even looked at gas inserts for the fireplace (very expensive) and I thought "if I had one of those, I would never leave that room, nevermind the house!"
Spring is coming.
deleted_user
deleted_user
yep, yep, yep.....its like my body/mind shuts down about 4 or 5pm, and I start getting ready for bed........its crazy I have no life. In the summer I get ready for bed about 10pm. Like you, the thought of going out at dark makes me feel sick. In fact today has been a really dark, gloomy day and I actually felt nausea.
I know you use the light box also? I ordered one today. Do you still find it hard to cope even though you use the light box?
Springsun
Springsun
Yes, I feel this way too. Once it gets dark I feel like its time for bed. I also can't see well in the dark. My husband and I went out for dinner the other night and I was driving. It was raining and nasty out, and I was really struggling to see. I had to pull over and have my husband drive. I don't close the blinds to the darkness, but I am not very active in the evenings. It's the TV and a blanky.

I like what Blue said! SPRING IS COMING! How bad are we? LOL! We are already thinking about Spring, but its true... I totally am thinking of it! Dreaming of it. Can we take January off the calendar?
MaybeICanHelp
MaybeICanHelp
Its good to know I'm not alone on this. Oneda, I use a light box some when I'm home, but don't use it as much as I should on account that I work full-time.This time of year is the worse because its dark when I leave for work and dark when I come home.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Oh no.......poor you. I used to have a job where it was dark in the morning and in the evening coming home. And on top of that it was all indoor with no natural light coming in. I didn't know whether it was raining or sunny. It was a department store and those fake lights really made my eyes hurt and constant headaches. Fortunately I don't work there anymore. So perhaps you should try to use your light box everyday. If you get up a hour earlier than normal to use your light box, will you be really really tired or will you be ok?