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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/ Seasonal Affective Disorder Support Group

omg... not again

pixie561
pixie561
Well im glad to know im not crazy. Most people in my life thinks getting depressed because of winter is all in my head. Ive decided this winter im gonna do something about it. I ended up in the mental hospital last year cause my winter blues got so bad. Now that im more aware of it, I am willing to try Anything. Its kicking in all ready and losing my job didnt help so I have absolutely no energy at all. I just want to watch tv and eat. I can not go through the same damn thing every year anymore. Moving somewhere warmer isnt an option right now. Im going to Cancun in a week with my friend who goes through the same thing as I do. Luckily she understands my financial situation and said she would help me out with the trip. I hoping this gets me out of my funk. Its so hard to keep a positive attitude. I plan to get a a book about s.a.d. so I can better understand what is going on with me.
blueviolet725
blueviolet725
Dr. Rosenthal's Winter Blues is the first and most scientific book about this...
And if you can somehow get a lightbox for when you get back...or get outside in "sunlight" for at least a half hour a day...(especially while walking or raking or something active) it will help.
The trip sounds wonderful and I am envious...you could post a beautiful landscape photo on your page when you get back! :)
deleted_user
deleted_user
I second to try a lightbox, I credit mine, quite literally with saving my life. Some people on here have success with herbal remedies or antidepressants, so that may be worth a look, and definitely try to maintain exercise through the winter months.
Hugs to you
pixie561
pixie561
I definitely want to try the light box. The most important thing is hope. For a long time I believed I was doomed to live out my winter months hibernating and being miserable. I just cant do it anymore. Thanks for ur feedback and I got the book winter blues, so hopefully that will help!
Sunvalleygal
Sunvalleygal
Watching tv and eating all day long is very hard on your emotional, physical, and mental self.
Finding something creative to do / like sewing, reading, drawing, painting, poetry... ANYTHING creative ... will help tremendously.

Since being diagnosed w/ CFS and spending the first year housebound and in a recliner and in a bed for one year I taught myself how to water paint, cross stick, I play the ukulele, and have started sewing.

It has made my life so much happier.

This year I am using a light box every a.m. I use one from Caribbean Sun. It's awesome. I have move from the mountains (cold, overcast, snowy, and NO SUNSHINE) to the desert! That made an amazing difference!

I take herbs, antidepressants, and try to get outside every day.

Things are going MUCH better this year!!!