It seems for several years now I have been suffering from an unbearable depression during grey days. I used to only become depressed in late winter after long periods of greyness but It is mid-autumn here and is already happening badly. I would describe this a real depression, where the simple act of getting out of bed, and organising myself for the day seems impossible. At the moment, the feelings are slightly manageable, but the direction of my life has been on the rocks for years now (as far as my future, my relationships and my spiritual state are concerned) and long periods of misery like this tend to just fling me further back into hopelessness. I also have a sleeping disorder which is hard enough to manage without the weather getting me down. If this gets worse I may need proffessional help. For now.... ...does anyone have any informed advice on how to manage my life and my feelings during winter so that I can live as normal as possible?
I don't have any informed advice,but I can empathise with you..I moved to this town a year and a half ago and it has the highest rainfall in the uk.When the sun comes out it is truly a beautiful place - mountains etc,but the rest of the time,its dull.Most locals resign themselves to the pub - and thats what I've been doing but since christmas and a bad experience with a spanish girl,I've been slipping in and out of relative normality.Though just recently things have very slightly picked up.I started disciplining myself a bit more - taking time to cook good food regularly,cleaning stuff,washing stuff,writing letters,giving more time to people who aren't assholes in a sober state and taking time to describe some kind of goal for myself - something slightly challenging but not unattainable and vaguely worthwhile.Setting limits for myself - e.g. how much time I spend on the internet.. or how much time I spend thinking introspectively.. I'm about to write an essay - so I have to stop there...dunno...hope some that makes some kind of sense to somebody...somwhere...
Seasonal Affective Disorder, it sounds like to me, but you'd need a psychologist to confirm it. There are UV lights designed to help cope with this, but the actual effect is debatable.
I've also had problems with this for years. I can tell you this... sometimes it will get worse. Ive read somewhere that severe depression untreated, can make a person more likely to have more episodes in the future. I can say this is true too because I went untreated for years and it went from S.A.D to full blown depression episodes. If you are having trouble doing everyday stuff, to the point where you find you cant function, simply cant get out of bed, the energy just ISNT there or you cant think straight enough to do anything..... yeah it may be time to seek out some treatment. Zoloft helped me function when I was really bad. But I was on it for awhile before I started noticing the difference. Some things I have also found to help: -going tanning (this works, but can become addictive) -taking a walk (but that would depend on functioning levels, but if at all possible, get outside and go) -listening to REALLY upbeat music -remember, dont beat yourself up over this. Its not you. Its damn brain chemicals. lol. -Know that you arent alone... alot of people have this problem. Some worse than others. I've suffered so severely from it in the past, that I moved to the south from Ohio because I couldnt handle the cold months up there... Oct-April it seemed, there were days when I thought I would just go entirely crazy if I had to face another day of grey. -when theres a break between grey days and the sun is out, get outside in it, for as long as possible, no matter what. You need it. Hope you feel better. Dont worry... the dark days will pass...
Thanks everyone...a lot of that advice was valuable. This is South Australia so we get about 8 months of more or less continuous sunshine here, so i'm in no need of any dire treatment. But those 4 months of cold are hell and rain and shit. Free2fly, I really do think I should take advantage of every moment of sunshine. RGpaddler I'm sorry to hear about your spanish babe Got any more net camera action lately?
HA...you think we don't have ice rinks in Adelaide? Yep, we've got them, AND BEACHES, swimmable beaches, as long as the Great Whites aren't hungry. I can skate mate, using a hockey stick or whatever you call them is abother matter. Can you catch a roo using only your shoelace? No, i didn't think so.
cant everyone catch a roo with their showlace. and put it on the barbie with their didgeriedoo.........
I sympathize hon, I get some nasty winter depression too. This year has been the worst for it, it's still kind of lingering too, though not as bad as it had been it's hard though... all the solutions involve leaving the house, which is what my biggest problem is when I'm down, just getting out the door is such a huge hassle, such a big deal that I just can't manage it some days.
Yeh I start to feel vaguely sad at the end of summer, when the nights start getting darker quicker. I used to laugh at my Mum for saying that kind of thing, but as I've got older, I feel the same way myself. I always have more energy in the summer months, I do more activities and generally feel better about myself. A lot of that has to do with my eczema too, because the sun makes it go away to a large extent. I haven't so far found anything to make a difference but I have good self-discipline so I force myself to get out of bed and do things, even if I don't feel like it. Once I'm on the move, getting into the working day, etc, it does help to get past the depressed feelings because my mind is occupied. I also don't like the idea of relying on medication to get me through, I prefer just to use my self-discipline, though I realise that this wouldn't suit everyone.
Thanks for the replies. Strangely just acknowledging it and really thinking about what i am to do about it is helping quite a lot.
I can dig what your saying. It's been so hot in oz for so long and then suddenly out of nowhere it's grey and cold. I have to say it's getting me down as well! I really dont know what to do....
Melbourne? I know how much it rains there, but its so beautiful and green....look to the earth and not the sky
Like spooner said the UV lights are made for this. I tried it, because I get the same way...it does in fact work, for me...however, I also get terrible, unpleasant headaches from the UV light. I'm not sure why, but it gives me terrible pains in my temples. So I stopped using it. S.A.D. is a tricky thing to deal with and treat. Seeing a therapist however, might be best....and I'm the only one I know of that gets headaches from the light, so give it a shot if you're willing to.
