Seasonal Affective Disorder - Winter Blues

[andviv]

I know I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder. It is also called Winter Blues. Do you?
If so, what do you do about it?

I already gained two and a half pounds since the hour changed.
I don't feel happy as often as I do during summer. I miss the longer days.

 

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[bflash98]

Living in Seattle this has become more of a concern for us. On my wife's last doctors appointment the doctor suggested she take vitamins and get a sun lamp. We are also planning on taking a trip in the next month to a warm place to recharge a bit.

We have ordered the sun lamp and are waiting for it to arrive at this point.

 

[John]

I'm affected by this, but not as severely as some people. I don't really get depressed, just lazy and unmotivated, and sometimes a little bored and sad. What helps me the most is making sure I exercise regularly. I can tell a definite change in my mood and productivity based on whether I've been putting in some kind of cardiovascular workout every day or two.

Also, I try to spend at least a little time outside in the daylight, even if it's very cold. Maybe bundle up and go for a quick walk or something.

 

[Rawr]

I know I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder. It is also called Winter Blues. Do you?
If so, what do you do about it?

I already gained two and a half pounds since the hour changed.
I don't feel happy as often as I do during summer. I miss the longer days.

I'll tell you what I am going to do about it. I am going to move to either Tempe or Austin, TX come this Jan. Right now deciding where, but leaning to Tempe first.

 

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[TaxGuy]

I don't really get depressed, just lazy and unmotivated, and sometimes a little bored and sad. What helps me the most is making sure I exercise regularly. I can tell a definite change in my mood and productivity based on whether I've been putting in some kind of cardiovascular workout every day or two.

:iagree:

living in Chicago we have two seasons- hell and freezing... with a lil' bit spring and fall in between. I definitely need to work on the time mgmt and keep mixing in the cardio/weight loss workouts in my weekly routine as I want to drop a few lbs(hard to do with my cow-like eating habits :nono before official outdoor training for next yr's marathon. Offseason baseball workouts and a few snowboard outings to Madison will hopefully keep me makin lemonade from those lemons handed to me in the change of seasons!!!

Best of all is the desk at my j-o-b is right next the window and I have a view of the Chicago River and Sears Tower :coolgleamA:

 

[hatterasguy]

Yep, what kills me is I can't fish/sail/or boat at all. Also my beloved classic Mercedes is in winter storage to avoid the salt. I'll be good until Feb/March than I get the blues bad. This year I'll spend a week or two in FL to help. Also I plan on skiing a bit, which is uber relaxing for me. I stopped skiing for a variaty of reasons a few years ago and I really miss it.


My quick cure for the winter blues is a good stiff drink and an anime episode.

 

[yveskleinsky]

I lived in Houston growing up, but my extended family on both sides lives in Chicago--so it's my second home. I can't stand the summers in either place, and the forget the winters in Chicago. ...I moved to Colorado and discovered that even thought the winters were milder, they weren't mild enough...so I moved. Weather-wise you can't beat California or New Mexico.

 

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[Bilgefisher]

I guess I'm an odd duck because Winter is the time I really perk up. I love winter, snow, cold, that burn when you breath in bitter cold air, seeing your breathe, ears burning when you come back in side. I can always get warm in the winter. We finally had our first snow the other day, and I was like a giddy little kid. When I grew up, my folks couldn't keep me in the house in the winter time. I sleep so much better in the winter as well. Snug in bed, breathing in cooler air in the house. Heck, when I had a water bed as a kid, I would not turn on the heater and open the window in the wintertime. I would go winter camping up in the mountains. 0 to -20 degree tent or snowcave camping. Our goal every year was to get 100 points of frost. 1 point per degree below freezing. Some years we would get that in two nights.

Summer time is what drags me down. I can never seem to cool off in the summer. The heat is miserable, my motivation tanks and the gungho part of me subsides.

 

[yveskleinsky]

Bilge, I'm with you to some extent. To me, winter is like Vegas: lots of fun for about 3 days. I'm content to visit winter time and not live in it.

 

[Runum]

To fight the winter blues and other blues I rebopped one of our bathrooms to a tropical island decor. There is the ocean in the horizon all around the room. Lot's of adjustable lights. And a jet tub. You can get in there, crank up the tunes/ noises and soak in the tub with a smoothie on an island paradise. It gets me through the tough times.

 

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[Bilgefisher]

To fight the winter blues and other blues I rebopped one of our bathrooms to a tropical island decor. There is the ocean in the horizon all around the room. Lot's of adjustable lights. And a jet tub. You can get in there, crank up the tunes/ noises and soak in the tub with a smoothie on an island paradise. It gets me through the tough times.

lol That's awesome.

Bilge, I'm with you to some extent. To me, winter is like Vegas: lots of fun for about 3 days. I'm content to visit winter time and not live in it.

Admittedly I do hate when it snows on one day particular day of the year, Christmas. My father worked for the city and plowed when it snowed. Unfortunately the streets have to be plowed, even on Christmas.

 

[andviv]

We have ordered the sun lamp and are waiting for it to arrive at this point.

What did you order (if you don't mind sharing)

I have started looking for a lamp for me as well.

 

[hakrjak]

I think everybody gets the Winter blues from time to time.

I've found that Winter is the perfect time to get back into your workout regiment, since you don't really want to be outside in that cold weather -- Might as well hit the gym and watch the Travel channel so you can imagine yourself someplace warm while you are riding the bike or jogging on the eliptical or treadmill.

If you can afford a little vacation -- I reco recharging your batteries in Cancun, MX. It's cheap, easy to get in and out of, and the waters stay warm and inviting year round.

- Hakrjak

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

I suffered from SAD as well - my only solution was to move somewhere sunny. The change in my life was immeasurable and my reflection on life "back in Chicago" resemble that of a nightmare. I didn't "click" in chitown ... I click down south in the sun.

On ways to manage it; the only thing that helped (And I use "help" loosely) was sun tanning which didn't help my skin.

 

[Karl Anderson]

When you say sun tanning, do you mean using a tanning bed indoors?

 

[Karl Anderson]

I suffered from SAD as well - my only solution was to move somewhere sunny. The change in my life was immeasurable and my reflection on life "back in Chicago" resemble that of a nightmare. I didn't "click" in chitown ... I click down south in the sun.

On ways to manage it; the only thing that helped (And I use "help" loosely) was sun tanning which didn't help my skin.

When you say sun tanning do you mean going to an indoor tanning bed? I've found those to make a difference but not a substitute for sunny warm weather

 

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