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Worst Months :0(

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marky999
marky999
joined 10 Nov 2006
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Posted by marky999, 05:24 27 September 2007

What are everyones worst months ? what symptoms you begin to get etc........... I ask because my worst months are = Oct I start to feel "the change" (more anxious for no reason at all, low mood) Nov is bad bad all round , Dec = bad at the begining but getting better at the end , Jan = much better , the end is in sight and for me this means spring is around the corner (albeit long corner!) this month I can start to rebuild my life , work, family etc ......... From then onwards I seem to get better and better ?

For many others though it seems to go on till March, even April :0( am I just weird?

Marky Mark
WhistlingPig
WhistlingPig
joined 21 Sep 2007
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Posted by WhistlingPig, 08:19 27 September 2007

My worst time is around now, September/October. Once winter is properly here I'm not too bad - once I know that this is as bad as it's going to get, I can cope with it (sort of!), it's the transition that really affects me. Particularly when we've had the kind of rotten summer we've had this year.
Piglet
Piglet
joined 12 Oct 2006
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Posted by Piglet, 09:06 27 September 2007

I start sliding into hibernation mode from the start of September, even if it is sunny the quality of light doesn't seem good enough.

One of the reasons I failed to recognise my SAD in previous years was that I thought SAD was only November thru Feb and I feel like this September thru to April.
Suzie
Suzie
joined 26 Jan 2007
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Posted by Suzie, 15:43 27 September 2007

I start going down hill from Sept but my worst months are without a doubt Jan and Feb.
paulst
joined 5 Oct 2005
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Posted by paulst, 16:05 27 September 2007

This year ive already started going downhill, but the worst months for me are Dec-March, then my brain starts to work again.
Suzie
Suzie
joined 26 Jan 2007
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Posted by Suzie, 16:09 27 September 2007

Me too Paulst, I think it's gonna be a difficult 6 months
paulst
joined 5 Oct 2005
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Posted by paulst, 17:58 27 September 2007

I think you are right about that, this is one of the worst Septembers ive ever had and with another 5 or 6 months to go help!
PurpleIvy
PurpleIvy
joined 16 Mar 2005
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Posted by PurpleIvy, 19:17 27 September 2007

I feel on top of things at the moment, but just you wait Paulst, me 'n Suzie will be over to pinch your Galaxy! She's desperate I know!
paulst
joined 5 Oct 2005
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Posted by paulst, 21:15 27 September 2007

Mmmmm galaxy
Amalthea
joined 12 Nov 2006
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Posted by Amalthea, 01:25 28 September 2007

September starts it all and it's pretty low energy through November. The pressure of Christmas makes December even harder. January usually is a nightmare... February is grueling, March drags... Finally relief in mid-March/April.

Pittsburgh is probably the worst place to live. It's cold, grey and overcast starting in Sept, doesn't let up until March! That leaves five months of hypomania.
Amalthea
joined 12 Nov 2006
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Posted by Amalthea, 01:27 28 September 2007

Piglet, where do you live? You sound like you have a similar pattern to mine.
Patricia
Patricia
joined 31 Oct 2006
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Posted by Patricia, 02:56 28 September 2007

I guess my symptoms start the end of September and gradually get worse until I seem to peak in December but once the New Year is over it seems to start lifting, I guess then that I know there is light at the end of the tunnel, although it doesn't really lift until I would say March time, then I can be happy again.
That sounds weird I suppose but I don't have to worry about coping the same.

Triciax
Piglet
Piglet
joined 12 Oct 2006
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Posted by Piglet, 09:48 28 September 2007

Amalthea, I'm in Bristol, England but working in an office I don't get to see the light of day much! Mainly it's dark and manky when I come to work and dark and manky when I leave!
Amalthea
joined 12 Nov 2006
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Posted by Amalthea, 11:37 28 September 2007

I work in an office, too. There's a window, but it's a distance away.

I've never heard the word "manky" before. I get the drift, tho. :)
gavster
joined 28 Sep 2007
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Posted by gavster, 13:12 28 September 2007

September has been good with quite a lot of sunsune this month. However this week things have suddenly changed for the worse as each day I have been getting worse with Thursday sending me down like a lead baloon. I haven't felt like this since March (oh no here we go again!)
Best
Gavin

TedBear
joined 27 Sep 2007
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Posted by TedBear, 15:06 28 September 2007

I've been feeling the same too this week - not full blown SAD yet but the distant rumblings of. The sky was really wintry this morning- AD's are keeping symptoms at bay for now - but have used light box a little in the evenings this week when I have felt my energy/mood chunking down a bit more. Dreading oct/november as then it really hits usually.
paulst
joined 5 Oct 2005
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Posted by paulst, 15:36 28 September 2007

HI gavin& Tedbear, welcome to the forum, look forward to reading more of your posts when you feel able
Amalthea
joined 12 Nov 2006
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Posted by Amalthea, 16:21 28 September 2007

Yes, welcome to the forum!
Nicole23
joined 28 Sep 2007
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Posted by Nicole23, 18:20 28 September 2007

Im not sure whhen my symptoms are at there worst this will be the first year ive been diagnosed and been in awareness of that what was causing the problems. Im hoping now it will be abit easier to control now im aware. But i think that it usually starts around the middle of september with anxiety, depression, confustion, indecisiveness, despair, fatigue, eating, eating, eating! then gets worse till about after christmas when it starts to become lighter. Oh joy.
I can understand how everybody is feeling. We are all sensitive to natures cycles which is so frustrating!!
Amalthea
joined 12 Nov 2006
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Posted by Amalthea, 18:36 28 September 2007

Nicole,
Welcome to the forum, too! I struggle with some anxiety, knowing it's "coming" when winter approaches, but having the diagnosis really helped because at least I understand WHY I act the way I do during the winter. I also have done much better with the lightbox than I had in previous years without it.
Best of wishes to you, and feel free to join in around here. This forum is just a good place to be.

Heather
Nicole23
joined 28 Sep 2007
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Posted by Nicole23, 11:52 29 September 2007

Glad ive finally managed how to use a computer! ha. Its nice to have a link and share your problems with people that understand.
barbwaga Aka: (.Bilbo)
barbwaga Aka: (.Bilbo)
joined 29 Sep 2007
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Posted by barbwaga Aka: (.Bilbo), 13:54 29 September 2007

Hi everyone I don't feel like such a freek n ow that I know what is wrong with me and that there are others who feel the same! my worst Months are from September till March. I have been a sufferer for most of my Life and so has my dad do you think it can be passed down through the family?
Suzie
Suzie
joined 26 Jan 2007
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Posted by Suzie, 19:06 29 September 2007

Hi Barbwaga

I don't think it can be passed down through the family but I did read somewhere that there can be a tendancy that if a person has sad another family member could have it too.
barbwaga Aka: (.Bilbo)
barbwaga Aka: (.Bilbo)
joined 29 Sep 2007
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Posted by barbwaga Aka: (.Bilbo), 19:25 29 September 2007

Hi Suzie Thank you for the Info. im sure my dad has Been suffering for years but hates going to the Doc so it has never been treated.
Suzie
Suzie
joined 26 Jan 2007
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Posted by Suzie, 19:29 29 September 2007

I know a lady who wrote into SADA who had SAD and her dad had had it all his life too. He was never really diagnosed with it and when he died when he was old she found his journal and realised he had been writing in there about his struggle with this "winter demon" for most of his life. it was quite humbling to read. How old is your dad?
barbwaga Aka: (.Bilbo)
barbwaga Aka: (.Bilbo)
joined 29 Sep 2007
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Posted by barbwaga Aka: (.Bilbo), 20:20 29 September 2007

My Dad is 74
Suzie
Suzie
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Posted by Suzie, 08:44 30 September 2007

I think it's more difficult for the older generation to admit that they are having a problem. Stiff upper lip and all that. They don't tend to believe in all this "light therapy stuff" and it's "mind over matter" They just tend to struggle on don't they. At least you are aware that there may be a problem and can support him and understand how he is feeling. That in itself has got to be a big help to him.
Sleepy- bear
Sleepy- bear
joined 1 Oct 2007
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Posted by Sleepy- bear, 13:04 1 October 2007

I've never really noticed any particular month to be worse than another. I get so far down i forget where i have been and where the light to start again is. i've been on my anti-depressants now for over a year. i have to start my light therapy in Sept, and i can feel a massive change already. I'm a night owl by nature, but lately i've been in bed for 9pm! I'm getting in trouble at work already for being late in due to over sleeping or my light treatment. Feeling so fed up. I want it to be March already. i'd happily sacfrice Christmas and New Year for it!
ally may
joined 3 Jan 2006
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Posted by ally may, 18:49 1 October 2007

nov-dec-jan-feb

with dec being worst of all
PurpleIvy
PurpleIvy
joined 16 Mar 2005
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Posted by PurpleIvy, 22:11 1 October 2007

Definitely January the worst..... but has been as early as Nov I have been off work, although I usually manage to keep going until Christmas on adrenaline. By February half term I'm looking forward and gee-ing myself up cos things are getting better usually.
PurpleIvy
PurpleIvy
joined 16 Mar 2005
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Posted by PurpleIvy, 22:11 1 October 2007

Definitely January the worst..... but has been as early as Nov I have been off work, although I usually manage to keep going until Christmas on adrenaline. By February half term I'm looking forward and gee-ing myself up cos things are getting better usually.
PurpleIvy
PurpleIvy
joined 16 Mar 2005
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Posted by PurpleIvy, 22:15 1 October 2007

Sorry about that repetition! I ws having trouble connecting. may be a prob with the forum, cos most of them won't let you post more than once!
koko
joined 4 Oct 2007
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Posted by koko, 16:24 4 October 2007

My anxiety and low mood usually sets in late oct/early nov and lasts probably until spring begins but worst month has always been november. It is frustrating tho cos even if I wanted to try hard to be ok and stay positive, the memories and knowledge that our brain holds (if that makes sense) is always there to remind me or perhaps trigger the SAD or would it happen anyway? I don't think any of that made sense?! lol
paulst
joined 5 Oct 2005
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Posted by paulst, 17:16 4 October 2007

Hi koko, welcome to the forum,im glad you have joined us, look forward to reading more of your posts when you are able.
koko
joined 4 Oct 2007
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Posted by koko, 17:39 4 October 2007

thanks paulst :-) glad to have joined!
lpool86
joined 5 Oct 2007
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Posted by lpool86, 15:55 5 October 2007

My SAD has kicked in really hard the past two weeks, I've been ill so staying indoors a lot more which hasnt helped. But I moved 250 miles away from home for Uni about a month ago which really hasnt helped anything-being that far away from home and my friends

xxx
soph
paulst
joined 5 Oct 2005
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Posted by paulst, 16:40 5 October 2007

Hi soph welcome, sorry you are feeling ill,many of us have started sad symptoms early this year so you are among friends.
koko
joined 4 Oct 2007
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Posted by koko, 17:14 5 October 2007

Hi soph, hope you start to feel better soon. I too have not been well and have been stuck in doors also...always makes SAD symptoms worse :-( I just went out for a short walk in the woods nearby and it really lifted me. It must be tough being away from friends and family, hope you have msn ;-)(you will make some new friends when feeling stronger) take care and get well soon x
Crimson
Crimson
joined 5 Oct 2007
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Posted by Crimson, 19:43 5 October 2007

For me November is the worst as like Whistling Pig says once I level off and adapt to the winter me I cope better. It is the transition I find hardest. This year is bad as already sliding quite badly.

On the inheritance thing both me and my Dad have it although I have not been formally diagnosed.

Crimson
becky19
becky19
joined 12 Dec 2006
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Posted by becky19, 16:19 8 October 2007

it normally starts about october for me but i dont think it ever went away this year. its just been like winter all through summer with this rubbish weather
Jen
Jen
joined 1 Nov 2006
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Posted by Jen, 20:34 8 October 2007

My worst months are September through to April - all months are bad but the worst is probs March because at that point the clocks go forward & I expect to feel better but I dont & then I get frustrated and annoyed!
badwolf
badwolf
joined 10 Oct 2007
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Posted by badwolf, 07:05 10 October 2007

Worse time 4 me is Sept/October & early Nov then I start to think about Xmas & keep busy with that I guess. Then After Xmas I look 4ward to snow & then Spring - which is when I'm the happiest
PurpleIvy
PurpleIvy
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Posted by PurpleIvy, 07:43 10 October 2007

Hey Badwolf, I just love your avatar!
badwolf
badwolf
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Posted by badwolf, 09:51 10 October 2007

hehe thanx
marky999
marky999
joined 10 Nov 2006
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Posted by marky999, 10:32 10 October 2007

well , its been a grey and miserable last 2 days :0( how is everyone getting along ?
I have been feeling that anxiety smack bang in the middle of my tummy , for no apparent reason ! god I hate that .
Im off to New York next week , so that will be interesting to see if that helps this year or not ? was going to try Melatonin on the flight back , to see if it would re-set my body clock , ie reduce jet lag ? any ideas?

Hope you are all well , the weather here in the UK is set to become warmer and sunnier towards the end of the week :0) so chin up peeps

Marky Mark x
Amalthea
joined 12 Nov 2006
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Posted by Amalthea, 15:31 10 October 2007

Please let me know how the melatonin works for you. I've never tried it and would love to know how effective/any side effects.

Maybe someone else here can give you more feedback.

Doing OK myself - a few emotional 'hiccups' when I feel needy. We're just going into some rainy days ahead. (Pittsburgh, PA) Hang in there, folks.
Stained Glass Lady
joined 5 Dec 2007
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Posted by Stained Glass Lady, 18:51 7 December 2007

my worst months are nov,dec,jan as soon as the days start to get longer I start to feel better

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