Good intentions Vs SAD

I can remember when I was younger and going to school/working and coping with SAD. Back then, I dont' think there was a name for it ( or at least I didn't know it) , but I knew something was terribly wrong with me during the winter months.

I always am so sure that this year, I can cope better than the last.

You're better than me then, you start out on a positive, and I start out on a negative.


If you have a light, please use it.

Good luck to you and I hope your winter is better this year. ;)

Virraszto

I always am so sure that this year, I can cope better than the last.

Does anyone know if this is another symptom? Also, its like I forget how bad it gets. How is that explained? Does anyone know of someone being relieved of this permanently?

These are interesting questions. My first thought was its the fine art of denial. I used to be exactly the same: sure I could conquer it, somehow, some year. I went about a decade like that, from slow dawning that something was really going on, to sure I would handle it myself, up the point of accepting how bad and inevitable it all was and ready to kill myself. I finally took an antidepressant the next year, which I'm sure saved my life.

Was it a symptom? W/ me it probably was, sicne i get something called reverse SAD. It's like a mild hypomania in the summer when sunlight is premium or in spring. It made me be misdx'd as mildly bipolar for awhile, but folk wisdom has called it spring fever for eons, and most so called normals get at least a touch too.

In my later 30's, I got past just grudgingly accepting it all and started actually planning for it. And planning pragmatically, w/out bitterness or woe is me-ing,, which I'd totally wallowed in far too much before. It's far more bearable now. I also started crocheting a few winters ago adn that helps enormously. It's hard to believe I caught myself looking forward to getting lots of crochet done this year, since I know fully well all that goes w/ "crochet season". But I really did, more than once.. I'm also trying like crazy to get important appts. done and getting the freezer full of nutritious meals since I can barely boil water when SAD. My boyfriend knows the drill well (4 yrs now) and knows he'll be cooking lots doing most of the cleaning and stuff that is usually well handled by me. I"m very blessed that he doesn't judge me, knows I'm not lazy at all, and doesn't complain or care how late I sleep in.


Jeanne

I agree with Jeanne

Everyone with SAD must have the feeling of impending doom at some point, myself included. I hate Christmas, it is also my birthday and I have lost count of the times that I haven't even opened my birthday cards. This was until I accepted that this was inevitably going to happen most winters and I would have to deal with it. I gathered as much information as possible to deal with it.

Like Jeanne I plan for it. I make sure all major jobs are done before it gets here. My family and friends know that inevitably I will be less sociable, less engergetic, very tired and not myself. I now don't make any major decisions during this time like changing jobs etc. I keep my diary, writing down how I feel, plan my lightbox times and just work with my body and how it is feeling.

This is my way of coping and until some genius comes up with a solution to the problem then I accept this is part of my make up and a part of how I live my life.

Hi all,
I, of course, am just like you Lickety. The winters you speak of are mine too. From what I've seen in the US, this disease is not well known and when they have heard of it, they don't understand the absolute severity of it. If one more person tells me to go to a tanning bed and I'll be better.....
As for me and my preparation, I am trying to sign up for a class or two now that will hopefully get me out a little this winter. My MO is to usually drop out pretty early on with any winter commitment. For example-Every year I sign up to be a teachers helper at my kids schools. I'm so motivated at first. Love helping the teachers. Love keeping an eye on my kids and the school. Love that my kids love I'm there. Then it hits. I start writing the teacher notes that I will need to come in the afternoon...Or the next day. That probably last for about a month. Then I just stop going, maybe tell my kid to tell the teacher I'm sick, maybe not. Then before the end of school I find myself back volunteering at school and want to duck and hide when I bump into the teacher I was supposed to be working for :oops:. I usually apologize for not doing very good. I feel weird talking to them, wondering if they notice the scared, painfully shy, wanting to hide under a rock lady that was there in the winter has changed into Mrs. confident, interested and very happy Lady. OOooh, I'm so embarrassed reliving my life! But it is the same every year!
I unfortunately, don't have much hope for you having a SAD buddy though. I guess its like that saying-"Smile, and the world smiles with you-Cry, and you cry alone." Maybe this should be a warning to us now, before we're bad, that we must try to support each other this coming winter.
I'm so glad you are all still here

I'm curious about how we just forget this happens until it's really upon us. It must be denial. I'm the same way...

I've also tried to be open with people about SAD, but in the depths of it, I still feel like they're just brushing it aside and forgetting about me... or I did something wrong, said something wrong, looked at them the wrong way...
And no, I can't force myself to go out in the wintertime. I just don't have the energy. Last year, I even had a new digital camera... I have pictures of trees in the Fall and then it stopped there. I didn't pick up my camera again until Spring, when I took tons of pictures.

This year, I've become more of an "outdoors" person -- starting some easy hiking, taking nature photos, spending time in the woods. I now have some bird-feeders that I can easily watch from inside, and I think this will be really good for me.

I've got to start exercising again, though. I'm so miserable about my weight and my health is starting to be affected. :cry:

Hello Everyone,

I've been dreading the onset of winter for the past few weeks but the weather has been bright and sunny, I've spent a lot of time outside and I've felt fine

However, it's now getting dark at around 7:30pm and the weather has suddenly become a bit autumnal. I've started snapping at people over the past few days; and yesterday morning, I almost burst into tears, really suddenly and for no apparent reason. Fortunately, I've been waiting for my symptoms to kick in and so I got my lightpod out immediately & after half an hour, I felt much better.

I've brought it into work today, but it's still hidden away, as many of my colleagues are deeply insensitive (another term for morons) and I really can't be bothered to start explaining myself again; why should I have to? I usually just tell people that I'm tired (I've got 2 young children) and I use the box to increase energy levels. Most people accept this but a couple have sneered and made negative comments.

Does anyone else have problems at work, or do you find people fairly understanding?

I have negative reactions to using my lightbox in work. In my past jobs they have been fine but where I work now there is a woman who is the most ignorant bully I have ever met.

This year I have resorted to getting up earlier and using it for half an hour before I go in. Don't know how I am gonna manage this later on in the year though when I need to use it longer and struggle to get up.

I am looking for another job though because I believe this woman has over the past two year contributed to my condition being worse due to stress.

Good post OBE :D

Were you Old Blue Eyes previously?

The very same my little pink friend!
I look at the posts often but don't really pass comment until the action starts but by then my registration has expired and I've got to use a new name?

Glad you liked it...I was tipsy :lol: