SAD 'off-season'?

Hi Sunny, it sounds a lot like SAD to me. I can really relate to the symptoms you are describing, especially feeling lonely, trapped and closed in. Same as you I like the seasons, I love watching everything change and winter can be very beautiful in it's own bleak way, if it wasn't for the depression I probably wouldn't mind it, but my heart sinks as soon as the autumn leaves appear because I know what's coming. Do you have a light box? I recommend getting one and starting about September when the nights start getting darker. Also I find that a dawn simulator helps me get out of bed in the morning. Exercise also helps me, I usually feel much better afterwards. Hope that helps and you don't feel so alone this winter, now you've joined the forum! :-)

Hello there! Thanks for your reply. Generally the worst of it is around now. After that it abates (but doesn't leave until spring) and is the same as (I perceive) anyone else's winter blues. Yes it's infinitely harder to do anything in the winter, yes driving to and from work in the dark can make me teary etc, but it can be in waves.

This is always very much non-existent yesterday but then full-on 'it's here!' the next. I find it hard through the winter at 3 or 4pm, it's like an episodic version of what I'm experiencing now. I quite often time making the coffee or popping to the loo with those times to get away from my desk and distract myself! Weekends I don't feel it anywhere near as much because I almost obsessively (yet subconsciously) stay active and get our and about a lot so that I'm not affected by dusk; it helps me avoid that desperation.

Sorry! Waffling now, never really spoken to anyone about this. My nearest and dearest know I go 'funny' about now and that's as far as it's gone :)

Hi Sunny, please go to your GP first to see if you do suffer from SAD. There may be other underlying Mental Health problems.

S

I knew I had SAD as my GP didn't believe in SAD so depends on your GP. Generally people know themselves i they have SAD. Lots of people get winter blues which is not as bad as SAD but yes you can always ask to see a different GP. I've suffered from SAD for over 20 years now and was relived when SAD started to be taken seriously about 15 years ago. With SAD people usually know they have it due to the patterns of how they feel each year. Then by the spring, they start to feel normal once again. Good luck and this website is so helpful in many ways :-)