S.A.D. Its started
Discussion
At the risk of giving the game away, I'm guessing most of us here complaining about SAD, depression, anxiety, etc. are middle aged(??) I know its a stereotype, that 'mid-life crisis' thing, but I'm now in my late forties & can confirm that things started going downhill in my early forties, reached a low point at 45-ish, & things are now (slowly) improving. I hope I'm right, & I do see light at the end of the tunnel, but winter is all a bit much!
Anyway, must dash - hopefully everyone will have a pleasant day!
Anyway, must dash - hopefully everyone will have a pleasant day!
Sorry to hear this OP. All the advice is good. Vitamin D is a big one, and get out for some fresh air in the middle of the day if you can, even if you are just walking round the cap park at work.
For a good few years now I have been using one of the big SAD lights like the Maplin link earlier on.
I get up at 6.30, and have it on next to me while I watch TV and have my breakfast for 30 minutes. It really does make a difference. It will be coming out at the weekend.
Good luck!
For a good few years now I have been using one of the big SAD lights like the Maplin link earlier on.
I get up at 6.30, and have it on next to me while I watch TV and have my breakfast for 30 minutes. It really does make a difference. It will be coming out at the weekend.
Good luck!
I saw a documentary about this when I was younger. Loads of cures out there, apparently:
Damp roses
kittens whiskers
copper kettles (polished)
warm mittens (wooly ones)
brown paper packages
Being tied up with string
Cream colored ponies
apple strudels (the crispy ones)
A variety of bells
Schnitzel and noodles
Nocturnal geese flight
Girls in a white dresses with blue satin sashes
face full of snow
It not being winter anymore
Might be worth a try, anyway.
Damp roses
kittens whiskers
copper kettles (polished)
warm mittens (wooly ones)
brown paper packages
Being tied up with string
Cream colored ponies
apple strudels (the crispy ones)
A variety of bells
Schnitzel and noodles
Nocturnal geese flight
Girls in a white dresses with blue satin sashes
face full of snow
It not being winter anymore
Might be worth a try, anyway.
Some Gump said:
Loads of cures out there ...
In the absence of an outright cure I find the occasional use of this to be a great tonic 
Warning! A little on the NSFW side ...
https://youtu.be/FIfbghHdG1s
MitchT said:
I had the same thought. A few strategically located properties around the world and I'll only ever know summer!
I'll drink to that!!! 
There's nothing better than going to the Med in mid winter - really invigorating & I hope I'll have enough pennies saved for an Easyjet flight to Spain in February.....MitchT said:
Biker 1 said:
I'm guessing most of us here complaining about SAD, depression, anxiety, etc. are middle aged(??)
I'm 42 but it started in my late teens.The first few years were tough but I got used to it, like a tunnel on a train journey that I make regularly. You know roughly how long you're going to be in the dark so you just go on autopilot and wait 'till you come out of the other end. It's good to start some kind of project before it begins that will need your focus and input and not be finished until after it ends.
Biker 1 said:
Sorry, I meant that my SAD symptoms seem to start at the end of BST. I guess its the early nights.... I find February & mid March the hardest; its that false Spring, when you get a few warmer days, they wallop - frost/fog/grey/drizzle again, for what seems an eternity.
On a lighter note, this is the fake sunrise I have had for several years now; very well made & sturdier than the Lumi (at least at the time) - they do some other good looking stuff also: http://www.sunrisesystemled.com/srs100.html
Spring is the point at which your serotonin levels will be at their lowest due to prolonged daylight deprivation over winter. On a lighter note, this is the fake sunrise I have had for several years now; very well made & sturdier than the Lumi (at least at the time) - they do some other good looking stuff also: http://www.sunrisesystemled.com/srs100.html
This is typically when I feel worst, however this year I feel s
t now as well - and I can see that I am not alone in this.I reckon it's as the result of a summer where it was either raining or too hot to go out, with nothing in between. A large open-plan office with few windows doesn't help either.
Another middle-aged, SAD-suffering IT bod checking in here...
OP - you are definitely not alone (as evidenced by all the replies with good advice here); I think SAD is way more common than people realise. I've suffered badly from it, as has my good lady, but we can keep it at bay now we've recognised it.
Two things work for us; exercise and light. Combine the two for best effect and, whatever else you do, seize every opportunity to take a walk outside - to your local shop, to get a sarnie at lunchtime, any excuse really. We're lucky enough to live by the sea (actually, have stretched ourselves on the rent to do so - very much due to us both getting SAD) and that really helps with the light.
Your profile says you're in the Midlands so the sea might be a big ask, but if you can find a lake to walk by or a hill to climb to get you up and under a big sky that won't do any harm. Try the sunrise lights (friend of mine swears by them) and all the advice above; plenty of options before you need the GP. Good luck!
OP - you are definitely not alone (as evidenced by all the replies with good advice here); I think SAD is way more common than people realise. I've suffered badly from it, as has my good lady, but we can keep it at bay now we've recognised it.
Two things work for us; exercise and light. Combine the two for best effect and, whatever else you do, seize every opportunity to take a walk outside - to your local shop, to get a sarnie at lunchtime, any excuse really. We're lucky enough to live by the sea (actually, have stretched ourselves on the rent to do so - very much due to us both getting SAD) and that really helps with the light.
Your profile says you're in the Midlands so the sea might be a big ask, but if you can find a lake to walk by or a hill to climb to get you up and under a big sky that won't do any harm. Try the sunrise lights (friend of mine swears by them) and all the advice above; plenty of options before you need the GP. Good luck!
Dave2P said:
Another middle-aged, SAD-suffering IT bod checking in here...
OP - you are definitely not alone (as evidenced by all the replies with good advice here); I think SAD is way more common than people realise. I've suffered badly from it, as has my good lady, but we can keep it at bay now we've recognised it.
Two things work for us; exercise and light. Combine the two for best effect and, whatever else you do, seize every opportunity to take a walk outside - to your local shop, to get a sarnie at lunchtime, any excuse really. We're lucky enough to live by the sea (actually, have stretched ourselves on the rent to do so - very much due to us both getting SAD) and that really helps with the light.
Your profile says you're in the Midlands so the sea might be a big ask, but if you can find a lake to walk by or a hill to climb to get you up and under a big sky that won't do any harm. Try the sunrise lights (friend of mine swears by them) and all the advice above; plenty of options before you need the GP. Good luck!
Yep seems like a few of us fall foul of this! We all seem to work in bloody IT too!! Luckily I have a dog so frequent walks are not a problem and I recognise the benefit of some fresh air and day light so will try as you say to regularly undertake a stroll however short.OP - you are definitely not alone (as evidenced by all the replies with good advice here); I think SAD is way more common than people realise. I've suffered badly from it, as has my good lady, but we can keep it at bay now we've recognised it.
Two things work for us; exercise and light. Combine the two for best effect and, whatever else you do, seize every opportunity to take a walk outside - to your local shop, to get a sarnie at lunchtime, any excuse really. We're lucky enough to live by the sea (actually, have stretched ourselves on the rent to do so - very much due to us both getting SAD) and that really helps with the light.
Your profile says you're in the Midlands so the sea might be a big ask, but if you can find a lake to walk by or a hill to climb to get you up and under a big sky that won't do any harm. Try the sunrise lights (friend of mine swears by them) and all the advice above; plenty of options before you need the GP. Good luck!
I went a saw the GP who advised similar but also put me forward for CBT which following a telephone interview was deemed unnecessary! He did prescribe a low dose course of sertraline during the winter months which after a few days of feeling a bit odd seemed to be working. I'm happy to report that alongside the Vit C, D iron, cod liver oil etc I seem to have more energy and I'm back to being able to wake myself up and back to my previous concentration levels. I'm happy I have done something about it this year and feel in future years I'll be more prepared for it. Not got a light yet but still sleeping with the curtains open for some daylight first thing. Good luck to you all
I think i had a touch of this last year, if you remember we had a lot of rain, which meant alot of indoors, no natural light etc.
So far so good,
ive really avoided junk food and ate really healthily the last few months, i also try and take the dog out before it gets dark, that's been useful as well,
all i can say if its dry get the dog taken out. youll both benefit for it
So far so good,
ive really avoided junk food and ate really healthily the last few months, i also try and take the dog out before it gets dark, that's been useful as well,
all i can say if its dry get the dog taken out. youll both benefit for it
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