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SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

WINTER BLUES 😞

Does anyone else start getting really down in May? As long as I can remember - may is a difficult month for me, long before the Major Depression label. It spirals into slothful living and sleeping the winter away. Even though I love autumn weather, on the inside I just want to go to sleep and bide my time 'till spring comes - when I know i get a burst of energy back. Lots of people suffer SAD, and for some its serious. Its a well documented condition, and in my case compounds existing depression & anxiety, the tipping point. I noticed here on the forums last year that a lot of us struggled to get through winter, even here in mild Australian weather. What, if any are your winter blues symptoms in the winter?

856 replies

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In response to: SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Re: SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Hi @Former-Member

I am planning on a spring cruise - and we have family in New Zealand - not that I think we will see anyone when we are taking a cruise - actually I would like to go to the city where my grandmother was born - and one of the cruises goes there

But it is still in the thinking-about stage - and I have to find where my grand-daughter would like to go - maybe she would like to go north - I will have to talk about this and think about this

Dec

In response to: Re: SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Re: SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

hi @Former-Member, @soul, @Owlunar,

How ya going with the winter blues?

I'm feeling it but the sunny days here have been awesome

Today I couldn't get up, kept falling asleep then when I did get up I couldn't think or walk properly, very weird. Must have travelled the universe in my dreams last night - crash landesomewhere lol And my heart is racing. Oh well

Must get into some meditations.

Love to hear how you deal with less sunshine.

Only couple days to winter. Here's a joke to see Autumn out

In response to: Re: SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Re: SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

@Former-Member

In response to: SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Re: SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

❤❤ Shaz

In response to: SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Re: SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

@soul, i'll probably 'memory laps' you day so getting in early and wishing you a Happy Birthday!!! Our winter baby. Were you a 'blue baby' lol oh sorry, the retired midwife in me and SAD just tried to crack a joke (eye role :/) And thanks for remindingbua of some of the positives to winter. Please keep doing that.

@Owlunar, how are you holding up this first day of winter? And @Luna? shaz?/or anyone who doesn't like the cold??Please join in.

Its almost 6am, been wide awake since 5am, and its really cold. Weather forcadt said well get a frost - I reckon the grass will definitely crack under my feet atm - but no way am I getting out from under these covers to find out. A quick dash to the toot was bad enough. Brrr! 🍃❄⛄ Times like this I wish I had a 🔥 fireplace. Nothing like watching flames dancing around to warm the forehead.

Yesterday the southerly wind had a real chill in it, winter's here. My weatherboard house gets really cold and holds the chill long after outside warms up. If its not windy its kindacweird because morning tea on my veranda is much warmer than in here.

Yesterday I achieved a few things: finally renewed tyres on my trailer, much to my surprise they were only $44 each. Then I picked up a solid word buffet & hutch found at a garage sale on the w'end for $20 (needs work but be worth it - love the woodwork - never been able to afford a new one like that). Funny you know, I got home in the dark, took a toot break and that quick the neighbours cute ginger cat had already checked out the new furniture (still on the trailer) and here she was sittingnon top like a Queen, looking down at me with that look 'do not disturb me' Made me laugh, little miss 🙂 Really hope I get round to some of these projects. Hoping it will boost me outside, in the shed with the big doors open and sunshine. Getting organised is the hardest part for me with new projects like this, I keep losing things 😖 Anyway, bringing these projects home is the easy part, gotta finish them (says fast growing hoarder).

Even with my new affordable tyres, the buy of the year onboard and beautiful scenery on the drive out of town - I still felt so sad and it hit me hard how alone I feel and how meaningless even what I was doing is. Oh boy that sinking feeling really pull downward. I don't cry so much these days, cried out I reckon, ht I did remember to do my breathing deep exercise (neatly nodded off driving) and mentally invited the spiritual essence of all the precious souls in my life (inc forum family), to not feel alone. Here we were all squashed in the car cabin heading home in the twilight of the day lol, It helped.

Oh, daylight (6:30) - time for a coffee ☕👍☕☕☕









In response to: Re: SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Re: SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Hi @Former-Member

One day of winter past and 91 to go - but we are nearly up to the shortest day

I have had a busy week - and felt better for my retail therapy on Monday

Tuesday I had one of my domestic staff her and she does a super job - she's a really hard worker and does little bitznpiecez most people don't and I notice

Wednesday I went out and had lunch with my daughter and grand-daughter - dd is just back from NZ and came bearing small gifts - their cat actually belongs to my gd who has moved out on her own - and this time the cat had a holiday with my gd and didn't feel very happy about it and when she went home to my dd and sil she was a bad cat - not as bad as mine was - but still - enough of bad cats when we decide on our way

Thursday I had a couple of guys here to spring clean my bedroom which meant moving the bed - I have a queen bed in the smaller of the bedrooms because it is quiet and private at the back of the house - and the domestic workers can't do that - and they cleaned the fans and around the doors and the window sill and inside the windows - oh - that was well done and looks great. The book cases were moved as well - and I have time to put it all back neatly -

And in the afternoon a man came and steam-cleaned the carpet in my bedroom and lounge - it makes a huge difference - I am so glad this has been done

Tomorrow more domestic help and shopping - what a busy week - as I said else-where - I will be glad to be able to sleep in on Saturday

So to answer your question about the SAD and me - I haven't really had time to have it this week - an last weekend I fell into a SAD hole - and I feel much better and hope you can get by with the SADs

Dec

In response to: SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Re: SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Oh no @Owlunar, 92days left, what the... hmm, best not think about that. Glad you had your home cleaned top to bottom (by the sound of it), definitely a pickmeup outcome there. Well don't.

I relate to the "too many book s" (anyone would think I was a reader lol). Bought another 6 this week (eyes rolling). Yep, had myself some retail therapy too this week. Finally got my trailer tyres renewed, for 1/2 the price expected (2nd hand good ones). They were 15years old and bad shape. Then I picked up a solid timber beffet & hutch from a garage sale 50km away, for only $25, needs sanding back etc but be beautiful done. Might post a pic tomorrow. Still on the trailer as been out all day today.

Had a Dr apt te my back (again), and she req bloods (inflammatory markers) and a CT scan re this unnusual upper back pain. Then I found myself visiting op shops - found a couple of nice shirts & niknaks - Yep, always feels like a win when ya catch a bargain especially for for things we actually need. I'm a shopaholic 😞 (is there a shopaholic's anonymous group? I need help). I could make a list of a the spending sprees this week but that might be too embarrassing lol

Retail Therapy - love it (but not) 🌷🌿

In response to: Re: SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Re: SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

How's everyone going with their Winter Blues? I'm cold & lonely but not hopeless for a change, just still. But have gone out a few tines this week. Otherwise in bed re back an staying warm.

In response to: SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Re: SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

1. Salmon

2. Flax, hemp & chia seeds

3. Chocolate

4. Eggs

5. Citrus

6. Greens

7. Lentils

8. Pumpkin seeds

9. Red meat

10. Almonds

11. Sardines

12. Walnuts

13. Oats

14. Mushrooms

15. Cauliflower

living strong.com

In response to: SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Re: SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Hey @Former-Member, hope you don't mind me joining in here. I too notice that winter seems to be harder for me, though I do love snuggling down with a blanket and book. I love that it's so easy to find yarns in winter and that soup feels so good at this time of the year.

As I write this, I am currently enjoying a very sunny day where birds are out, there's not really even a breeze and I can't see any clouds, so my more positive view of winter is happening during a very not-wintery day 😉

I haven't been on my bike in ages and a lot of that has to do with the weather, and I feel sad thinking it's just going to get worse from here.

Anyway, just wanted to come past and say hi really. Sorry to hear you're feeling cold and lonely, but it's good to hear that hopeless isn't added to the mix today too.

Hope you stay warm for the rest of the day 🙂
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