Dealing with winter depression

[CarlosTL]

I am sure I am not the only one, but winter is one of the hardest times of the year, which often results in weight gain, increased anxiety, decreased productivity. The latter being a significant problem professionally as winter tends to be the busiest time of the year.


The recommendations for this seasonal depression are usually light therapy, food supplements (vitamin D) and exercise. What are you experiences with this? How do you deal/cope with winter depression?


For me the hardest part, is the unnatural schedule that we're forced to adopt; our brain is predisposed to wake up and find natural light, and in winter, if you're located in a northern latitude, you tend to wake up in the dark, go to work when it's still dark, and come back home in the dark, couldn't possibly be worse for our internal psychological clock.

 

[jy76]

Sometimes, depending on your location, the winter can provide a lot of fun activities.  For instance, a lot of people take advantage of the snow and ice to participate in a wide range of sports.  Therefore, I think winter can be good or bad depending on how you look at it. My view of paradise isn't dependent on weather, but rather one's reaction to the weather.

 

[Lyndra]

If you are waking up in the dark, going home in the dark, and if you work in an office, only get an hour or so's daylight at lunchtime, that's always a bit difficult to deal with. I try to focus on the Christmas lights, and good cheer, but the later parts of November before they go up can be really depressing.

Can you make some time for yourself to do things you enjoy, whether it is curling up with a book in front of a fire (or a TV screen showing a DVD of one), or going out to see things like the winter wonderland displays? Maybe if you can create good memories to associate with this time of year it will help when you feel down.

 

[AngelaMc]

I am sure I am not the only one, but winter is one of the hardest times of the year, which often results in weight gain, increased anxiety, decreased productivity. The latter being a significant problem professionally as winter tends to be the busiest time of the year.


The recommendations for this seasonal depression are usually light therapy, food supplements (vitamin D) and exercise. What are you experiences with this? How do you deal/cope with winter depression?


For me the hardest part, is the unnatural schedule that we're forced to adopt; our brain is predisposed to wake up and find natural light, and in winter, if you're located in a northern latitude, you tend to wake up in the dark, go to work when it's still dark, and come back home in the dark, couldn't possibly be worse for our internal psychological clock.

Hello CarlosTL, I go through the same winter blues, the way I cope with my Winter Depression is to try and get out as often as possible. On my days off of work I usually go to the mall and walk around, or take short walks in my neighborhood, having company or family over for game night is always a mood enhancer also.

If you're not getting enough Sunlight, there are Sun Lamps on the market that are quite inexpensive. Doctors usually don't recommend these, but they produce ultraviolet-b rays that trigger vitamin d production. One of my friends have one and she swears by it. This gives you something to think about, maybe it could help.

 

[janemariesayed]

The sun always makes us feel a lot better. If you are a person who works indoors then you would really suffer in the winter through lack of natural light. Can you move your desk nearer to the window? It may help. I read that to get the daily vitamins from the sun we only need 20 minutes of being out in it. Taking an extra vitamin D supplement could probably help too. I can't stand the cold, especially after living in the tropics for so long. I tell myself the winter will soon be over. I think I saw my first buds on a tree in my village in the second week of January. That always makes me feel good.

 

[Concernedgal]

The sun always makes us feel a lot better. If you are a person who works indoors then you would really suffer in the winter through lack of natural light. Can you move your desk nearer to the window? It may help. I read that to get the daily vitamins from the sun we only need 20 minutes of being out in it. Taking an extra vitamin D supplement could probably help too. I can't stand the cold, especially after living in the tropics for so long. I tell myself the winter will soon be over. I think I saw my first buds on a tree in my village in the second week of January. That always makes me feel good.

I hate the sun and I love the clouds. The sun is annoying and it irritates my anxiety. It's like ellen said before... when the sun goes through the trees , it kinda has that strobe light effect . I never thought of it that way until ellen described it that way. I get dizzy light headed and agitated at the sun. Rain rain please stay. Lol

 

[janemariesayed]

Well you must have the opposite to SAD, @Concernedgal I always thought that the sun had a benefit to all people. Especially to us depressants! I love seeing the sunlight shine through the trees. Shining up all the leaves, I find it magical.

This was a truly magical walk that I used to make with my two dogs. The white flowers are wild garlic and at the end of the walk is a massive beach, and of course, it was so much better when the sun was shining. On the right hand side, you can't see it, but it is a little creek flowing all along the path down to the sea. This kind of walk with the sun shining makes me very happy and able to forget the troubles for a while.

 

[Concernedgal]

That is beautiful. My doctor says it's because I have severe depression. You know when you open your blinds in the morning and your eyes gave to have a chance to adjust to the light? That's kinda how it is for me except my eyes never adjust it doesn't seem like. Maybe i have problems with my sleep. Not that I don't get enough, maybe it's the quality of my sleep. That's something else I should get checked out during my search for answers.