SAD

Yes, I was diagnosed with SAD. Then there was an excellent site which gave advice.

Do you want to sleep much more than other times of the year?

Are you too tired to change to go out for an evening?

Do you crave biscuits, cake etc ?

I used a light box, and was advised to get outside in the day for about 30 minutes for your eyes to have natural day light

I found it lifted a bit when I moved from a cottage to a house with large windows.

The NHS recognises SAD perhaps they have information, worth looking

Here is a link, hope it helps

www.nhs.uk/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/

Thanks, I'll take a look.

I do sympathise, I use to buy diaries which use to give lighting up times in London ! I live in Wales, and felt a little cheered when I saw the minutes changing , 3rd week of January and there is a difference . Do get help x

I have a SAD light too. It does seem to help

Try taking vitamin D. It seemed to help me last year so I'm taking it again this year.
I think our distant ancestors had the right idea about winter: just go to bed for a couple of months

I have SAD and I do need to get help as once the dark nights come along my mood definitely plummets. But I do battle with depression for the whole of the year as well, only at this time it gets worse.

well this is the first year I have dreaded the short days, ie. early dark nights.
always was positive and thought of things to do..

now dreading it.. don`t think I have SAD though.
good idea to get out during the day, thanks for that.

I actually like the darker evenings (don't care about mornings as I don't surface till 9-ish!) Have always preferred autumn to spring.

Try and look at it more positively, the leaves turn pretty colours, for instance, streets not jammed with half dressed teens. Other than the hell of Halloween and Bonfire Night, it's nice to settle in in front of rubbish telly!

SAD light (I got mine from Lumie) and Vitamin D from Autumn to Spring. I find I'm better if I "go with the flow" - i.e. go to bed earlier and get up later (during mid winter I often sleep for 9-10 hours) and see it as a time of semi-hibernation, rather than fighting to maintain the same level of activity as in Spring and Summer. Make sure you get some daylight every day (as others have said). In the middle of winter, I often walk down to the postbox (if I've nothing-else on) to give myself some daylight, and when it's icy I've been known to just potter in my garden in the middle of winter swaddled in coat, gloves, scarf, hat, etc !

PS When you say you feel very anxious - is that about going out (that you feel less safe in the dark) or is it all the time (even when you're indoors) ?

I really hate having to drive anywhere in the dark. My dh can't drive at the moment so if he has hospital appointments I have to drive him and I really dread the nights pulling in and getting dark by 5.30pm. I don't have to get up early to go out in dark mornings thankfully. I am in process of buying a couple of sets of under layers though to make sure my stiff shoulder and back keeps warm.

As soon as I wake in the mornings feeling really sad I know I have to start taking Vitamin D tablets for the next few winter months. That certainly helped last year and other years I’ve used a light box.

I've started SAD earlier than usual this autumn, so my son bought me a large pack of vitamin D with instructions to take them every day. So I am hoping they help.

I also suffer from SAD and dread the winter! I was thinking of getting a light box so it’s interesting to read that it has helped others

Dark by five pm still dark at seven am never bothered me until DH passed away.Now dread them & would, if it were possible, hibernate.

Well at the risk of some terrible pun - we must try to make light of it! Seriously as we do live in these northern places - turn the lights on, get a www.sad.co.uk/SAD-Solutions-BLUElight-SAD-Light/6139sdmp.htm?colour=Blue+Light&sku=54705&productid=14438&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrrXtBRCKARIsAMbU6bGx3hqqyc9Lb4w_GejAZmBQp_TbcwRWBVhEreTN7Hrhtl-fU-nXshkaAt1hEALw_wcB or similar, get daylight, take vitamin d. And be as busy a possible. They do say 'all things pass'. What about a sunny break (Canaries?) in January...

I feel anxious that my MH will go down further. That is my anxiety.

I just have to try to overcome this somehow.

I have a daylight lamp - a proper one, not just white light. I find it fantastic for lifting the spirits and it is a great light to work by - sewing, reading etc

Gosh, how I loathe the darkening months - roll on 21st December I say, that's when I turn a psychological corner and the lengthening days transform my view of everything in life!

I also have a lamp on the landing at the top of the stairs which is on from about 4pm and sometimes all night if I am feeling anxious, but the best thing is to make the most of the daylight. Try to meet someone for coffee or lunch as often as possible, and/or go to afternoon cinema, or a daily walk unless it is pouring with rain - even catch a bus somewhere just to get out.
Winter is also a good time for old fashioned home made soups and stews, I find them very comforting. Also if you don’t have a real fire, get a good electric flame effect one, if you can afford it. (I got a small one for £70 from a catalogue which is very realistic but it makes a humming noise). I also have a salt lamp that gives a cosy glow, for when I am not using the daylight lamp.

I don't mind darker evenings as long as i don't have to venture very far. Nothing nicer than curing up in the afternoon when its grey and wet outside, heating, lamps and fire on (electric with glow red bulbs)and a good book, knitting or tv program. I don't have to feel guilty that i'm not working in the garden, as in finer weather i feel that i have to be doing something outside even when i feel shattered.

yes get yourself a SAD lamp.make sure you get out and about in the day keep busy...evenings are so short...morning i am the same .whats the point of getting up. but up i get /shower/wake my self up/ do chores/put your fav music on. dance while vacuming(EXERCISE). stop for 11am coffee and snack../ lunch/.....afternnoons. well i volunteer for charity shop 1-5pm.then its the evening... tea. then catch up on letters/christmas cards you could write out. or watch tv if you have one(i dont)....catch up on your mobile do this in evening not glued to it during the day. bed time. make the most of the days. go for a woodland walk .plenty of rambles everywhere..

I dread the coming months we live in Sweden and for many months its dark at 3 pm and doesnt get light until 9 am, and we are lucky we dont live in the North of the country where the sun doesnt get over the horison for months! I just try to think of spring not the coming Winter the only way to survive here!!