Seasonal Depression

[bruinsfan]

Many, myself included, have been in a depression since January 20th, 2009.

[jrc]

I'm not going to debate whether winter weather cause clinical depression or not, but I know I don't like it.

From Columbus day to Christmas, I can feel the change. The weeks after the Super Bowl until about mid-March and the wait for ice-out are the toughest. The last few years, winter hiking has helped, I need to get out of the house in sunlight every weekend.

[Greene's Basin Girl]

I had a 19 year career in pharmaceutical sales. My product portfolio included medications that were indicated for SAD. SAD is very real and it is worse during the dark dreary days of winter.

[secondcurve]

Originally Posted by bruinsfan

Many, myself included, have been in a depression since January 20th, 2009.

Funny. My episode of depression began promptly on November 4, 2008. Different start dates, but my guess is that we both suffer from the same debilitating disease.

[wifi]

Can one collect disability using this ?

[gillygirl]

Originally Posted by bruinsfan

Many, myself included, have been in a depression since January 20th, 2009.

Funny, that's when mine ended.

[Crusty]

This discussion on "seasonal depression", well, depressed me a bit. Out here in central Ohio, we miss out on a lot of the good aspects of winter. Temperature generally hover around freezing, no snow, no sun. Skiing in Ohio consists of man-made snow on a hill. Generally, it's just muddy and grey.

My wife gets especially grumpy at this time of year, so I looked into it with considerable attention.

We found that replacing the breakfast room light with a really bright full-spectrum fluorescent fixture really helped. I can also see how vitamin D might be beneficial.

However, I just ran across an article on using scents to help your mood.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/0...n_5193609.html

I intend to try some of these scents, especially pine. We've had an artificial tree for many years and, aside from the pitch, the only thing I miss is the smell of a live tree.

[MGWillia]

Originally Posted by gillygirl

Funny, that's when mine ended.

Was that the day that Green's Basin Girl filled that prescription for you?

HONEST!!!! Just Kidding! Merry Christmas

[Rusty]

Dow at the beginning of 2009 was @8000

Dow today is @18000.

Hmmmmmmmm!!!!!

Everybody keep shopping and bring it up higher.

Thank you all and Merry Christmas!

[rowinghelmet]

I echo what others have said about this being a real thing.

I hated winter so much I moved to Florida to escape it. That helped, but I missed New England so I've since moved back and learned to adapt.

The three best things in my experience are:
1.) Vitamin D supplements. Vitamin D deficiency is a huge issue in the Northeast.
2.) Use a Bluelight in the morning. The Phillips goLITE BLU is great. This makes a huge difference.
3.) Invest in good warm clothes (goretex, Smartwool, Patagonia, North Face, LLBean, etc), learn how to layer, and then get outside in the winter. Hiking, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and skiing are all a blast.

Here are some recent winter hiking photos. It's almost as peaceful as a quiet day at the lake.



Phillips goLITE

[fatlazyless]

....dang it all....I was getting some serious blah-blah-blah depression here just a-look'n at all these un-raked oak leaves that need to be raked up.....but just when I was about to get out the rake.....what-do-u-know?....a beautiful white blanket of heavy wet white 2" snow fell overnight and now I don't got to think about the rake....ho-ho-ho....now is time to start getting the dock out of the water....ho-ho-ho....life is just soooo tough for the waterfront poor here....while all the waterfront rich got to do is lift up the telephone and call someone....which is no heavy lifting.....now I got to get all wet and go get that dock out....blah-blah-blah....December remova-the docka winter time blues....boo-hoo-hoo!

[PaugusBayFireFighter]

I chase the winter blues with winter green.

[HomeWood]

I look forward to retiring in the lakes region area. I absolutely love ice fishing, sledding, and just being outside in the winter..always have. Like I already said in a previous post, my mood improves in the winter. I don't even mind it getting dark at 5pm. Get the fire going and kick back after a nice hot dinner. I live in the wrong state to be a winter lover but we all have to make a living somewhere doing something.

I have a bunch of hobbies and not nearly enough time for them. I'm not too worried about having something to do during the seasonal changes up there. I miss the four distinct seasons of New England. NC (where I am) has blistering hot summer followed by a few weeks of nice weather and then a short winter of cold rain while hoping for no ice storms. That is followed by a few more weeks of nice weather and then it's time to crank up the A/C again.

[Fargo]

I always need a project no matter what season it is. Winter can be a challenge during overcast days. I'm working on the Mini Mount to keep my spirits high.

[MDoug]

Originally Posted by Fargo

I always need a project no matter what season it is. Winter can be a challenge during overcast days. I'm working on the Mini Mount to keep my spirits high.

I am editing the videos we made last season on Bear. Bought a new dvd copier to make copies for the kids and grands. It works great so far!

[salty dog]

It's true; you really can go a little stir crazy with the long winter nights. It can certainly effect some more than others. One thing we look forwards to on weekends is a dinner/movie night in the family room. If I don't feel like cooking we just grab a pizza. Put some logs on the fire, put my favorite girl dog cuddler on the sofa in between us, and crank up the on-demand! Works for us. Happy winter. Come on spring!

[BroadHopper]

how people can get depressed of the winter months. Plenty of things to do in the Lakes Region. I am always looking forward to skiing, skating, x-country and snowshoeing. I use to own a sled but rarely use it!

At night, there are jigsaw puzzles, board games with the family, movies from Netflix/VUDU. I use to restore classic cars but the last one took almost forever!

A buddy of mine, is trying to convince me to go together with him on either restoring an old wooden boat or build a wooden boat! I'm really entertaining the though although the last time I restored a car the miss seems to think I love the car more than her!

One wonders what is in the mind of beautiful women.

[rander7823]

I feel just fine

[Janet]

Fun video, thanks for posting

[Lakegeezer]

Originally Posted by HomeWood

I don't even mind it getting dark at 5pm. Get the fire going and kick back after a nice hot dinner. ....... I miss the four distinct seasons of New England. NC (where I am) has blistering hot summer followed by a few weeks of nice weather and then a short winter of cold rain while hoping for no ice storms.

Getting dark at 5PM! Won't that be nice!! On the shortest day, the sun sets at 4:11PM after rising at 7:16AM. It isn't till around February 3'rd that the sun rises before 7 and sets after 5. Perhaps that is part of the reason why everyone seems happy during fishing derby weekend.

You might be surprised at the nature of winter here. It is not unusual to have cold rainy days and ice storms in early winter, although by February the snow depth is usually pretty good. New England weather is fickle.

This week has been a cold one - and the wood stove has been very hungry. The local snowmobile trails are not yet officially open, yaktracks are still useful while walking up the driveway and the ice is just barely safe to walk on. Having indoor hobbies is a good thing this time of year. Now where is my flask? :-)