Seasonal affective disorder {SAD}
I think I’m SAD
Why, you ask? Some days I have a hard time finding ANY motivation. I would rather stay under those warm covers of mine until late morning. I don’t want to talk to anyone, or see anyone, or go anywhere…even shopping! I would rather stay within the confines of my cozy home.
What is SAD? Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression or winter blues, is a mood disorder in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms in the winter, or, less frequently, in the summer, spring or autumn, repeatedly, year after year. (Wikipedia)
I live in the Pacific Northwest where the days are short, gray, rainy, drizzly and just plain ugly. This starts about November and lasts until early March. Two years ago, I struggled…really struggled. I kept feeling sick, weeks at a time. A little nauseous, very little energy and I couldn’t get through my typical day without crying. I decided to go and see the doctor. I just wanted to feel normal. I wanted to eat something other than soup, (so did my family). I shared my symptoms with the doctor and she said these two words…Depression and Anxiety.
Depression? Anxiety? No, that’s not what is wrong with me…it can’t be! I am the girl who always has the smile on her face and who had the nick name all through school of “Giggles”…how can a happy person be depressed? My doctor prescribed some medication. I began taking it and checking in with her. If you have never taken an anti-depressant, they don’t work immediately. It takes 4-6 months for you to begin to feel back to normal. We even had to bump mine up about a month into it because I still wasn’t feeling 100 percent. In time, the real me began emerging again. I wasn’t crying every day and I didn’t feel that upset stomach all the time. I was able to finally cook for my family and do grocery shopping again.
Last winter was fine, no real symptoms but I was still on the medication. This last July I finally went off of the medication. I wanted to be able to go through this winter being ME! Let me just say…it has been harder than I thought. Not every day is bad but there are mornings where I don’t feel 100 percent. I am making conscious decisions to have a good day. If it is nice outside I go for a walk to soak up some natural Vitamin D. I am trying to exercise more and do things for me. I guess you could say I am a work in progress.
This is very real. I am not a doctor or able to diagnose your symptoms. I am sharing my story so that you know you aren’t alone…many of us experience depression, in all shapes and forms. All I ask is please seek help if you feel this way…for YOU and your family.
Written by Tammy, Contributor
@tammystwocents
14 Responses
I totally agree that it’s real. I really struggled moving from Austin, TX to Calgary, AB. It’s sunny here but it gets dark so early that I often go to work & come home in the dark. I keep seeing the lights that are supposed to help but I haven’t bought one. I just might have to though…have you tried one? i have found this winter easier because I joined an exercise class and that seems to help a lot.
I have bought the lights, but they have this odd blue tint so I have had a hard time getting use to some of them. The excercise has really helped getting outside and breathing in that fresh air. It is just amazing what a sunny day can do!
Yep…same here in Wisconsin coupled with brutal cold and snow that keeps you inside. It runs in my family with several and hits usually in late Sept. even, goes well into March. uggh…cant wait til this winter ends. Thank Goodness I found this blog world last year or I would be -pulling all my (grey) hair out! Thanks for the information…sharing can really help a lot of people.
LOL I’d be lost without the “blog world”!!
I wish I had blogging when I was hit so hard 2 years ago…it sure has helped now! Today was beautiful and it is amazing what the sun can do to my frame of mind.
Thank you for sharing. I have slowly become aware that there are a lot of women, like us, that suffer from depression in one form or another. Some of my friends have “issues” and I would never have guessed because they always seem to have it “together’.
Please remember you are not alone. It’s good that you are walking and exercising because I have been told that it is very helpful when you are stressed, depressed, anxious etc.
Good luck to you! You will be in my thoughts and prayers that you have many happy, enjoy the sunshine kind of days!
Elaine
Thanks Elaine! It is tough and it truly helps knowing I am not alone. I have also been taking my Vitamin D which I believe has helped some too. I enjoyed some sun today…yay!
What has helped me is entering giveaways on all of these wonderful blogs. I enter many of them and win here and there. It’s almost like an addiction, but it’s improved my winter state of mind greatly. Right now it is raining and cold outside. Has been all week, and part of last week. But, “playing” the giveaways really lifts my spirits.
I tried many things to feel better (even medication). Giveaways, so far, are the solution for me.
I hope you find some relief soon. Hang in there. Spring is coming.
You’re funny…blogging has been wonderful…doing reviews is a little addictive too and very helpful. I just won a Kindle on a giveaway…what a great prize! I have been reading all weekend and finished one book already.
Finally the outside world is beginning to understand a little of what plagues those with sad. I have a severe case of it. I do not leave my house for anything from Nov. until March sometimes April. I do go to my daughter’s sometimes for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas if there isn’t too much snow. I have no one over, I don’t do much of anything except this year I have been doing some gift giveaways as I am on a fixed income. I shop online, My groceries are brought that I don’t have stocked. When spring comes I am a completely new person. It is great to hear others tell their story and hear they are working against it before it gets too severe. Bless you all!
Gladys, I feel for you! I am so glad you shared with us what you experience. I know there are many stages of it. I don’t think many understand the effect it can have on someone. March is right around the corner. Today we had a sunny day and I spent some time outside in it…it felt wonderful, even if it was cold. Thanks again for sharing.
Thanks for sharing what is sometimes a very difficult thing to talk about for fear of being “labled” crazy.
I suffer from depression and anxiety as part of my PTSD and winter can be more difficult for me, however it is less so because we live in Florida now where it isn’t as dreary.
My dad suffered from SAD for years and also did better when he and my mom retired to the west coast of Florida.
By all means, if you feel any symptoms of saddness, excessive sleepiness, or thoughts of hurting yourself or others, PLEASE get to a doctor at once.
Thank you again, Tammy, for talking about such a personal matter. HUGS!!
Thanks for sharing your story Lorie…life hands each one of us something different. But we can make it through with lots of love and understanding. I think I need to vacation in Florida…sounds exactly what I need right now!
My husband suffers from SAD (we live in Oregon) and he’s found that taking Vitamin D really helps keep his mood elevated in the winter along with the blue light. It’s such a difficult thing to watch someone go through and I can only imagine being the one going through it but just know that there are a lot of people suffering with this disease and it’s helpful when others come out like you. Thanks for putting this out there! Keep exercising!