Seasonal Affective Disorder

usmcmp
usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
edited November 7 in Motivation and Support
While some people look forward to fall many of us dread the changing of the seasons. It's not the cold weather that we dread, it's the seasonal depression that sets in from fall to spring. I've suffered from SAD since I was very young. Only in the last few years have I found ways to boost my mood without prescription medication. I thought I would share some of these with you and see what works for others.

1. Exercise! Lifting weights leaves me feeling good long after the session is over. It also helps with those few extra pounds I tend to gain over the holidays and regulates my appetite better.
2. Creatine. There have been clinical trials that have shown creatine helps improve depression, especially in women. We can get creatine from food, but I just add a scoop of a creatine supplement (which are fairly cheap) to my coffee in the morning.
3. Vitamin D. My Vitamin D levels tend to be very low, even during the summer. Taking a supplement for it takes the edge off of the depressed feelings.
4. Light therapy. I used to use a tanning bed to get light exposure during the winter, but I've switched to a desk top lamp. A few minutes in the morning helps how I feel the rest of the day.

Anyone else have things that work for them?
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Replies

  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    I too suffer from this... exercise definitely helps. Hopefully this winter won't be like last winter.
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    I too suffer from this... exercise definitely helps. Hopefully this winter won't be like last winter.

    I did okay last winter, but the winter before was ROUGH.
  • Cryptonomnomicon
    Cryptonomnomicon Posts: 848 Member
    bump

    and bookmarked, thanks as always:flowerforyou:

    ETA: I take a vitamin D supplement as well and try to catch as many rays as possible when the sun is scarce.
  • So_Much_Fab
    So_Much_Fab Posts: 1,146 Member
    Bumping for tips. I wasn't too bad last winter but for some reason I feel like this winter's going to be rough.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    Thanks for posting, I'm interested to see the responses. I don't have an official SAD diagnosis but I have suspected it the past couple of years.
  • _crafty_
    _crafty_ Posts: 1,682 Member
    While some people look forward to fall many of us dread the changing of the seasons. It's not the cold weather that we dread, it's the seasonal depression that sets in from fall to spring. I've suffered from SAD since I was very young. Only in the last few years have I found ways to boost my mood without prescription medication. I thought I would share some of these with you and see what works for others.

    1. Exercise! Lifting weights leaves me feeling good long after the session is over. It also helps with those few extra pounds I tend to gain over the holidays and regulates my appetite better.
    2. Creatine. There have been clinical trials that have shown creatine helps improve depression, especially in women. We can get creatine from food, but I just add a scoop of a creatine supplement (which are fairly cheap) to my coffee in the morning.
    3. Vitamin D. My Vitamin D levels tend to be very low, even during the summer. Taking a supplement for it takes the edge off of the depressed feelings.
    4. Light therapy. I used to use a tanning bed to get light exposure during the winter, but I've switched to a desk top lamp. A few minutes in the morning helps how I feel the rest of the day.

    Anyone else have things that work for them?

    All of these. I used to do the tanning bed for light exposure too.

    Above all I've found that just staying active/involved helps tremendously. Everyone needs those lazy days on the couch every once in a while but I tend to stay more motivated and happy when I'm active. Sometimes thats as simple as taking on an indoor project or baking cookies with my daughter.
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    While some people look forward to fall many of us dread the changing of the seasons. It's not the cold weather that we dread, it's the seasonal depression that sets in from fall to spring. I've suffered from SAD since I was very young. Only in the last few years have I found ways to boost my mood without prescription medication. I thought I would share some of these with you and see what works for others.

    1. Exercise! Lifting weights leaves me feeling good long after the session is over. It also helps with those few extra pounds I tend to gain over the holidays and regulates my appetite better.
    2. Creatine. There have been clinical trials that have shown creatine helps improve depression, especially in women. We can get creatine from food, but I just add a scoop of a creatine supplement (which are fairly cheap) to my coffee in the morning.
    3. Vitamin D. My Vitamin D levels tend to be very low, even during the summer. Taking a supplement for it takes the edge off of the depressed feelings.
    4. Light therapy. I used to use a tanning bed to get light exposure during the winter, but I've switched to a desk top lamp. A few minutes in the morning helps how I feel the rest of the day.

    Anyone else have things that work for them?

    All of these. I used to do the tanning bed for light exposure too.

    Above all I've found that just staying active/involved helps tremendously. Everyone needs those lazy days on the couch every once in a while but I tend to stay more motivated and happy when I'm active. Sometimes thats as simple as taking on an indoor project or baking cookies with my daughter.

    YES! Just having something to do helps. If I spend most of my days stuck to the couch it is much worse. Even baking and cleaning help. I don't need to spring clean anymore because I deep clean in winter.
  • favoritenut
    favoritenut Posts: 217 Member
    bump,
  • happycauseIride
    happycauseIride Posts: 536 Member
    I too am bumping this to keep it. Thank you for sharing. :)
  • WhitneyAnnabelle
    WhitneyAnnabelle Posts: 724 Member
    Think about investing in a lamp specifically for these problems if you find they help. Mine cost about $90 on Amazon, but it's worth it. And it's less likely to give you cancer than a tanning bed and more likely to give you results than a regular lamp.
  • farfromthetree
    farfromthetree Posts: 982 Member
    Both my husband and I go through this in the winter. Thanks for the tips!
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    Think about investing in a lamp specifically for these problems if you find they help. Mine cost about $90 on Amazon, but it's worth it. And it's less likely to give you cancer than a tanning bed and more likely to give you results than a regular lamp.

    I already mentioned that. Mine was $40 on Amazon.
  • lewispwest
    lewispwest Posts: 498 Member
    Thanks for the advice, I suffer from it quite badly to. Last christmas was an awful time for me, just sat there feeling sorry for myself at the work xmas party before leaving at the first opportunity.

    Hopefully my weight loss and anti-depressants will change that this year.
  • Leather_N_Lace
    Leather_N_Lace Posts: 518 Member
    I suffer from this along with PTSD.. Fall/Winter triggers a lot of things for me.
    Thank you for posting this. As I get back on track from after my surgery, I will keep this in mind and hopefully have an easier go of it this season.
  • beachgirl172723
    beachgirl172723 Posts: 151 Member
    Bump
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    I sometimes think I might have this, but I don't think it is pervasive for me.

    I really hate winter! I just hate it. It's only redeeming value for me is the holiday season. When January rolls around and the ground is wet and the air is cold (live in the south) and everything is just dead around me... I just feel so empty... and life seems so dreary.

    But I carry on because I know it's only temporary. So I think I get through it pretty well without help... but I definitely understand where you are coming from.
  • sbjmorgan
    sbjmorgan Posts: 158 Member
    Opening all my curtains/blinds when I was home during daylight helped last year. Vitamin d supplements and getting a good nights sleep helped, too. I've moved out of the Midwest to California this year and I'm really hoping that helps, but obviously that isn't feasible for everyone!
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Welcome to Washington! The gym definitely helps!
  • rides4sanity
    rides4sanity Posts: 1,269 Member
    I've suffered with this for years, but last year was really bad for me. Exercise had always been sufficient before, but I added Vitamin D and I use a goLite for 15 a day at work. It seemed to help. Unfortunately there are other factors right now that require medication, so I'm just waiting to see how all of this is affected by the SAD...
  • Mikkimeow
    Mikkimeow Posts: 1,282 Member
    While some people look forward to fall many of us dread the changing of the seasons. It's not the cold weather that we dread, it's the seasonal depression that sets in from fall to spring. I've suffered from SAD since I was very young. Only in the last few years have I found ways to boost my mood without prescription medication. I thought I would share some of these with you and see what works for others.

    1. Exercise! Lifting weights leaves me feeling good long after the session is over. It also helps with those few extra pounds I tend to gain over the holidays and regulates my appetite better.
    2. Creatine. There have been clinical trials that have shown creatine helps improve depression, especially in women. We can get creatine from food, but I just add a scoop of a creatine supplement (which are fairly cheap) to my coffee in the morning.
    3. Vitamin D. My Vitamin D levels tend to be very low, even during the summer. Taking a supplement for it takes the edge off of the depressed feelings.
    4. Light therapy. I used to use a tanning bed to get light exposure during the winter, but I've switched to a desk top lamp. A few minutes in the morning helps how I feel the rest of the day.

    Anyone else have things that work for them?

    I have this also, and exercise has always been my go to. I had no idea about creatine usage, thanks for the info!
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    Creatine, really? I had no idea. Interesting.
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
    I also deal with SAD. Running has done a lot to mitigate my symptoms, so I'm scared to stop running.
  • yo_andi
    yo_andi Posts: 2,178 Member
    Exercise, vitamins B12 and D3, and daily walks outside during daylight (even when it was wicked cold) helped me. Had no idea about creatine... will need to check that out!
  • Lumpy52403
    Lumpy52403 Posts: 187 Member
    Good suggestions! My Mom has struggled with SAD for years.
  • BringingSherriBack
    BringingSherriBack Posts: 607 Member
    I've never been officially diagnosed either, but I definitely suffer from winter blues. I've found the exercise helps as does just keeping busy with cleaning and the like (think cleaning closets, shampooing carpets, etc) just anything not to spend the winter on the couch. Also trying to caught a few rays everyday. This is hard when you work inside, but I find a walk outside during my lunch helps. I've found if I don't stay busy then all I want to do is sleep.
  • WhatMeRunning
    WhatMeRunning Posts: 3,538 Member
    I'm glad to see this. I already take a daily Vitamin D supplement, and do plan to keep working out this winter even when it's too cold/snowy for a good run now that I have a gym membership. I was not aware that Creatine would help though, so I am glad to learn that. Looking forward to slamming through winter, because quite frankly, I love Spring.
  • Maryam2014mfp
    Maryam2014mfp Posts: 174
    Bump
  • RaspberryKeytoneBoondoggle
    RaspberryKeytoneBoondoggle Posts: 1,349 Member
    This works for me:

    - 15 minutes a day in the morning with my sun lamp. The first year I did this I saw remarkable effects. It suppresses melatonin in the morning, resulting in energy for the day. I remember on dreary dark November, going outside into the rain and clouds and feeling like I was outside on a sunny day.
    - some years I go on a Mexico vacation in October
    - I plant peas in February to trick my mind
    - I rearrange my schedule in Jan/Feb so that I am not driving to AND from work in the dark every day, if I can.
    - I run outside in the rain, this makes a big difference.
    - I keep my weight down, carrying extra weight deters my energy.
    - I look for early spring flowers. Once the daffodils are up, I'm fine.
    - for me, self-awareness is key.
  • MississippiMama87
    MississippiMama87 Posts: 204 Member
    While some people look forward to fall many of us dread the changing of the seasons. It's not the cold weather that we dread, it's the seasonal depression that sets in from fall to spring. I've suffered from SAD since I was very young. Only in the last few years have I found ways to boost my mood without prescription medication. I thought I would share some of these with you and see what works for others.

    1. Exercise! Lifting weights leaves me feeling good long after the session is over. It also helps with those few extra pounds I tend to gain over the holidays and regulates my appetite better.
    2. Creatine. There have been clinical trials that have shown creatine helps improve depression, especially in women. We can get creatine from food, but I just add a scoop of a creatine supplement (which are fairly cheap) to my coffee in the morning.
    3. Vitamin D. My Vitamin D levels tend to be very low, even during the summer. Taking a supplement for it takes the edge off of the depressed feelings.
    4. Light therapy. I used to use a tanning bed to get light exposure during the winter, but I've switched to a desk top lamp. A few minutes in the morning helps how I feel the rest of the day.

    Anyone else have things that work for them?

    All of these. I used to do the tanning bed for light exposure too.

    Above all I've found that just staying active/involved helps tremendously. Everyone needs those lazy days on the couch every once in a while but I tend to stay more motivated and happy when I'm active. Sometimes thats as simple as taking on an indoor project or baking cookies with my daughter.

    YES! Just having something to do helps. If I spend most of my days stuck to the couch it is much worse. Even baking and cleaning help. I don't need to spring clean anymore because I deep clean in winter.

    This! My house is spotless during the winter....gotta keep my mind and body busy. If I don't, that dreaded homesick-type feeling creeps back in and once it starts, is almost impossible to shake.

    Thanks for posting this!
  • RaspberryKeytoneBoondoggle
    RaspberryKeytoneBoondoggle Posts: 1,349 Member
    I've never been officially diagnosed either, but I definitely suffer from winter blues. I've found the exercise helps as does just keeping busy with cleaning and the like (think cleaning closets, shampooing carpets, etc) just anything not to spend the winter on the couch. Also trying to caught a few rays everyday. This is hard when you work inside, but I find a walk outside during my lunch helps. I've found if I don't stay busy then all I want to do is sleep.

    I'm going to try the cleaning thing this winter too.
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