SAD or just another mood swing?

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Recently, I've been feeling out of sorts. I have a long history of depression but this year I've been getting better until the past few weeks, where I've suddenly dropped again. I've had good motivation and energy since the Spring and then in the summer I found love and started a fulfilling relationship. Just recently though, my motivation has dropped off a cliff, I feel numb and unhappy and I'm not getting the same pleasure I used to get from spending time with my friends and loved ones (whom I am very grateful to have in my life.)

I worry about how this will affect my relationship because it's only a few months old and I don't want to push my partner away. He said I can vent at him any time, but to be honest, I feel too numb to really articulate why I feel sad. His father died last month and he's still in the numb stage of grieving himself. I want to be there for him even though I'm not feeling great myself (for less obvious reasons.)

I'm wondering if this experience I'm having is due to Seasonal Affective Disorder. I tend to always feel like this in November to late February whether the rest of the year was good or not. I cheer up a bit a Christmas because I spend so much time with my loved ones and eat so much 'feel-good' food, but then I go straight back to feeling sad again until the days start getting long enough to go home from work before twilight.

My mother is thinking about buying me a SAD lamp from a work colleague who doesn't use their's. I will give it a go. Normally, I find forcing myself to accomplish things helps, but it doesn't do it for me as much at the moment. I'll still keep trying to do productive things and keep my life in good order, but maybe I should just accept that I'm not really going to 'feel it' for a while.

How do you cope when you have no motivation a life feels stale?

It's very possible. The time period is spot on for it.

I get SAD. I couldn't do without my SAD lamp. I felt better after two days' moderate use of it.

I certainly think it's worth you trying. Make sure it's a decent lamp.

You could always jump on a sunbed for a couple of minutes. That can give quite a boost, too.

I have a SAD lamp on timer, it comes on automatically at 6:30am while I'm still asleep and I quite happily sleep with it blaring into my face. I think it helps a lot because I was feeling a lot worse before I got it out of the cupboard last weekend.

Definitely try the lamp, and to aid this, get D vitamin spray - you spray it under your tongue once a day, or maybe it's best before going to bed, not sure, check the label.

I'm exactly the same, except I can feel the "down" creeping on me from mid October onwards and usually by this time I am suicidal and utterly depressed. While I'm not doing great at the moment, I am much much better than previous years and it's partly the lamp, partly circumstances in my life - keeping stress at the minimum is key for me. I am so happy that you are in a relationship with someone you like so much and I'm very sorry for his loss. Perhaps it's enough of a help that you are NOT venting at him at this time, but just telling him this time of year makes you feel a bit off is probably enough so he doesn't take it personally.

Good luck! Try and go for a holiday somewhere sunny if you can.

Agreed the lamp and Vitamin D will definitely help, as will a regular exercise routine.

I used to love the winter months, but in the last few years, I've come to dread them, because of SAD. They seem so oppressive and claustrophobic now, like someone has locked me a trunk and sunk it under the water. So far, this year is not as bad as the last two or three have been, but I'm still feeling it.

Last edited by Willard on 16 Nov 2013, 8:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I tend to really depressed this time of year not sure if its SAD though it might be. Suicidal thoughts come to mind and thoughts of everybody hating me as well.

I would go for trying a straight up tanning bed. You get all the UV you need there plus a really nice tan, and that kind of thing can lift spirits sometimes. I've never even talked to a dr about SAD but I notice a difference when I go tan in the winter time, even if I'm not depressed I feel better than I did before, mentally.

I don't like tans as a look (especially sunbed ones as opposed to naturally catching the sun), don't want to age my skin any more than it is already and light therapy works through your eyes and uses a different type of light, anyway.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/2009/01/22 ... epression/

Sorry to use Fox News.

My main problem is living 53 degrees north and my body clock going into hibernation mode. UV isn't really the problem as much as darkness at 8am and 5pm.

I would but I don't have enough money after spending on Christmas presents and my partner prefers cold and snow. Otherwise, I'd be off to Barcelona just before Christmas. It's not hot this time of year, but it's not 50+ degrees north, either.

Next year, I might just save up and go to Spain or Italy in December, especially if I can get a better paying job.

It's funny because I keep meeting Spanish and Italian tourists here at this time of year and all I can think is 'WHY?! !'

fingers crossed then for both of us

I know what you mean. They just don't care, they get sunshine all the time. The worst is when my relatives living in California start complaining how they have to wear a jumper to go out. *hell rage*

Could be both. SAD could exacerbate it. In addition, there is not as much to do in the winter.

I feel similar. I think giving the lamp a try is good. At the very least, it requires little effort, which is good on your part right now. I hope you feel better.

Thanks for your replies, everyone. I get to see my partner tomorrow evening and I have to say I'm really looking forward to it, so that has kept me buoyant. I realise that he's more open with me than with a lot of his friends, so even if I feel like I can't help him enough, it's still a good thing that I'm there.

I sometimes feel like at this time of year all the days meld into one and feel like they consist entirely of work and sleep. The fact that your leisure time is all spent in the dark is what causes this. I'm trying to remind my brain that my leisure time is still there, it's just that the sun isn't.