I have SAD Seasonal Affective Disorder. I get the blues in Winter. How many others feel this way?
It’s not an imagined phenomenon according to health reports. Lack of light and sunshine alters the brain chemistry. This has been a proven phenomenon in colder climate countries where it stays dark much of the day. Special lights have been designed to try to inspire the brain’s natural creation of seratonin. But those of us who are prone to clinical depression are more at risk of SAD and I can speak from personal experience when I say that the absence of daylight savings when it is suddenly dark by 5 o’clock makes me feel very despondent and like not going out anywhere.
Today is a glorious day in Sydney and I have been walking on the beach which is a translucent green like in Tahiti or Cuba. And my mood is light and carefree. I know that the sky and light have done wonders for my mindset. So strange isn’t it? But fiunny enough my ex used to become unhinged in Summer. It was his hypothalamus which couldn’t cope with the heat. How many of you are affected by the weather?
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I definately miss sunshine. When I’m cold I feel miserable and have spent winters in bed for most non working hours just to keep warm.
I prepare myself now. I live in Victoria, so I have to! I reorganise my home and lifestyle for cosiness. I take long walks when it’s sunny and today I was thinking I’m able to enjoy winter. Winter food is yummy, slow cooking. Darkness is restful, it’s good to have long naps or go to bed early when it’s dark.
Still… summer will always be my favourite:)
Ruth you read my mind every day. This is amazing. I was just sitting here in Melbourne feeling like the world was caving in on me. I lived in Queensland for a while and the SAD didn’t come during this time. Co incidence? In winter it is much darker in the house and I really don’t want to go out and that does effect my brain because I am not being stimulated rather get my time ot by TV rather than live bands or coffee with interesting people. I am also curious to see what others write.
Hello everyone just starting off the discussion. I am very curious if scientists have made this up and the blues just role around any time of year? My own experience is the Winter is so much worse. Hard to feel too depressed on balmy nights. Your views please.