how do you fight the winter blaa

[Bdnewgirl]

Walls are closing in. I wake up its dark, get off of work its dark. To cold do do anything outside.I am a warmer weather person
Not severly depressed. Just in a what seems like a rut and can't get out
How does everyone else get out of the winter rut.

Tired of winter
Brandi

[LostInTime]

Exercise or at least that is what I plan to do to fight the blues once I have some time.

I have also found eating a bit more fruit helps chase away the blues.  Recently have been eating a lot of citrus.

YMMV.

[Valerie]

If it's in your budget, you may want to invest in one of those special lamps that simulates natural sunlight.  I saw one advertised in a catalogue for about 70$ or 80$.  Been meaning to get one myself. Good luck, I know how debilitating those blues can be, kind of in a funk myself...

[rana]

Valerie, is not a problem where I live - too much sunlight is the problem.  But, I have heard about this- In places like Scadanavia & Russia, it is a medical problem causing a crippleing depression and is caused by insufficient sunlight. Lights that simulate natural sunlight are the way to go

[Kimberly]

^*blink*
Ok, so perhaps I'm an odd one as I'm a night owl at heart but I'm fairly certain darkness isn't the causes (or even really influences) my depressions. ^*shrug* I've found I don't know half as much as I thought I did however so as the saying goes, when in doubt, look at it. ^*ponder* On second thought I'm not sure that's a saying at all

Anyway, and more to the point, would just normal ol lights work, i.e. turn on a bunch of lamps and ... well... bask in the artificial day...

^*wink* Time for bed for me... before the sun comes up

[stephanie_craxford]

For many this can be a real problem that leads to severe depression so it's an important topic to consider.  I know in where I live our lives are affected a great deal by the winter months.  Especially if you are active and not into the winter sports of skating, skiing, etc...  One remedy is to take advantage of what is available to you and not to become a recluse and hibernate for the winter.

I'm pretty active year round, kayaking, horseback riding, and running but in the winter months this is really cut back.  Soooooooooo, one way to I tackle this problem is to make sure I'm eating properly.  Up here in Canada eating properly in the winter months can be expensive, but what the heck I'm worth it.  You have to eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, and salad stuff.  Fruit includes, lots of oranges, kiwis, blue berries, apples, and get your sugar from fresh pineapple.  On the veg side, eat lots of sweet potatoes, dark greens, leafy veg (spinach, cabbage, broccoli, kale).  For salads make sure you have lots of cucumber, peppers, lettuces, tomatoes, onions (all types), mushrooms, cut out your fat and dairy.  Voila... happiness...  Well for me maybe ha, ha.

As far as activities go, since I don't do the "Canadian Sports " I jog for 30 minutes each day to walk for an hour, and throw in a couple of minutes for crunches to maintain my slim trim figure (OK, I know I'm a girlie girl).

I guess the big thing is to try and stay active try something different, something new, stimulate your mind and body

Steph

[Chaunte]

I know that a study was done a few years back looking at depression here in Western New York versus the lack of sunlight.  The trend was pretty clear that, in general, a lack of sun can cause or aggravate depression.  I would dare say that Stephanie has many more sunny days than what we do here on the south side of Lake Ontario!  Spokane, Washington, has more sunny days than what we do!

I try to get out should the skies ever clear - even if it is only while I walk the dog.  I find being out in the sun a great morale booster.  (It also reinforces that the sun is not a mythological object after all! )

Chaunte

[Kimberly]

Gah.. but but when the sun is up is when people are active... you can feel them.. you can hear them. ^*shiver* ... I'll stick to my cold quiet nights thank you

P.s. Walking Puppies (and cats, silly guys) is a great excuse to get out side by the by

[DawnL]

One cure appears to be GID.  I used to suffer SAD (seasonal affective disorder) quite strongly but this year, my mind otherwise occupied, I've scarcely noticed 

Dawn

[Valerie]

One cure appears to be GID

Ratz...don't wanna' be a guy... butyeah, Dawn, heavy pre-occupation with something seems to distract it... at this time last year I was going every night to see a friend in the hospital. 

This year seems to be different.  I only work 4 hours a day, have no kids or spouse to tend to, and yet I am constantly tired.  It doesn't seem to matter how much or how little sleep I get, my energy and motivation are drained.  Soon as the sun goes down, my brain goes to mush...I have studying to do, I have letters to write, e-mails to answer, posts here I want to reply to in depth, phone calls to make, books/mags I've been waiting to read...all stuff I have wanted to finish before school starts next week....yet nothing gets more than a cursory glance.  If I flop down on the bed or floor to stop and think for a minute, I'm in danger of falling asleep right there.  Getting out of bed in the morning is a battle--and I love mornings...

I was on anti-depressants till July of '04, and I refuse to go back on them again.  So I am determined to beat this thing...I've got vitamin supplements, will be getting one of those natural-sunlight lamps when I get some extra bucks end of the month, and in the meantime have to get myself UP and walking every day...I almost did today, but failed once again...

(sigh).....

Valerie

[Sarah Louise]

My energy seems to be less and less each week, I have always gotten depressed when I don't get enough sun light.  I don't do much reading anymore and I don't make long posts because I just can't concentrate on any one thing that long. 

I always had trouble staying on one thing for long and it caused a lot of problems at school.  I always did things very fast but only for short spurts.

I have found that the I do outside during the day, the less depressed I get.  Which is really funny since I love going for walks at night.  I always loved the dark and was never afraid in it.

Sarah L.

[Bdnewgirl]

Well I see I'm not the only one.
I have taken Stephanie's advice to stimulate my brain Wrote my first poem. Put it in the poem section.
And started looking for side course at Purdue, thinking about taking up photography again. kind of lost intrest in the 80's probaly have a lot of catching up to do on it

counting down till spring
Brandi

[Peggiann]

Brandi I just watched an program where people living in Alaska have redone the home in light bright colors. Warm off whites and pale pastel yellows and here's the neet idea.... The lady took a picture of what the view out each window looked like in the brighter more summery time of year. The enlarged it on her computer and copied it off on regular paper to cut cost.Then she laminated the pieces and put them back together and hung them in the window opening. She said now she doesn't actually see the dark outside all day long. Maybe you could do this too.

Smiles

Peggiann

[Bdnewgirl]

Worth a try

[Kate Thomas]

getting out of the house is the best thing.  these days  full spectrum lamps are avaible at most places, they genraly have a lavender tint to them. i would put one in your most popular fixtures whearever you spend the most time in the house, kitichen, desk etc
and if practical at work. house plants also take the edge off.
Kate