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We all know that a certain depression often comes with the changing of the seasons from summer to fall and winter, they even names is SAD, seasonal Affective disorder.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651

I'm feeling it now, and think it's going to get worse, especially in this horrible year of 2020.

Is anyone else feeling this way? want to talk about it?

I've kinda dealt with it in the past-doesn't help that I have regular depression (and anxiety) too.

Luckily, I've been able to find the right medications to help me function normally, and it's not been much of an issue for a few years now.

That being said, I'll make the same offer Matt Swain did-if anyone wants to talk about depression or anything like that, I'd be happy to lend an ear.

My wife has had big problems with SAD over the years. She has a special desk lamp that helps her feel a bit better, the bright light helps produce serotonin if I remember rightly. Also had a special alarm clock with a sunrise alarm that helped as well.

I think this year is going to be super, super difficult for a lot of people and there will probably be a lot of people affected by SAD - as anxieties have a way of combining.

Something that absolutely isn't going to be a help - the 'C' word - is really going to curtail a lot of activities for a lot of people.

Meetings with family, social occasions etc and things which can act as a 'pressure valve' are not going to be available for a lot of people.

On top of this there are the additional pressures on employment, the economy etc caused by the pandemic mean that it is going to be a hard winter, especially for people that always find it tough at this time of year.

I’m a SAD act as well. Really kicked in at my new job, as in the winter months my commute meant I was commuting entirely in the dark, with all the daylight hours being cooped up in the office.

To make it worse, the office tower’s windows all have UV blocking film, so what little sunlight I did get was anaemic.

But, with the Lager Lurgy, I am of course working from home. I live in a Victorian, possibly Edwardian building (high ceilings anyway), with single glazed sash windows. So I’m already getting better sunlight.

Plus, I can go for a more pleasant bimble at Lunch, even if it’s just to the shops to get some supplies in.

Touch wood, that extra proper sunlight has been making the difference. New relationship has also given me serious natural endorphins.

Sunlight Lamps however do help. And I’d urge people to have a walk in whatever sunlight we get. Helps takes the edge off in my experience.

Vitamin D from Sunlight helps with SAD and also with COVID so you get a two-fer benefit from Sunlight!

That said, I try to take a brisk stroll outside on my lunch time to help get the bit of sunshine I need/want. However, I do not have SAD that I am aware of.

SAD is starting to kick in for me as well. Rough time of year in a rough year. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Keep an eye out for the silver linings and focus on the positive.

I tend to get SAD on occasion, so far it's not been an issue as our weather seems to be alternating between one day being "INSANELY RAINY" and the next being "a bright sun shiney day"

Regular exercise does wonders. Especially outside - no matter the weather. Try for example cycling in the rain in a muddy forest and see if you come home wet but happy

It's not that I do not prefer coluorful springs or sunny summers, though !

Cyel wrote:
Regular exercise does wonders. Especially outside - no matter the weather. Try for example cycling in the rain in a muddy forest and see if you come home wet but happy

It's not that I do not prefer coluorful springs or sunny summers, though !

Yeah I've been doing regular walking through this year (I was building up to a 26 mile charity trek, that I completed last month) and that's pepped me up no end.

1. sleep cycle and sleep hygiene. Optimize. May wanna read up on this, many sources online.
2. exercise baseline. Especially figure partners in exercise to make the exercise more regular and less likely to be tossed by the wayside when inconvenient. I used to (when a bit younger) hit the gym with 2 buddies every day around 2 hours before class, we all did it cause we all promised each other, then had a quick (if unbalanced) bagel,creamcheese, and coffee before running to our school classes). That kept me from rolling over in bed for 2 more hours nap.
3. micronutrient/foodstuffs. Get you some!
4. concentrate what sunlight is there. Example? If there is a pool of water you can sit beside to read at the height of the days' brief and pathetic rays, make a schedule arrangement such that you spend your lunchtime with that book right beside the reflecting pool.
5. Germans I know had actual solar concentration reflectors they would use to sunbathe in the garden out back in the dead of winter. No kidding. For extra "D" it might do a trick.

As a ginger in California, I plan my days around avoiding the sunlight. Stupid year-round heat wave.

Don’t suffer with S.A.D but do get bouts of depression and live with anxiety. Started at the age of around 11, am now 39 . It can suck at times but not always bad.

As is I’ve been hit by depression and am three days in to a new course of meds. It’s sucks if I’m honest, feels like poison is flowing through my body but hopefully won’t last for long. Most of the time I can see it through without meds but sadly not this time.

I recently tried some "focus" drink mix that contains "L-Theanine" and it seems to make me feel a little better and less lethargic, better memory, little faster thought.

Not a sales pitch, I'm not making any money if you buy it.

As a pale dodger of the Bright Eye the shorter days are more agreeable for ambling about in and the colder weather is handy at limiting other humans numbers on said ambles

Well if you are depressed maybe watching a baby turtle trying to eat a strawberry bigger than he is will help for a minute.