Here it comes again…I hate this time of year. Every year like clockwork.
I always get really depressed this time of year. The only sport I enjoy is done until September at least. No good movies come out. No Netflix movies in my queue are available on demand. No cultural events in my small town. There is just nothing to look forward to, if I could drink and hibernate for the next six-eight weeks I’d be much happier.
20 inch snowpack, all I do is work (if you can call it that) and come home. I have an out of town birthday party Saturday and while I love the guy like a brother, I’m really fishing for excuses not to go. Just don’t really feel like doing anything social. I know I don’t treat my wife exceptionally well during this time of year. We’ve been together 20 years so at least it’s no surprise to her.
So questions are; do any readers have a similar depression at a certain time of year and what do you to lessen the severity/longevity? Rest of the year I do pretty well, so I don’t think prescribed drugs would really help. I don’t have anything to do and I don’t particularly have any desire to do anything. This time of year sucks.
If it is true seasonal affective disorder, there are some things you can do to help it. It is a recognized psychological condition with various degrees of treatment, many of which are good for you in general. Getting whatever outdoor time you can won’t hurt and will probably help some. The combination of excercise and sunlight is as effective and works much faster than drugs do. You have to make it a priority though. If it warms up a little on a given day and the sun comes out for a while, take it as a gift and go for a walk during lunch or whenever you can. Take it seriously and make it a priority and you will get benefits from it.
There is light treatment for people that are willing to do it. They make lamps that simulate the natural sunlight that you sit under for a while every day to get your physiology back in check. The real ones are fairly expensive but insurance sometimes covers them. You can ask around if you are interested in one. Most doctors know about them and there is lots of info online about them.
You can also try a mental trick that helps a lot of people. Start looking one season ahead to spring and actively preparing for it. People that like to garden look at seed catalogs this time of year and sometimes start seedlings indoors but you can do something similar to whatever you like. Start cleaning your boat off or getting camping gear in order or whatever it is that you will enjoy when it gets warmer and the sun is brighter.
My main method is to force myself to get out and about. I commit to as many social events as I can, and I schedule my work, etc. so that I am out of the house as much as possible. I dread going to these things, but I always feel better in the end. It’s really easy to let stuff fall by the wayside when it’s cold out, but I find it’s your friends who will bring you joy, and you have to actively put out the effort to keep that up.
When it kicked in this year I got me a one of those bright ligths. I don’t sit there and stare into it like the manual says, instead I use it as an extra lamp for my room. It definitely makes coming home from work after its dark a bit easier and less miserable.
I don’t like going out in the winter, period. I tried it one year but it only made me more miserable, slogging through the snow and cold.
So i pick up crafts. You know, boys can do crafts, too. I don’t know why it’s so anathema. I watch a lot of movies, and read, and try to make a new craft every week. I also make sure to try to exercise at least 4-5 times a week, because that makes a huge difference.
Winter makes me cranky, too. I’m with you. Almost spring!
OP, is a vacation in the cards for you financially? It’s not for me, but my mother’s seasonal sadness/depression is really cured by trips to warmer climates. She goes twice a winter to visit my uncle and grandma in Florida and once somewhere with my dad (this year might be Hawaii).
Otherwise, I recommend indoor tanning. Makes me feel “warm”, my doctor know about it in moderation. Lots of exercise - try an exercise class at the gym rather than just slogging it out on the elliptical.
Seconding Shagnasty’s suggestion for the light therapy - it’s not woo or anything, and it really helps.
If the actual light boxes are too expensive for you, hie thee to a home improvement store or garden center and ask the people for “grow lamps” which are essentially the same thing geared towards plants (thus less expensive).
The grow lamp isn’t perfect - you aren’t going to get the exact max theraputic light frequency of a human-oriented light box, but it will still be full-spectrum light, and it does work.
Most recommendations are to set the lamp on a timer to start shining about 15-20 minutes before you normally wake up, and to try to stay near it for at least 30 minutes each morning while you’re waking up. Word of mouth also has that shining it after you get off work (in the 5 o’clockish range) for the same amount of time is also helpful.
Any low level anxiety or depression is also mediated by exercise, so you could consider that as well. It might be worth it to find an excercise program or gym that you like, just for the winter when you’re really under the weather.
Mmmrrrrrrr. With 20" snowpack? And all the sleet and ice that last week’s storm laid down? There’s just nowhere to walk, here. Nowhere outdoors anyway. Guess that’s why god made shopping malls.