Love summer...feel down as Autumn & Winter Approach:

Arequipa

Hi. I love sport, being outdoors, the garden, fishing etc...
As the evenings slowly begin to draw in, i feel my mood drops a bit.
I like Christmas, but other than that I hate the long, dark evenings.
Any of you relate to this?
How do you deal with it?

Hersheys

Arequipa wrote: »

Hi. I love sport, being outdoors, the garden, fishing etc...
As the evenings slowly begin to draw in, i feel my mood drops a bit.
I like Christmas, but other than that I hate the long, dark evenings.
Any of you relate to this?
How do you deal with it?

Could you talk to your doctor about SAD? Also sun lamps can help with the winter blues.

Could you take up a hobbie that allows you to be outside in the winter such as a winter sport? Maybe rugby, or just plain old running/walking.

WhyGoBald

I feel physically much better in the summer than in the winter because I have bad circulation, so I do feel that despondency too.

If it's more just feeling low than an actual depression, there are nice things about the approach of autumn. The weather can be very refreshing, and it can be really nice to walk in the park and see the leaves changing. If you like travelling, especially in busy tourist areas, the winter can be a quieter and cheaper time to do so. And then the Christmas markets start up in late November.

The worst time for me is post Christmas, up until early February, because I'm really sick of winter by then.

Arequipa

Thank you for the replies!
Yea, i am aware if SAD... I dont get depressed, but just find as i get older i dislike the shorter, dark days...
I am planning a trip to Africa at Christmas to get some sun:that's a start!
January & Feb are so cold & dark!!
Are those lamps any good?
I plan to do lots of exercise over the winter...

Canard

I used to hate the short days and it always felt like the day was slipping away too quickly, leaving and coming home while it's dark and cold and damp. But personally I think there's something picturesque about them and cosy. Why not gather friends together and go to a cafe and get a hot drink? It's really nice and you won't be on your own.

username123

Arequipa wrote: »

Are those lamps any good?

I got one 2 winters ago, and I think they are quite good. I definitely felt a bit pepped up initially - Im used to it now though. They fade, my one is not as bright as it used to be. Theyre silly expensive too.

I actually love winter, I love the snugness of a warm home with the cold weather outside, I love the crispness of winter mornings, I love winter clothes and boots, I love making a bed with heavy bedclothes and feeling all snug in it. I like exercising outside too, getting hot in the cold air.

Roisy7

I suppose this year feels worse as we had a very poor summer? I remember walking to work one day in July and thinking there was no difference between this and November....

Still you're being proactive, the trip to Africa will be amazing

I too get a bit of September blues, I think it may even be a hangover from schooldays, but the last few years that's lessened.

There are a few great things about winter... roaring fires, Christmas, wrapping up and cosying up indoors with hot choc etc. As someone else said you can use the winter to have a look around Ireland's tourist places, they're alot cheaper and quieter. Went to Connemara last November and we got lovely crisp weather, it was bleaker than in summer but beautiful in its own way.

January gets me, I hate it. I feel depressed from NYE on, it's such a horrible month. If there was a way to scrub January from the calendar, it'd be great

Arequipa

Yea, i agree it is nice, when the weather is cold outside to cosy up indoors...but after a few days of this I have cabinfever!
The seasons are nice: Spring is so nice as the evenings get longer, flowers bloom etc...:it is quite uplifting!
I recently travelled just north of the equator: they have a dry and wet season: but there are no distinct seasons like us & there's only a variation of 1 hour light between midwinter & midsummer: sounded good to me,,,but the grass is always greener!
I like the idea of booking a mid-Winter trip to the sun: really breaks our long winter in 2!

jessiejam

I find a high dose of vitamin D3 does the trick for me. If this isn't an option, a 2 week sun holiday would probably do the same... unfortunately I haven't the means for the latter. I think its probably going to be a dull and dreary winter too... and after the summer we've had, I'm not looking forward to it.

Hopefully we will get some sun and bright skys in the autumn. At least you can get out and about..here's hoping!.

Zoria

I don't feel so down when the Autumn or Winter approaches, our summers prepare us in advance for this.

Arequipa

I travel a lot. When you return to Ireland you realise how far north we are: Dublin is 54 degrees north of the equator & 3,000 + miles of Ocean to the West: given our location: i suppose our weather is not too bad!

LegacyUser

Defo get some Vit D you won't know yourself after a couple of weeks. Started using it last winter for the first time and boy did the winter fly and no dark foreboding feelings either. Hope it works out for you.

tony81

Arequipa wrote: »

Hi. I love sport, being outdoors, the garden, fishing etc...
As the evenings slowly begin to draw in, i feel my mood drops a bit.
I like Christmas, but other than that I hate the long, dark evenings.
Any of you relate to this?
How do you deal with it?

I stayed in Toronto one winter.. now that was miserable! Winter lasts 5 months over there. Many Canadians go abroad to Cuba or Mexico or somewhere sunny for a few weeks during these months. Perhaps you'd consider booking some annual leave and getting away for a few weeks over winter?

You should also make the most of whatever daylight you get in winter. Personally I don't mind the cold so I like a nice brisk walk on my lunch break or a bike ride at weekends. As for the dark evenings.. light a fire, put on a film, crack open a bottle of wine or a few beers. There's also no harm going to bed a bit earlier during winter seeing as there isn't as much to do.

Arequipa

Thanks for the replies: you are a helpful & positive bunch!
Yea...hopefully, if i save some €€ i'll get away over Christmas for some sun!
Would standard multivitamins contain vitamin D...?!

LegacyUser

I started suffering from SAD when I moved over to Canada. I never suffered from SAD whilst in Ireland but somehow when I moved over here I started to act strange around autumn/winter months. Where I live in Canada, winter can last up to 7 months!

I recommend purchasing the lamp. It is an expensive investment but worth it. The lamp needs to be used in the AM once you wake up for 30 minutes max. You can purchase the smaller ones that works as an alarm clock and the light starts to illuminate 30 minutes before your waking time. They are easy to travel with and work well with mild to moderate cases. If it is severe you would need the large ugly box one which is much more expensive but worth it,imo. Also with severe cases GPs prescribe anti-depressants for autumn/winter. I am on Wellbutrin from Sept and taper off in March. I do not think this would be the case for you. I would only recommend this route if everything else does not help. Another good advice my specialist recommended was changing your lightbulbs around the house. Traditional clear lightbulbs work better than the environmental ones. They give off more bright light that will enhance your mood and energy levels.

The best course of action is to get out as much as possible during the day regardless of how sh!tty the weather is. Even when it gets as low as -25 C here in the winter, I force myself to go outside for a walk and get as much daylight as possible. I walk to the cafe and sit next to a large window everyday during the dead of winter.

I suggest speaking with your chemist about Vitamin D AND B12 supplements. I take 5,000 IU of Vitamin D and an additional B12 supplement during those months. But please consult your GP and/or chemist about approriate dosages for you. Excess vitamin consumption can make you sick and at risk of developing an ulcer. Whatever dosage is recommended for you, you would need to start the vitamin regiment soon (usually mid September) before the season changes because it takes time to get into your system and for you to get the positive effects. You will be recommended to taper off in mid-late March. Decrease alcohol, sugar and starch consumption as they WILL affect your mood. Caffeine is helpful in small dosages and not to be consumed after 3pm for last cup. (no more than 2 cups of coffee or three cups of tea). Plenty of exercise and fresh air and yes one or two weeks off to a sunny warm place does help.