SAD....beating the Winter Blues....?

Question

I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder....I hate being cold, I hate the dark nights, I hate the wet weather and I don't want to go out in it! I would rather stay in (even though when I do eventually venture outside during the daytime, it's more often warmer and brighter than inside my house!). However, the next time I have to go out, I feel that I would rather stay in and hibernate....again!

I'm fortunate enough to run my own Company....from home...which doesn't help with my motivation to get outside or to have more Winter energy inside my home!

I don't want to buy expensive light boxes or gadgets...

...I'm just looking for motivational ideas that have worked for other people.

Any ideas anyone??

Thank you for your answers - you all deserve 'best answer' prize. I didn't realise so many people were actually affected by it. I never used to be - but it has got worse over the last few years (is it because the weather has got worse I wonder?)

Anyhow, I shall give the light box a go and hopefully will have a motivational start to the New Year! Thanks to all.

Answer 1

My husband suffered with this for years - getting increasingly worse as he got older. For the past 4 years he has been signed off sick in December and wouldn't go out until March. The only way he was signed off sick was because I called the doctors in at home - he wouldn't even go to the GP centre across the road he was so bad. He was a pig to live with and like you he swore he didnt want gadgets or pills - just to get better. Sorry pal - you cannot get better unless you find something that helps. For my husband it was dragging him to the GP earlier this year and MAKING him talk to the doctor. He was put on anti depressants and has been on them for 6 months now - this winter he is a different man. No being off work sick, he is happy and Christmas has just been an absolute pleasure. Next year we will try the light box as well. Try it all - whats to lose ??? xxxx

Answer 2

I feel the same way but not at the same level. I don't do any winter sport either. But I love gardening so after mid-September I start counting days to the next spring. However, recently I have started to look after some indoor plants, watering them and watching them grow. Very soon I will be started looking into seed catalogues etc. for the next spring. So my suggestion is to look into this hobby.
It is your life so you have to make some investment to take care of winter blues somehow. Since you run your own company from home, why not invest in converting a room into and office plus sun-room. There may be some tax incentive to invest in a home office and at the same time be busy in a joyful hobby of indoor plants. No doubt there is some expense. I wanted to make such a sun-room but my money evaporated during the technology crash.

Answer 3

sorry to say, but the most effective treatment is a light box. Other than that i guess it's a case of trying to fight the want to stay indoors all of the time, put yourself in a position where you need to go out. It may sound strange, but when you go out, you realise that the outdoors is brighter than indoors, so just keep telling yourself that, self motivate, say to yourself over and over that it is brighter and warmer outside, once you get used to that, hopefully your SAD will lessen somewhat

Answer 4

I suffer from SAD too. I thought like you too, Why sound buy expensive boxes etc. From mid Sept the SAD came. Like a big black cloud. Only lifting in spring with sunny & longer days. I suffered many winters of this & just got fed up. So i did the best thing for me. I bought myself a light box & an alarm with a light which wakes you up with bright light. The light box & alarm work for me, they may work for you. Some of the lght box company rent the boxes out, you could try one out. You invest in your company how about investing in you.

Answer 5

The light boxes are the best option. What do you want, that bad feeling all the time or a fairly minor reduction in the bank balance?
You could go for a holiday in the sun or even move abroad but thats drastic unless your work allows this option.

Answer 6

Join the club. I suffer with mood swings & lack of motivation, too. Gosh, it was raining so badly out there, even the bargain hunters would've been inclined to stay indoors!!! I think you've just got to keep your mind occupied on other things, stay busy & hope the weather improves.

Answer 7

I think excercise does make you feel better and good food, healthy nutritious food can help moods, maybe try eating lots of oily fish with has vitamin D in it - which get from the sun too. Getting out will make you feel better, maybe go out with a friend or your boyfriend to the park when its not raining or something, when the sun's out it can 'look' just like summer! And what about bright colourful clothes to take away the drab look...........or a good holiday in a nice hot climate..........

Answer 8

HECK YES!!! we got snow all weekend. i don't want there to be snow....i love the 90 degree weather. along with the winter chill, i got a cold. hit me this moring. UGH!!!! can't stand the winter cuz i always get this same cold. Stupid cough, and sore throat. i am glad i only have one class left so i can go home and sleep. but of course of have to walk home through the SNOW!!!!

Answer 9

I hate to say it, but buy one of the expensive light boxes. They aren't just gadgets. They help tremendously. I have one from the company SunBox.

Answer 10

You have the best advise right there so ... sit by a window?

Good luck it will be over soon