I Don't Want To Spend The Rest Of My Life Laying In Bed But Don't know what To Do ?

Question

We moved from our home in the south about a year ago..to a place that is almost 9000 ft higher and is a cold climate..We relocated for reasons that were not our fault.We put everything we had into this place thinking it would be a great place to live and well it probably is.In a year the first part was spent with many projects and putting this in and this at the property.That with moving and staying busy all the time we really didn't have time to think about much and the winter was very mild..with little snow here and there.This year the house is complete and we have stayed in alot..The weather is bitter cold and lots and lots of snow and more snow .We had the flu for a few weeks and found ourselves in bed for a few weeks,and its taken awhile to get our energy back but now we find its so cold all the time we rather lay in bed and some days have no control over just wanting to sleep.I worry about our life style and don't want to just stay in bed all the time.. cont below..

I don't want to just spend our lives in bed ..When there is a front coming in our bodies hurt with pains that we have never had before.We feel bad and lay around and then when we do feel good we go back to be and cover up.Its like we are couch potatoes but instead bed potatoes .I don't want to live like this.We work on the computers some and hardly ever watch tv .Our lives seem to be day after day of the same day and never ending sleeping or hurting..or both.We can't move from here so don't suggest this please,but is this normal for people that move to this drastic change to feel this way ?Will it get better?The days its starting to melt the snow away and we are just about to get going another front comes in and snows and covers it up.. What can I do ,I feel my life is slowly being drained from me.. Help?

Answer 1

I live in MN and I know exactly what you mean about wanting to stay in bed (or in my case curled up on the couch w/a blanket) when it is cold. It's tough because there is little sun and that just further makes a person want to lay around inside where it is warm and comfortable. There is no easy solution-you just have to push yourself to get moving. You don't have to do outdoor activities, but go to a movie, a mall, etc. You could try checking if there are classes you can take in your community or join a gym. I find that if I go to the gym a couple times a week it keeps my energy up during the bleak winter months. Also, if you think you are experiencing seasonal depression, a short session in a tanning bed can provide temporary relief. Hope this helps!

Answer 2

I'm guessing here, so there maybe some errors...but I'm guessing a couple of things:
A) There was little to no snow at all from where you came
B) There was however, a *lot* of sunshine.

Now, I'm not going to suggest that you seek a psychologist (although you might want to) but you could have something akin to situational seasonal-affective-disorder.

Yes, it takes time to adjust. Cold and wet is dreary. Cold and frozen is downright awful. I went from Sacramento, CA to Oregon and although I loved the place, winters were miserable.

Thermal underwear, don't underestimate it. If you have the means to stay in bed, then do it. If you don't want to sleep, watch tv. Take up needlework. Read. If you are really that sleepy all the time, check with a doctor.

It seems like you feel stuck, repressed, depressed, and well, cold. Seeking a doctor to rule out any physical problems should be your first step.

It does take time to adjust. Be patient with yourself, but not to the point that you allow yourself to become a vegetable. In David Burn's book, "Feeling Good" he reminds those of us in a depressive slump that motivation doesn't come before action, that action comes before motivation. You may just have to kick up that thermostat or get the wood stove to kick out some more heat, and buck up and find a winter hobby.

The good news? Spring will come again. :o)

Jen/Smudge