SAD

[mirrorshard]

In order to gather some data...

[Poll #1312847]

Comments

[mirabehn.livejournal.com]

*many, many hugs*

[mirabehn.livejournal.com]

Also, I suspect that I'd be feeling a lot more depressed right now if it weren't for the fact that my immediate support network is so much bigger this year. You, Cath and Eve make an enormous amount of difference, especially when Nick's late home from work. So it's possible that the SAD *is* affecting me more, but other things are balancing it out.

[caramel-betty.livejournal.com]

[x] The lack of tickybox is particularly bad for me.

[mirrorshard.livejournal.com]

+1 insightful.

[caramel-betty.livejournal.com]

Sadly, I can't vote, having not seen you in real life in ages and ages. But I wouldn't want you to think my lack of vote is because I'm skipping over your posts and hate you and stuff.

[mirrorshard.livejournal.com]

Hey, I meant YOUR SAD. Not mine. Also, would be nice to see you again if you fancy coffee sometime. Probably late January at this rate.

[caramel-betty.livejournal.com]

Oh, I thought that briefly. But then the "You should just cheer up" option didn't seem to fit.

Yay for coffee, though.

[wildeabandon.livejournal.com]

[snowflake] I don't suffer from SAD, but I am going through a mild depression at the moment, and I suspect the weather isn't helping.

[mirrorshard.livejournal.com]

That makes a lot of sense. I get hit by winter twice - once from general winteryness, and once because I'm highly sensitive to light levels as well.

[otterylexa.livejournal.com]

I am experiencing particularly severe depression at the moment, and I suspect SAD is one of the bigger factors involved. But I can't say whether the SAD component is any worse than previous years.

[mirrorshard.livejournal.com]

Mm, it's complicated, and I know there are several factors at work for me too... as though there's any kind of depression where there is only one.

I suppose most of what I'm going on is intuitive and nonrational as much as anything else.

[yaqub.livejournal.com]

I thought I was getting hit by it for the first time in my life, but certain recent insights confirm that it's just the work bullshit that is really getting to me now. Although I'd have to admit, I'm more aware of the early dark and a little bit more annoyed than I remember having been before. Although that also has to do with gardening.

[strangelover.livejournal.com]

[x] I don't suffer from SAD.

I actually look forward to and enjoy the winter months.

Having said that, I am much happier now that I'm living in a sunshiny country, even as recently as Friday I was out walking around in a T-shirt with the sun beaming down. However, I think it's more to do with the fact that I like who I am these days, rather than the weather.

[thekumquat.livejournal.com]

Mine's actually better than normal - because the best thing for my SAD is to walk lots (exercise) during daylight (sunlight) and not have to deal with stressful human-interactive situations ('challenging' work).
So being on maternity leave and having to get out of the house each day for me and the quatlet to stay sane and get my legs back to speed is working really well, especially now I'm getting some kip each nihgt. Just as well, really, as there's no way I can sit next to my lightbox with him.

Still noticeable and I'm not stopping the happy pills yet, but I predict this will be a stopping-pills-in-mid-Jan year.

[pfy.livejournal.com]

I do not have anything that could reasonably be called SAD, but I am having to give myself more of a kick up the arse than normal for this time of year to get things done.

I'd expect the 'yes' and 'no' answers to be overrepresented in the poll results, because people with clear opinions are more motivated to answer.

[friend-of-tofu.livejournal.com]

I don't believe I have SAD. I have been *angrier* than usual but I don't think that's because of the weather. I am extremely tired and run-down, but again, there may be other reasons for that.

I hope you are feeling better soon, though.

[nyecamden.livejournal.com]

The run-up to christmas is particularly bad for me this year, but it is a cultural/psychological thing not a proper SAD thing, though you could call it SAD I suppose.

Suicidal ideation coming thick and fast. Bah. (I am safe and am looking after myself.)

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

This is my first winter where the pile of "other shit" that was making me far more depressed for most of my life is under some semblance of control. That's a little shaky because it only really started in February or March of last year: I'm not really used to being functional, yet.

I am having a hard time, and I really notice it if I don't use my lightbox these days, but it doesn't seem to be getting out of control the way it has previously. I've also had some additional stresses in the last few weeks which could be contributing to a general feeling of malaise.

In short, it's impossible for me to provide you with any meaningful information, because I'm completely stuffed for any sort of control data. Everything has changed.

I do think using the lightbox is helping and I will continue to do so. It never helps quite as much as getting outside for a walk, but my academic schedule does not permit me to do that during daylight hours most days. I never know whether that's because the walking is also good, or because the daylight outside is better, or because plants make me strong on some weirdo-hippie spiritual level.

The daylight-simulation alarm clock has also been a help: it won't make up for not sleeping enough but it does make it easier for me to get out of bed before it is light out. I think the sleep-pattern havoc that I often end up with at this time of year is also something that has made it harder for me to stay sane at this time of year in the past, so I'm glad to be mostly managing it.

[tiny-eri.livejournal.com]

Echoing the lack of 'I dont suffer from SAD ticky box', the poll makes it look as though you're either a sufferer or ignorant/insensitive, which I think will skew the results. I don't suffer from SAD, but I do know what it is and I certainly don't think you should 'just cheer up', but there is no box for me to tick.

[lizw.livejournal.com]

Like thekumquat, I think mine is better than usual due to a change in circumstances. I've got rid of one big stressful thing in the form of the Master's, and got a couple of new things in my life that ease the stress that remains (yoga and a new relationship).

[redcountess]

I'm finding that I'm more comfortable than previously being out when it's getting dark, and on colder days, but that may be due to acclimatising or my fibromyalgia symptoms improving.