Does the weather affect your condition?

[chloe40]

Brighter days seem to have a positive affect on my mental health, the difference can be quite stark.

With the coming darker days of winter, I find it pretty worrying.

Do you find this, or have you found a solution to this issue?

[kenster1 Moderator]

I'm the opposite love the cold dark nights summer isn't that great for me.

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to kenster1]

Oh my goodness Kenny, I've never heard of this way around, and yes, how fortunate are you, for a few months at least.

[PurpleEllie]

It’s not just brighter days for me, it’s the shorter daylight hours. Amongst other things I suffer with SAD so the winter truly is my enemy. A daylight therapy lamp does help, but I just want to sleep all the time. I’d hibernate if I could. As well as the lamp, I just have to keep telling myself that the days will get longer and it will get better. For many years I used to get an increase in my meds in the winter and decrease in the summer, but the roller coaster wasn’t good for me so now I just stay on a high dose all year. I hope you can find something to help you. Take care.

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to PurpleEllie]

Hi PurpleEllie

That's really tough for you.

It sounds as though you are managing it well considering, but it must be doubly hard for you to get through the winter.

I just hate it and have always thought I had SAD but unfortunately, I can't use the lamp for other reasons, so I'm trying to get together lots of different things I can spend my time doing. So far, I have Adult colouring books which are really great quality nowadays, books and knitting, so if you can add to that list I'd be grateful.

x

[PurpleEllie in reply to chloe40]

Have you tried cross stitch? You need a decent light to do it but it’s very rewarding. I like to buy the Xmas card kits and send the finished cards to friends and family. It’s really hard to motivate yourself to do anything sometimes, but knowing they’re for other people seems to spur me on. I also make myself bake at Christmas time. Mince pies, spiced cookies and the cake. Again, it’s for others which helps to motivate me to do it. Little things but they all help to keep some semblance of normality xx

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to PurpleEllie]

Thank you PurpleEllie

Yes, I do like cross stitch, I’d totally forgotten that! I will check out some kits available, that’s really helpful, as you say you need a good light so must look at that, it’s so important in the coming dark days.

Cooking for others is a lovely idea too.

[LifeAfterDiagnosis]

Definitely a problem. I put on as many indoor lights as I can, and have you ever used a sun lamp, or taken a vitamin D supplement?

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to LifeAfterDiagnosis]

Well, glad I’m not alone but sorry it’s a problem for you too!

Extra lights on is a good tip. I can’t use a sunlamp but I do take VitD.