sad syndrome/bereavement

[hippiedippy]

Hi there,Didnt know this place existed,so thought Id give a go.Im finding myself very low at present,recently suffered bout of back pain,so very low energy etc due to this.I also find my mood is low,Im craving sugary,starchy foods,and this started approx end of september.I have purchased a light box to help on a morning.Im also becoming increasingly anxious at the fact its coming up to 1 year anniversary for my nana passing,whom I was very close to.The feelings I felt at the time are becoming very real again,and dreams/nightmares are creaping in.I feel silly for feeling this way,I should be able to cope 1 yr later,but I miss her so much.In a nutshell I dont know if its the weather,or bereavement,but dont really know what to do?!thanks.

[MAS_Nurse]

Hello hippiedippy, welcome to our supportive community! It sounds like your struggling with a lot at the moment. Back pain can be very warring and can make suffers feel very low, especially if your pain isn't well controlled. It also sounds like you may have SAD syndrome (Seasonal Affective Disorder) which is a type of depression experienced by some at this time of the year, with the drawing in our the winter season, reduced daylight, affecting the production of melatonin and serotonin, and the body clock's circadian rhythm being altered. Take a look at the links below for more evidence based information about SAD and treatment options. Your low mood as you say, may also be linked to your recent bereavement. It can take a long time to recover from losing a loved one, there's no time limit on how long, but it shows how much you loved your nana, and anniversaries can trigger both positive and negative memories and emotions. May I encourage you if you haven't already done so, to fix up an appointment with your GP/local doctor to discuss all of these issues. There's a lot of help available, not just medications, but psychological talking therapies, as well as self-help measures. You don't have to suffer alone, and you are definitely not at all 'silly' for feeling this way and it's brave of you to share how you feel. Hopefully you will discover how empathic and understanding folks are on here, and they will identify and share your experiences and offer support.

SAD syndrome: nhs.uk/Conditions/Seasonal-...

mind.org.uk/information-sup...

Cruse Bereavement cruse.org.uk/line: Tel: [phone]

Take care,

Keep in touch.

[hippiedippy in reply to MAS_Nurse]

thankyou so much for taking time to reply,I do suffer in winter,usually take st johns,but this yr feels worse,feel low and anxious a lot.ill try and get gp appointment although I'm not keen on antidepressants!thanks againx

[Hidden]

Hi hippiedippy nice to meet you and welcome to the site. There is also a bereavement site on here if you want to join it. I wish you all the best Lil x

[hippiedippy in reply to Hidden]

thankyou Lilx

[Hidden in reply to hippiedippy]

You are very welcome Lil x