Are You SAD?

[+ Lucky]

Sad is an acronym for seasonal affective disorder, which, I think, quite simply means that some folks get depressed at the holidays. It could be nostalgia for long lost fellowship, loneliness, or just a feeling that others are having more fun than you are. I do not suffer from SAD, and I am very glad for that. I know that many are alone on Christmas, often by choice, but often by circumstances. Having the fellowship of the board to turn to minimizes a bit as posters find plenty of other things to do. My holiday was spread out, as they often are, with meeting different people on different days to accommodate their schedules. So I had a busy morning today, and expect a busy evening. But this afternoon was for a walk with the hubby and kids and then a good book.

I hate to bother people thinking that they are all busy, but I wonder how many people are happy to have a call or an email on Christmas Day. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bother. Too late now as I am getting ready for the evening. But I did just get one email that, had it come earlier, would have changed my afternoon. My favorite visiting Asian masseur is in town. He might have had an opening this afternoon to fill my empty time, but it's too late for that too.

 

Why did I post this? Mainly because I want to know if you have SAD, if so, what you did about it, and either way, would you have welcomed an unexpected call or email? There may still be time for many...

[+ Topseed]

It's not so much the holidays but the aftermath that hits me hard. January seems endless here in the cold Midwest. I've taken the initiative to plan several trips to warmer climes in January and February, and very much hoping that helps.

[LurkerSpeaks]

I can relate to SAD. I have no family or really close friends here in Phoenix. So my holidays are spent alone. Add to that the fact that my now deceased mother's birthday was mid-November (same day as my own birthday), the Thanksgiving/Christmas time of the year do tend to be a lonely time for me. But I try to not dwell on the negative and instead look for the positive. I try to practice the mantra from Cabaret, "What good is sitting, all alone in a room? Come, hear the music play. Life is a Cabaret ole chum, cum to the Cabaret". Even if that means creating the cabaret yourself. Today I made a nice holiday dinner of spiral sliced, glazed ham, cheesey hash brown casserole, and fresh asparagus. While it might not be the first choice of things to put in my mouth, I at least had a great meal holiday meal today

[tyro]

I have not been diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder per se, but as a lifelong resident of northern Ohio (also known by weather forecasters and psychiatrists as "The Land Where the Sun Don't Shine") I'm pretty sure I have it. I've also taken antidepressants on and off (mostly on) for the past five years. This particular holiday season has been very hard because my husband and I are in the midst of divorcing. Ever since I met his family, I felt more welcomed and accepted by them than by my own. We would often go to my mother-in-law's December family shindig and spend holidays with my in-laws. Now I have neither family. So...to answer your actual question, I have been texting, emailing, and PM'ing everyone I can think of, hoping that someone will reply. A few have. I would welcome more.

T

[josephga]

Not SAD but more on the lonely side. circumstances as well as by choice during Christmas and my birthday in January. Over the years I've learned to entertain myself

[Steven_Draker]

If we leave the winter depression apart which would be more associated with changing climates, shorter days and the lack of sunlight, I think this is an excellent thread and I thank you for starting it, Lucky. While it's true that in our community some are alone by choice or circumstances, others simply don't observe the Christmas holiday and don't have a reason to get together and celebrate on that day. This was not my point.

 

My point is that a call or email to a friend can really make a difference. There's a message behind this message:

 

[video=youtube;ePaIfW2yPV8]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePaIfW2yPV8

[ErieBear]

I do find myself struggling with depression in January/February/March. I also live in the area where there is little sun and a LOT of snow during those months, so it is hard to deal with sometimes. A few years ago, I had to go to Vegas during February for a conference and absolutely LOVED the sun out there. This year, I have scheduled trips to sunny states in both January and February. I'm hoping it helps.

[tyro]

Steven, that was just about the sweetest little video EVER! Thanks.

T

[mmk123]

Tyro

living here in Pittsburgh, PA I can relate about "The Land where the Sun Doesn't Shine". A few years ago I was having bloodwork done (when I turned 40 I became instantly paranoid so once a year I have everything tested - colon, prostate, bloodwork) and my doctor said that I have a severe Vitamin D deficieny. He said that it is common with people here in this area. He gave me a prescription for Vitamin D that I took for 5 weeks and then he said to just take a vitamin D capsule every day. I have been doing this for about 3 years and have felt much, much better. My sleep was better and I do not know if this has anything to do with it but other than a mild cold, I have not gotten sick. The most important thing is that my mood changed for the better and I was not lethargic at all anymore.

 

I am not saying that this is a universal answer but it might be something that could help you.

 

(The funny thing is that when this when I was diagnosed with a Vitamin D deficiency, a female co-worker who is about 20 years younger than me was diagnosed with the same thing. I thought it was due to my age but apparently it is not.)

[gallahadesquire]

The job from which I recently retired had no outdoor windows - or, you had to walk too far to get to them. The last two years, I was in the basement, where there WERE no windows.

 

So I was used not to seeing the sun, as I frequently arrived around dawn and left about 6 or 7 pm.

 

Now that I'm retired, and I can see the daily Sun - NOW I have SAD. Never did before. Interesting.

 

P.S. I do NOT recommend an office without windows. IN hospitals, ALL rooms have to have a window (even if it's fake). They sell fake windows

for just that purpose.

[corndog]

Although S.A.D. is a real thing, and everyone's individual situation should be respected, the idea that suicide rates increase during the holidays is a often-repeated myth, so cheer up! http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/promoting-hope-preventing-suicide/201212/holidays-suicide-myths-and-truths

[+ Charlie]

I suffered from climate-related SAD all my life, until I retired and moved to Palm Springs. Now I get slightly depressed if it is a gray day (like today), but that never lasts for more than a day or two here. However, I never get SAD, or sad, because of the holidays, even though I have no close family any longer, because I never took the holiday season seriously anyway, except as an opportunity to play rather than to work, and now that I'm retired, pretty much every day is a holiday.

 

I do call distant family and friends on Xmas, particularly those who are alone, as many of my contemporaries are now. Today an old friend who is now alone and disabled invited us to Xmas dinner, and although we would have preferred not to go, we accepted and were glad we did, because he had prepared a great deal of food, but unfortunately no one else whom he invited showed up. I really don't mind being alone on a holiday, but I feel bad for those who are alone and don't want to be.

[bigvalboy]

I am not affected by SAD...I love the holidays. Even the years when I was not close to family or friends I was perfectly OK celebrating the holidays solo. I would cook full holiday meals just for me, and I would always decorate the house. I would even go out to Christmas concerts or go to "The Grove" and just walk around, just to see all the stores decorated, and I would buy little things just for me. Now I find myself surrounded by family and friends, and the days are filled with much to do. I love just being out among all the holiday lights and the spirit of the season.

 

I am saddened by those who have a hard time with the holidays. As we age, I have found many of my friends are alone. Every Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning, I open up my email and click on 'contacts' and just start sending emails out. I usually get a lot of surprised responses back, especially from people I haven't contacted in months. We should do this all the time I know, but it is something about receiving a surprise email on the holidays that make the sentiment that much more special.

[Decatur Guy]

I think SAD and holiday depression are two different things. I tend to get SAD, but it hits me around February.

[nate_sf]

Every Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning, I open up my email and click on 'contacts' and just start sending emails out. I usually get a lot of surprised responses back, especially from people I haven't contacted in months. We should do this all the time I know, but it is something about receiving a surprise email on the holidays that make the sentiment that much more special.

 

I did the exact same thing yesterday and this morning, after receiving messages from others. Some of the responses I got back really put a smile on my face. As it turns out my Christmas went kind of lousy today, so it was nice to come home and look back over those emails and texts. Some were from people I had not been in touch with in a while, and some were quite humorous or touching, so it was nice to have something to lift my spirits.

[EZEtoGRU]

I think the climate-related depression is a serious thing for those who live in the midwest/northeast and can go days/weeks without seeing the sun. I grew-up in Michigan and January-March were notorious for people getting depressed or sad due to the lack of sun. People with some money and time would head to Florida or other sunny destinations during these months. Those that could not get away just put up with it. I never really suffered from the afflicition in any serious way......but others did. Since leaving Michigan, I have lived in warmer and sunnier climates (Florida/Texas/Brazil/Chile) and I haven't see the same number of sad people. I attribute it to the amount of sun that people are exposed to in those locations.

 

As it happens, it was a glorious day in Michigan yesterday. Cold with a little snow on the ground but a bright blue sky. Really nice to be honest.

[Decatur Guy]

I think the climate-related depression is a serious thing for those who live in the midwest/northeast and can go days/weeks without seeing the sun. I grew-up in Michigan and January-March were notorious for people getting depressed or sad due to the lack of sun. People with some money and time would head to Florida or other sunny destinations during these months. Those that could not get away just put up with it. I never really suffered from the afflicition in any serious way......but others did. Since leaving Michigan, I have lived in warmer and sunnier climates (Florida/Texas/Brazil/Chile) and I haven't see the same number of sad people. I attribute it to the amount of sun that people are exposed to in those locations.

 

As it happens, it was a glorious day in Michigan yesterday. Cold with a little snow on the ground but a bright blue sky. Really nice to be honest.

 

For me, I think it's the cold more than the lack of sun. I HATE being cold. And that drives me indoors. And that's what gives me SAD. So I combat it by trying to force myself outdoors even when it's cold. A cloudy day in and of itself doesn't do that to me -- in fact, I kind of like it cloudy and foggy. Just not cold.

[Lookin]

My house is in the trees in one of the rainiest parts of the Bay Area with most of the rain falling in the dark winter months. A few years ago, I found myself sleeping half the day away. Not that I didn't enjoy it, but I worried I was about to take root in my queen-size bed.

 

The doc said it sounded like Seasonal Affective Disorder to her, and suggested bathing my kisser in blue-spectrum light for half an hour each day.

 

http://www.njuskalo.hr/image-bigger/ostali-kucanski-aparati/philips-golite-blu-slika-17823548.jpg

 

Got a gizmo from Amazon that seemed to do the trick, though I had to avoid getting too close to a mirror that well-lit and that early in the morning.

 

Now that was depressing . . .

[+ Lucky]

People in Seattle get SAD a lot, what with all of the rain there. As Lookin says, even in rainy areas of SF one can get SAD if you have a lot of rain. My advice, Lookin, should you care to consider it, is to vacation in sunny places, such as Palm Springs. Also, be sure to have your Vitamin D level checked, as a lack of sunshine often means a lack of Vitamin D, Both the husband and I were shocked to get low VitaD test results even though we live in the sunny desert. Turns out that the heat makes us stay out of the sun, so we are not getting the plentiful VitaD nature provides.

[+ deej]

Yes, the Pacific northwest is more prone to SAD than many other parts of the country.

 

When a friend moved from Chicago to Seattle he was mostly concerned about the lack of sun. You can cope with cold, and it's usually a sunny cold, in Chicago. Overcast is more difficult for some to handle. He did end up suffering depression (although I'm not convinced the long work hours were unrelated) and moved out of the Seattle area at his first opportunity.

[jackhammer91406]

Getting back what was lost

 

Many years ago my mother was diagnosed with cancer. The doctor gave her 2 months to live and 1 day short of that, the day before Thanksgiving, she died. My brothers and I had made plans with her for what she wanted and those were all in place. BUT, the gravediggers in Illinois went on strike that day and it was 30 days before we could fly back to have her services and bury her next to my dad. That year it was the day before Christmas when we flew into Illinois and had her service in the frigid winter air. I could have gone my whole life not knowing that gravediggers even had a union.

 

For years, those two holidays were lost to me. Some of my close friends know that I later became a pastor and served the homeless ministry at my church. Our two biggest days of the year serving the homeless were Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

I got those holidays back and have kept them the best I could ever since.

 

Thanks Lucky for starting this thread. This time of year can be difficult for many who are alone.

[+ honcho]

Wow ...

 

It seems heartless to say anything clinical after Jackhammer's moving post.

 

Nonetheless in the spirit of wanting to help (but being somewhat lazy to do a thorough web post to cite proper references),

I seem to recall reading a study a decade or so ago in a magazine that I trusted (like scientific american or science or psychology today or ...)

about lessening S.A.D. symptoms by being in very bright [highly lit] areas for some period of time.

 

It's tough to do double-blind studies in this case, since people *know* they are doing something or not, but the results did seem

to go beyond the placebo effect.

[tyro]

I've heard that too. There are prescription-available "light boxes" that display the right balance of rays. Methinks I should be asking doc about that.......

T

[gallahadesquire]

As in most hospitals, we performed our ElectroConvulsive Therapy (shock treatments) in our Recovery room.

 

We had started one day, and I asked the psychiatrist how he was doing in the bi-chromic days of Winter that the Northeast has. [For thee uninitiated: Brown and Gray.]

 

He told me that some that his colleagues had pooled their funds, and bought the high-intensity lights.

 

"How is it working for them?" I asked.

"Pretty good," the psychiatrist said, "But they realized they'd answered the question:"

 

How many lightbulbs does it take to change a psychiatrist?

[tyro]

Too funny!

T