New girl

Hello everyone. It has been really comforting to read all your threads. I have suffered with SAD for years and feel strongly about how much it is underestimated as a condition. Every winter is the same - it starts really early in about September and starts easing in about February. Every year I forget about how bad the last one was until I am in the thick of it. I am relieved to have made it through the first winter without medication although it has been a tough old slog. My light visor helps when I actually wear it as does staying off the booze, exercising etc. It is all easier said than done though and I crave the things that are comforting like drinking, smoking, eating carbs and mooching around on the sofa. I have realised that it is difficult to get motivated when you have SAD and soooo frustrating. I feel like I am trapped in a circle for life - 6 months are great and 6 months are like living a death. Anyway, enough about me, I hope you are all having a good week - only a couple of months til spring. Phew!!
Best wishes xx

Hi Janie, welcome to the forum. I agree, it's very comforting reading other people's threads and to know that we're not alone. I crave comforting things too, mostly food. It's very hard to get motivated to do things, especially exercise. Hope you're having a good week too. Look forward to reading more of your posts xx

I agree with PurpleIvy... What you wrote makes a lot of sense to me. I actually feel like I'm two completely different people sometimes...

There's the "summer me," that's laughing, out-going, always busy, can easily join in at social gatherings, energetic...

There's the "winter me," that's always complaining about being tired, even before she realizes it's out of her mouth... complaining about aches and pains, lacking energy, making excuses to avoid activities, emotionally "flatlined," and I work so hard to maintain what I feel is a "facade" in my personal and work-life. Even that's so exhausting that I can't keep it up for long. Not being able to think clearly is just so distressing, too!

Sometimes you wonder how people can't see what you're going through every year. I sometimes lose my faith in other people or feel like they're humoring me. That's the "SAD me" talking, though. They don't live in my body and I do try to push the facade as much as I can.

It's good that you've identified what it is that will help you. That's a big step, really! Take care, and glad you found us here!