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sad about it getting darker earlier
15/f
i'm normally a super happy person, but how do you keep yourself from getting kinda sad when it gets dark early? like i've been used to it being sunny later and everytime the weather changes into fall/winter i get like sad when it gets dark so early. i live in ohio btw. how do i stay happy?
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That is UNBELIEVABLE! My friend asked me this same thing a few weeks ago, and I was completely dumbfounded. I'm useless here, cause I don't really have an answer. I didn't even know it was an actual illness till now. I actually wanted to thank YOU for asking this question! Wow.. If it helps any, part of the reason she gets sad is cause she realizes she's getting older [even though she's only 17], and I hate the summer cause I'm sort of a night owl...
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oh you have SAD (seasonal affective disorder) which is winter blues
Treatments and drugs
Like depression, it's often possible to successfully manage seasonal affective disorder. In milder cases, you may be able to take measures on your own, such as spending more time outdoors or sitting closer to bright windows while at home or in the office.
Other treatments for seasonal affective disorder include:
Light therapy
Because increased sunlight improves symptoms, light therapy is often a main treatment for many people with seasonal affective disorder. However, light therapy hasn't been officially approved as a treatment by the Food and Drug Administration because of a lack of definitive evidence about its effectiveness in clinical trials. Before you purchase a light therapy box or consider light therapy, consult your doctor or mental health provider to make sure it's right for you.
Light therapy mimics outdoor light and causes a biochemical change in your brain that lifts your mood, relieving symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. In light therapy, you sit a few feet from a specialized light therapy box so that you're exposed to very bright light. Light therapy is generally easy to use and has relatively few side effects.
Medications
Some people with seasonal affective disorder benefit from treatment with antidepressants or other psychiatric medications, especially if symptoms are severe. The Food and Drug Administration has approved bupropion extended release tablets (Wellbutrin XL) for the prevention of depressive episodes in people with a history of seasonal affective disorder. Other antidepressants commonly used to treat seasonal affective disorder include paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem) and venlafaxine (Effexor).
Your doctor may recommend starting treatment with an antidepressant before your symptoms typically begin each year. He or she may also recommend that you continue to take antidepressant medication beyond the time your symptoms normally go away. This strategy can help prevent worsening of symptoms.
Keep in mind that it may take several weeks to notice full benefits from an antidepressant. In addition, you may have to try several different medications before you find one that works well and has the fewest side effects. Like other medications, all antidepressants pose the risk of side effects and some have health precautions that you and your doctor must discuss.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is another option to treat seasonal affective disorder. Although seasonal affective disorder is thought to be related to biochemical processes, your mood and behavior also can contribute to symptoms. Psychotherapy can help you identify and change negative thoughts and behaviors that may be making you feel worse. You can also learn healthy ways to cope with seasonal affective disorder and manage stress.
Coping and support
You can take action to help cope with seasonal affective disorder. Here are tips to help you manage the condition, in conjunction with your doctor or mental health provider:
* Stick to your treatment plan. Take medications as directed and attend therapy appointments as scheduled.
* Let there be light. Make your home sunnier and brighter. Open blinds, add skylights and trim tree branches that block sunlight.
* Get out. Get outdoors on sunny days, even during winter. Take a long walk, eat lunch at a nearby park, or simply sit peacefully on a bench and soak up the sun.
* Exercise regularly. Physical exercise helps relieve stress and anxiety, both of which can increase SAD symptoms. Being more fit can make you feel better about yourself, too, which can lift your mood.
* Take care of yourself. Get enough rest, eat a balanced diet and take time to relax. Don't turn to alcohol or unprescribed drugs for relief.
* Practice stress management. Learn how to better manage stress. Unmanaged stress can lead to depression, overeating, or other unhealthy thoughts and behaviors.
* Socialize. Stay connected with people you enjoy being around. They can offer support, a shoulder to cry on or a joke to give you a little boost.
* Take a trip. If possible, take winter vacations in sunny, warm locations if you have winter SAD, or cooler locations if you have summer SAD.
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wow,thats weird thats exactly what has been happening to me,
personally i LOVE the sun, or hot days,stuff like that.
when its cold or the sun is gone i usually where very bright colors,
and eat alot of sugary foods lol,
then that way i get everyone else whose down ,
up
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haha.
GL
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