Depression worse in winter?

[da_illest101]

I wonder if anyone's depression is worse in winter then the rest of the year.

I personally don't like cold weather so going outside when it's cold is really something i can't stand. I'm not an out going person but at least in summer if i'm bored or depressed I could go for a bike ride or something just to ease my mind.

I can't wait for srping ::

 

[Frazy91]

Same all the time for me really, i remember feeling so awful in the summer about lots of things. And at the same time i had some really relaxing amazing times with my girlfriend.

 

[miss_amy]

I sure feel better in the nicer weather. Its just something more cheery about sunshine and flowers and being able to walk outside. Would just be nice not to feel cold. Much easier to spring out of bed for me if it isn't freezing and still dark.

 

[Streifen]

I do feel less happy when winter weather causes me to be stuck indoors. It's one thing if I stay in because I want to, but staying in because I'm trapped makes me feel restless and moody. If I do go out, I feel somewhat lowly walking or riding my bike on the side of the road while cars zip past me and also kind of hoping none of them are weirdos who might try something. ::

 

[Kiwong]

I think I'm more depressed in summer, the weather is hot and humid and often I am unable to sleep.

 

[Neptunus]

^ Same here. I'd much rather deal with the cold.

 

[freestylemonster]

The reason a lot of people feel more depressed in the winter is because they don't get outside in the sun as much, and sunlight triggers your body to create Vitamin D which makes you happier.

 

[Phoenixx]

I definitely feel more depressed during the winter. I hate dealing with the cold, and right now, the wind. I just feel so much more happier and relaxed on sunny days.

 

[Cynicalloner]

Mixed feelings here, I feel more depressed in the winter because I don't like the cold and I like being able to go outside and walk. Though when I go outside and walk around in the summer I see everyone out with their friends and it just reminds me of how alone I am...

 

[dottie]

one-hundred-million percent.

 

[Lea]

one-hundred-million percent.

I thought there was always hot where you live .

 

[Remus]

Yup, I hate winter

 

[awkwardamanda]

You might want to read up on Seasonal Affective Disorder. It's a form of depression that (usually) happens during winter and then goes away in the spring and summer, supposedly due to the lack of sunlight. You can get special lamps to help.

 

[da_illest101]

You might want to read up on Seasonal Affective Disorder. It's a form of depression that (usually) happens during winter and then goes away in the spring and summer, supposedly due to the lack of sunlight. You can get special lamps to help.

I wonder if it will help, thanks for the info

 

[bsebring]

I heard tanning helps with seasonal depression to.

 

[dottie]

@lea unfortunately a common misconception

 

[Hastings & Main]

Yep, it's the other SAD. They sell special headlamps just for those suffering from it, like visor-caps with a day-toned fluorescent light that shines above your eyes, imitating sunlight.
I was diagnosed several years back. I keep white curtains up with lamps aimed at them to reflect off of and give an illusion of sun, along with lots of lights on in the house. Helps quite a bit.
Moving to San Tropez would probably help more. Vancouver's grey about 60% of the year.

 

[JamesSmith]

I wonder if anyone's depression is worse in winter then the rest of the year.

I personally don't like cold weather so going outside when it's cold is really something i can't stand. I'm not an out going person but at least in summer if i'm bored or depressed I could go for a bike ride or something just to ease my mind.

I can't wait for srping ::

Yeah, I'm the same way. Cold weather means less outdoors time which traps an SA person in their house unless for some reason they don't mind being outside in the freezing cold. Since we spend so much time alone indoors, it helps to go outside and breathe fresh air, and the most important reason i need to go outside is for exercise. Cold weather is uncomfortable and annoying, it can make going outside painful. Icy conditions can be even worse because if you run it's dangerous and you can slip and twist or break something. It's okay for this year though, spring is right around the corner and it will be back to the decent jogging weather again.

 

[hoddesdon]

The reason a lot of people feel more depressed in the winter is because they don't get outside in the sun as much, and sunlight triggers your body to create Vitamin D which makes you happier.

Also serontonin.

 

[Shant]

To me, winter weather just screams "loneliness, isolation, depression". Although there is a memory I have of moderately cold weather, at a middle school camp, close to hypothermia, but all alone, everyone else playing around; tag, basketball, whatever games kids play. Then there's me. Wondering where my friends are. Nowhere to be found. Everyone else seemed happier, playing around. Me, nearly freezing to death. And yeah, alone. Before the camp I used to love winter. Now it's an inverse, I hate winter. I think this is why.

Winter does seem to give me an excuse, or whatever, it makes me feel justified in not leaving the house unless I need to, since most others aren't (and hey, if anyone tells me I'm not getting out enough, I can always blame the weather, I can only do that in winter!) But it seems so gloomy. Heat just seems so much more comforting. I can get out of the house without freezing. I can actually go for a jog.

So yeah, my depression gets worse in Winter. I don't think I have Seasonal Affective Disorder, since generally my depression is year-round and usually just gets a bit more powerful in winter.