Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Being from the Phoenix area, too, I can understand. Perhaps you should try to imagine that instead of being September it's May and we're just about to enter another 3+ months of very hot (albeit dry) weather. I'd personally take September over May any time. Hey! We get to keep the windows open at night!

A friend of mine has this issue too and I had never heard of it prior to meeting her. Where we live winter can be rough so she has found that a creative outlet tends to help. Try taking an art class, paint a room in your house or dye your hair pink. These things help my friend, perhaps they could give you ideas of things to try.? Good Luck

SAD is caused by a drop in vitamin D, which your body produces by exposure to the sun. I live in Alaska, and it is very important to be sure that as the days get shorter you increase the amount of D you take in. You can use supplements and foods to help with this. Also, if you are feeling really low and there is very little sun (like here in Dec and Jan), short trips to the tanning bed can help, but be careful about over exposure.

I've heard of people, possibly like yourself, who are prone to mild or even severe depression when things change - who do better in year round sunny locations. In fact, an old roomate of mine moved here specifically at the suggestion from her doctor because she battles with depression and bi-polar. Your case sounds nothing nearly so serious as hers, but some people may just do better with the sunshine.

But - you already live in sunny AZ - so that must not be it. Another thing about my friend - she seems to snap out of her issues when she works out daily and keeps busy.

Then again, that seems to work for me too. If I always have something to accomplish, my mood is energetic and refreshed. Yes, I am exhausted by the end of the day - but it's a good thing! So I would suggest starting your day for yourself - a 1 mile walk or jog at minimum. Then go home and make yourself a super healthy protein smoothie (recipe at the end). Do not turn on the TV during the day, but rather do something productive with your spare time, like planting a flower bed or small garden, working for others at the food bank or your church, or visiting a friend. Maybe take a pottery class or go to the library and research something you've always wanted to know about.

Smoothies you can make at home that are super healthy and delicious!
Serves 2:
4-6 ice cubes
1/2 - 3/4 cup frozen mixed fruit (berries, pineapple, peaches, mango, banana, etc)
1 serving chocolate, vanilla, or coconut protein powder
8-10 fresh spinach leaves, rinsed
3/4 cup water
optional: 1 serving yogurt, plain yogurt, or a few tblsp coconut milk

Blend till smooth. (invest in straws)

Best of luck to you V.!

Dear V.:

SAD is regulated by the clock of our body. When it is dark the body produces less chemicals that would elevate your mood or excite you. It is easy to regulate this problem. It takes about 2 weeks to feel normal.

Bio-Melatonin - 60 Tablet: Chew 1 tablet at bed for one bottle. This will reset your clock. http://www.ndinutraceuticals.com/product131.html

Good Luck

Kim

I feel just the same way about summertime. I absolute love winter. I enjoy spring and fall as well, but I could skip summer all together and be happy. The way I see it, you can always put on more clothes and blankets when your cold, but you can't take off your skin when your hot. I also love nothing more than to curl up on the couch with a blanket, a good book, and a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. I love Christmas Carols, I love going to the Pumpkin Patch with my kids, I love Thanksgiving with Family, I love trimming the Tree and Shopping for and giving Gifts (I love receiving them too). I love all the baking around the holidays (my figure needs me to leave it alone. Ha! Ha!). I love the Christmas Parade and the Lighting of the State Capital. I Love that my kids are at School most of the day instead of at home fight all day. I start getting excited at the fall storm starts and the leaves began to start turning. I start singing Christmas Carols at the first of fall.
I absolutely dread summer, the heat, the kids fighting, the sinus headaches, allergies, the constant mess throughout my house caused by my middle child who is a literal tornado. Summer depresses me!!!!

Be glad you don't live in Alaska. We lived in AK for 14 years and SAD is something that affects a lot of people there. The trick I found is to make sure you get outside in the most intense sunlight of the day during the winter...take a walk or do something ACTIVE. You should take Vit. D supplements and if it is really bad get yourself a special light to sit under for an hour a day. Again, make sure to exercise or do something active regularly. This is really important.

Oh wow! I thought it was just me...What I don't get is that the weather is BEAUTIFUL right now! Not too hot, not too cold,the sunlight has a different quality to it, great for pics, and there is always a nice breeze...But honestly I think the change that I know is coming makes me uncomfortable and anxious...it's wierd. I personally don't think it is SAD b/c that is supposed to happen with less exposure to sunlught (we are getting more b/c the weather is so nice and we are outside longer) and shorter days, while I can tell the sun is setting a bit earlier it's not THAT early! I usually don't hear about SAD affecting people until Jan/Feb. And like you said by Thanksgiving I am okay. It is just fall that makes me uncomfortable. Sorry I don't have anything to help you, just wanted to let you know you aren't alone!

It might be SAD, but that usually has to do with not getting much exposure to light (like in places where they have long dark winters). That's why a SAD light can help when you shine it in or on your face to help you get an amount of light you need. I have a SAD desk lamp and I use it all the time. I don't get the middle of the winter blues as badly as I use to.
It's not exactly the symptoms of an allergy, but could it be pollen related? Pollen usually takes a nose dive when the cold weather hits.
http://www.pollen.com

My Mom... gets that way.
She knows that about herself. As you do.
My Mom, gets a little "down" at those times, with no sun or less sunlight and during the winter seasons or when it rains a lot etc.

If you research it online, there are practical ways you can help the situation... including lights etc.

The GOOD thing is, you know that about yourself and you can make it better.

In certain parts of the country, people actually get more 'depressed' during certain seasons. There are even statistics about it.

all the best,
Susan

There are studies about this...many people get the blues during the months where there isn't as much light, especially in places up north, where there days are shorter. There are lights you can buy to sit under for an amount of time everyday which gives you the vitamins that you need in your body to feel better. Try to get outside as much as you can, take walks sit outside and read, etc. I also suggest vitamins, especially with Vitamin D, which you get from the sun. At least we are not in Alaska where they get just a couple hours of daylight sometimes!

I think I just went though it -- we had three months of unusually gloomy weather, and I was surprised at how depressed I was getting. After a week of sun (finally) I became myself again. Don't know any remedies other than the sun, though you could buy one of those lights, I suppose.

I'm kind of the opposite. I get that way when it gets super hot in summer, I lived in az and now ut so it still get 108 or 110 and az 118ish. The first week of this kind of weather I get unmotivated and edgy, because its so hot even when I'm inside in the A/C I feel this way. I break out of it but I guess the reason I get bummed out and unmotivated is because at first I feel like I can't do anything cuz of the heat like I zonk out.

I also have had issues with the gloom! I have not tried it yet, but a friend recommended taking Vitamin K and D and cholecalciferol (400 and 800 IU) were great for her mood. Not sure how you feel about tanning beds, but I find that going once a month or so gives me a little boost. Having a little added color in the cold months made me feel a little more attractive thus lightening my mood.

I get this way too.
Part of my problem is that our summers are pretty short lived and never as warm as I like. I feel robbed if I can't get away to the heat for at least a couple of weekends.
Nothing gets me going and happy like a day that starts out sunny and nice with the birds singing. There is definitely something to the days getting shorter and the dreaded time change. I hate it! It bums me out just thinking about it being dark at 4:30 in the afternoon.
I'd give anything to live in Arizona. I really would.
I guess you just have to tell yourself that summer will come around again do your best to hang in there.
I've heard of light therapy, but I've never tried it. I always say I'm going to check into it.

I hope you get some great advice and send as much of that warm weather as you can my way.

Best wishes!