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Seasonal Depressive Disorder SAD

amiablePeace77 October 2nd


Have you ever noticed significant changes in your mood and behaviour when the seasons change? 

Some people experience feelings of sadness, lack of energy, loss of interest in usual activities, oversleeping and even weight gain.

The hourly distribution of the daylight and night time changes with seasons. Days tend to shorten during the winter and are accompanied with longer nights, which confuses the biological clock. This can trigger anxiety along with disturbed sleep schedules.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of major depressive disorder (MDD) that typically occurs in people during the winter months. But SAD doesn’t only occur during the winter months. Summer onset SAD, which occurs during the late spring and summer months, may also relate to the sun and chemical changes in your brain. 


Participation question

How do you feel when the seasons change?

If you suffer from seasonal affective disorder what helps you to cope?


Helpful Videos:

Seasonal Affective Disorder - Mayo Clinic Health System


Helpful Resources:

Seasonal Affective Disorder



Seeking Help 

Mental stress can cause us not to be able to see the good things in life and lead to excessive rumination or worries which can result in serious health problems. If you have serious, long-term problems with negative thinking and feeling depressed, see your doctor or talk to a therapist if they are related to any mental challenges. 

Are you looking for a therapist? 7 Cups has online, certified therapists with a paid option. For more information on what happens in online therapy at 7 Cups, Read Lisa’s (a therapist and director of therapy) explanation 

https://www.7cups.com/forum/therapy/General_2432/WeveLaunchedTalkTherapyon7Cups_319430/

To apply for 7 Cups online therapy, click on this link (must be logged into member account) https://www.7cups.com/online-therapy/?ob=1


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amiablePeace77 OP October 2nd

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soulsings October 2nd

@amiablePeace77

How do you feel when the seasons change? Autumn is usually a sad time for me as all the leaves turn brown and fall off the trees. In winter there are usually many dreary cloudy days  and I notice it more than in summer. 

If you suffer from seasonal affective disorder what helps you to cope? I have bright lights in the room and keep the room warm. I spend more time at 7 Cups and socializing.

2 replies
amiablePeace77 OP October 2nd

@soulsings

Very obviously you have taken the time to learn what you need and found ways to cope. 👍

Tinywhisper11 October 3rd

@soulsings autumn has already started🙁 are you ok?

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Fradiga October 2nd

How do you feel when the seasons change?

Actually, I love the seasons change even before I lives in the countryside. My lifestyle changes with the seasons as well. Winter is a little harder because this house has no rental heating and is anyway a thermal sieve (nature and fresh air inside and outside) because it's close to about 300 years old and would require a lot of renovation and restoration. When I was living in Montreal, that was a real winter but the winter stayed outside.

The way I deal with winter is to wear a lot of layers, make sure I have wood on hand, use a mattress warmer and eat a lot more hot meals. 


7 replies
amiablePeace77 OP October 2nd

@Fradiga

I can understand that you rather deal with the cold in your way than making a huge investment in a house of 300 years. It seems you got quite good at find out what works. I hope there will be lots of wood available to you for the future cold seasons.

Tinywhisper11 October 3rd

@Fradiga and don't forget you use your dog as a foot warmer too ❤

5 replies
Fradiga October 3rd

@Tinywhisper11

I just got two pairs of fingertip-less gloves for when the temperature here is under 13C, because I work on 7cups in the morning before the living-room has had time to heat up. That way, my hands will stay warm, not just my feet!

4 replies
Tinywhisper11 October 4th

@Fradiga fingerless gloves🤔🤔 I don't think I've seen them. I have mittens, cause of my weird fingers. I hope you have plenty of blankets to keep you warm in your living room ❤

3 replies
Fradiga October 4th

@Tinywhisper11

The gloves have fingers, but no fingerTIPS. Often used by musicians who are playing outdoors in the cold. 


2 replies
Tinywhisper11 October 4th

@Fradiga I looked them up, they are actually really cool ❤ if you need to use your fingers for lots of things they would be handy😁 most of my fingers are missing now, so yeah mittens are best, and I only need to use them when I go sit outside in the garden under the willow tree ❤

1 reply
Fradiga October 4th

@Tinywhisper11

So they are handy when I am on 7cups early in the morning when the room is still cold. 

Glad you liked the idea


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Zeraphim October 2nd

I'm depressed and anxious in every season, unfortunately.

2 replies
soulsings October 2nd

@Zeraphim sorry to hear that. 

Tinywhisper11 October 3rd

@Zeraphim gives zera a giant tiny hug ❤❤ I'm here for you ❤ 

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1CuriousHeart October 2nd

Oh wow. I've always thought about the possibility of this, didn't know it was actually a thing. Every year around July, my mood swings tend to get really intense. My diary attests to this being the saddest period of the year for me. Kinda cringe.

4 replies
amiablePeace77 OP October 3rd

@1CuriousHeart

I am glad that you joined the forum and hope that the resources given will help you. 

Tinywhisper11 October 3rd

@1CuriousHeart july is my worst month, but should be my happiest. It's crazy how the brain works. Gives you a giant tiny hug ❤

2 replies
1CuriousHeart October 3rd

Crazy fr 😫 glad we survived another July 💪 here's to many more awesome ones. 🥂

1 reply
Tinywhisper11 October 4th

@1CuriousHeart cheers🍼🍼😁

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mytwistedsoul October 3rd

It starts about the end of September. The shorter days and longer nights. The temperatures are getting colder. The leaves start to fall. Sadness creeps in. It feels worse this year 

I try to get in as much natural light as possible and take supplements and use sun lamps

5 replies
soulsings October 3rd

@mytwistedsoul this sounds like September in the northeast US! 

To me the worst is usually by November all the leaves are off the trees except pine trees. Everything looks dead. Then I really struggle to find a bright spot..

2 replies
mytwistedsoul October 3rd

@soulsings Lol I live in the north east! And yes everything looks dead and barren. I live in the woods and the difference is so noticable when it changes. It gets so cold sometimes that it feels like you'll never get warm. So you have to dress in layers and it feels so constricting having to be so bundled up 

Tinywhisper11 October 3rd

@soulsings oh you suffer from it too🙁 sorry soul, I'm here for you ❤ we all are ❤

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Tinywhisper11 October 3rd

@mytwistedsoul oh no, that's sad 😢😢 if you ever need to cry it out I'm here for you ❤❤ I love you ❤

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akunknown October 3rd

@amiablePeace77

How do you feel when the seasons change?

In the beginning not good tbh only bc seasons stay the same for 2-3 months, either way that’s over one month so you get used to the weather/temperature, how to live in each season, so on and so forth. Then suddenly by the time you’re fully used to it all and are comfortable living life with that season, you know it’s only a matter of time (and not too much time left) before the season changes again and you have to go through that entire process all over again. It’s more annoying for me honestly than anything. 

If you suffer from seasonal affective disorder what helps you to cope?

I honestly don’t know whether I suffer from seasonal affective disorder or not but if it turns out I do, I’d cope with it by being consistent with my schedule like for example I’d sleep every night and wake up every morning at the same time all 365 days/nights a year no matter what season it is so that my body and the rest of me will be used to and trained to that schedule and follow it all year long. That way the seasonal changes won’t affect me at all or at least not as much. 

2 replies
amiablePeace77 OP October 3rd

@akunknown

Sleeping every night and waking up every morning at the same time is a great routine and very helpful for the body! 👍

1 reply
akunknown October 3rd

@amiablePeace77

Yes. Also for the soul and mind too. 

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Tinywhisper11 October 3rd

@amiablePeace77 I do not suffer from seasonal depression. I always get excited when a new season begins, they all have so much to offer ❤ 😁 although I do tend to sleep more in autumn and winter. I think if I could hibernate I definetly would😂😂

3 replies
amiablePeace77 OP October 3rd

@Tinywhisper11

You might be secretly a bear! 😀 I believe that many people want to sleep more  when there is less sun like in autumn and winter. 

soulsings October 3rd

@Tinywhisper11 If you hibernated you would have to change your name to Tiny Bear! ☺️

1 reply
Tinywhisper11 October 4th

@soulsings tiny bear sounds cute😁

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SrtaSunrise1763 October 3rd

I normally struggle to deal with the raining and cloudy days as I live in the UK. It makes me feel quite low and I normally spend the day at home/isolated 😅.


I love when is sunny and everything gets better, my mood, my energy… It also makes me want to go for nature walks ✨

1 reply
amiablePeace77 OP October 3rd

@SrtaSunrise1763

I prefer sunny days too provided it's not too hot. Nature walks are wonderful indeed. I hope that 7cups will help you to find comfort on rainy days.

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NotFound20 October 3rd

How do you feel when the seasons change ?

  • I often feel down during winter; it’s as if the world is coming to an end. Additionally, I tend to feel sad in the evenings. The sunset and the onset of darkness drain my energy, making me just want to sleep.


  • I don't have any specific coping mechanisms, but having some tea or warm food tends to lift my mood.


1 reply
amiablePeace77 OP October 3rd

@NotFound20

Good that you have some things to keep your mood up. I hope that coming here will help you too to stay well during the cooler and rainy days.

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