Think i have SAD

This is no joke. I am wearing my heart on my sleeve here. Through the last few years (3-4) i have become increasingly depressed through winter and am absolutely dreading christmas, which is a time i have cherished since i was a kid so its a shame.

I think a lot has to do with finances as things are tight (but will be worth it in the end) as i will own my house. When i split with my partner 4 yr ago i had to enter a debt management plan. I still have my horse (mainly because he's too old to sell/loan) and i still have my bike. I sold my other horse and my Pick up and my horsebox so i could afford to live alone. a whole life change.

Its been so hard accounting for every pound for 3 years now to total strangers! i dont know how long i can do it for but then i look at how much is paid, i have no ccj's or anything from it, i can now have credit (as if i'd want it but its nice to know i can).

I have pondered on selling my bike. i know its not everyones cup of tea but I think of the stuff it could pay for.

is it just me or can anyone relate to my seasonal low? Sorry to speak so personally but i am sure i'm not alone x

:(

Hi Emm

Sorry to hear you are feeling low.
When nothing appears to be physically wrong it is easy for it to be dismissed by others.....That doesn't change how one feels though.

Everyone has pressures on finances, family, emotions, loves, time, commitments, employment or unemployment and people cope, manage and deal with them differently. I doubt anyone likes getting up and heading out when it is dark and coming home when it is dark either but unfortunately 5hit happens and the seasons are what they are.

If you really have SAD then you are not alone and if you are feeling depressed or anxious then you are not alone either. There are millions of people in the same boat and there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I'm certainly no expert but I'm not bad on the computer and found this
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

It has lots of information including different therapies and self-help reading that might be worth looking at.

Hope this helps and things work out well for you.

Ross

No it's common to feel that way, Im a hot house flower too and hate the long, cold, dark winter months and the thought of spring being an age away. Going and coming away from work in the dark doesn't help but I'm just changing my job so that will help hopefully!!


I can sympathise with the money thing as I've had a messy, expensive divorce and an ex that kept my savings, car and shares, cashed them in and stored the money in his nans safe and there's naff all I can do but hey, small price to get rid of him!

Onwards and upwards and what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger and it will be worth the effort an the heartache in the end. Chin up chick, us women are made of strong stuff!

I try to think what i do have rather than whats missing x

Ellie i can relate to your break up and i have changed a lot. I used to be the bitch that was better alone and wouldnt accept hugs or help. Now im the soppy git that cries at films and has a heart as big as a mountain!

Guess that was to do with the man i was with. Ive learnt to feel at last.

Ross's comments are great! Your never alone!!!

I've suffered with SAD and also stress related anxiety and I can confirm they're both horrific.

To deal with SAD exercise is fantastic, i also invested in a lightbox. (Check out the web). They really do work!

I'm now 100% and when things were bad i thought i never would be. To be honest you've crossed the biggest hurdle, thats talking about it.
It's worth talking to your GP if there the kind to listen.

Hope things sort them selves out.

Alistair

Hi em sorry to hear you are going through it at the moment. Sent u a pm.

Paul.

thanks guys

i know i am lucky and dont want to appear like i am whinging x

Emms,

Having to deal with someone who had depression, I can appreciate how things feel to you at the moment. All I can say is that talking helps, the peeps on here helped me through a very rough time of my life and eventually things do get better. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Keep at it and keep going. We did and we managed, with support, to turn the corner.

But keep the bike. I got mine to help me, I found this site & the peeps , and it is still my little luxury and me time. (when I need it)

Hi Emm,

It takes courage to start a post like this. Well done you! I think the responses have been great too. I hope they've helped in some way?

Here's my favourite quote from the film Crocodile Dundee:

Sue Charlton:

People go to a psychiatrist to talk about their problems. She just needed to unload them. You know, bring them out in the open.

Michael J. "Crocodile" Dundee:

Hasn't she got any mates?

Sue Charlton:

You're right. I guess we could all use more mates. I suppose you don't have any shrinks at Walkabout Creek.

Michael J. "Crocodile" Dundee:

No back there if you got a problem you tell Wally. And he tells everyone in town, brings it out in the open, no more problem.

Talking, having friends and laughing can help a lot of problems! I recommend this site, and the film! They tick a lot of the right boxes

I hate the dark nights too (not The Dark Knight 2 ) and usually slink away from the site over the winter, but this year I'm going to keep logging on and joining in. Hope to see you online. Hang on in there!

Chris

When my glass gets 'half empty', I thank my lucky stars I have a job, beautiful kids that I love to bits and we are all healthy (fingers crossed!), and fantastic family around me. Not everyone can say that.

no they certainly cant

I am sorry to here about your troubles, I wish there was a magic wand to make these things go away but there isn't, stay positive, think about what you have and try to make the most of situations, we only get one chance and as the Red Hot Chilli Peppers said, "This life is more than just a read through". Through your friends, family and whoever is impotant to you I hope you find what you are looking for.

Also in West Yorkshire you're not a million miles away if you want to go out for a blast sometime. I'm a novice, only just passed rider so my skills my just give you the chuckle you need.

Take care

Steve

Hi Emma, just read your posts and feel for you. I have no knowledge of this sort of thing but one of the lads that drinks in my pub mentioned a similar thing last year. He got a box light type thing that he puts on his desk and although as said above there is no magic wand he says it helps him...

Here's the link [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Hope I'm not out of turn posting on something I know naff all about and hope you feel better soon..

ive heard about these light boxes. im reading up on these things and i think im just in a good old fashioned 'low'. just a coincidence that a load of expense has come as winter has arrived.

i hope me voicing my troubles has helped those of you who have told me about yours.

its good to talk . . . . .

if i get to feeling low i just think of what it took to get me here as a person not only my family there family or
human kind
this world the universe things that just happen to to make this person
to make us who we are no 2 people alike
all with there own personallys
if some thing went to all that trouble i think i might try to make a go of it
& don,t forget on the 21st dec it starts to get lighter every day roll on summer
& the winning of the lottery
i mean it must have been billions to 1 that i got here
so winning the lottery a doddle
pete
ps i have a spare spot on the couch on thursdays normal fee,s apply

There's no hope for you tho Pete.

I really sympathise.

The trouble with "lows" is that you (well, I do, anyway) get into a vicious spiral, not wanting to get up off your backside and do anything, while the jobs keep piling up around you until you don't know where to start. Then it takes a real effort to just do the essentials, never mind the other stuff. And any distraction seems like a good excuse to not do any more.

I'm halfway through fitting some LEDs on the bike. If it was summer I'd probably be out there and it would be done - it's not as if it's difficult. But just because it's dark (and it isn't even cold) I can't be bothered to go across to the workshop and finish the job. Maybe manana.

Like several people have already said, it's good to get it out into the open. So thanks for having the courage to bring this up, I think we all tend to keep these things bottled up because we're worried what other people will think.

Good luck - Bob