[supernoodles!]

Every year as soon as january 1st comes i get depressed,i hate these three months jan feb and march,theres so dull and dismall and i dont know why but i always get really down in the dumps.I wish i could fast forward to april becuase its spring and i can get excited about summer and my birthdayThen the time between my birthday and big brother startign usually goes really quick and the weather gets wamer and im happy again lol.I think i have that seasonal depression disorder thingy but i havent been to bad in the run up to xmas its usually just after.Anyway ive decided to be excited about spring/summer already and cheer myself up ha ha!
Anyone else experience the january blues?

[Captain.Remy]

I love winter, for me it's really special, I just love it. And there is my birthday so it makes me happier and more, I will go to ski with my friends in february !!

[Princess]

I had(kinda still do actually) post-show blues. But thats TT related! And don't even get me started on the tour flu...

I'm liking winter atm,its further away from my exams than spring!

[Captain.Remy]

Spring sounds like exams revisions to me and the Baccalaureate in june. The Christmas holidays are the last ones I can enjoy without revising.

[Xander]

I hate it in these couple of months after christmas and new year it all seems really depressing because the evenings still get dark really early, and its colder

[Ruth*Star]

I love the winter, i love the rain and everything. It's more cosy for me.

[Jackie]

I hate winter all together i think i suffer from SAD,as soon as spring comes i feel better,if the sun comes out im okay but these dark days are awfull.Im trying at the moment to focus on nice things to come,like febuary my birthday.march is spring and a little lighter etc.

[Captain.Remy]

Message original : Ruth*Star
I love the winter, i love the rain and everything. It's more cosy for me.

Same for me and it's surprising because I live somewhere where it rains 7 days a year and where it is quite hot all day long. People think I'm mad when I say that lol

[supernoodles!]

jackie i think i suffer from that SAD,im the same every year and as soon as spring comes i begin to feel better

[Jackie]

Originally posted by supernoodles!
jackie i think i suffer from that SAD,Im the same every year and as soon as spring comes i begin to feel better

Its the lack of sunlight ive been told not getting to your brain.Animals react to the changing seasons with changes in mood, metabolism and behaviour and human beings are just the same. Many people find they eat and sleep slightly more in winter and dislike the dark mornings and short days and this is commonly referred to as 'winter blues'. For some, however, symptoms are severe enough to disrupt their lives and to cause considerable distress. These people are suffering from SAD.

How does SAD affect people?
Symptoms tend to start from around September each year lasting until April, but are at their worst in the darkest months. Symptoms include:

Sleep problems - oversleeping but not refreshed, cannot get out of bed, needing a nap in the afternoon
Overeating - carbohydrate craving leading to weight gain
Depression, despair, misery, guilt, anxiety - normal tasks become frustratingly difficult
Family / social problems - avoiding company, irritability, loss of libido, loss of feeling
Lethargy - too tired to cope, everything an effort
Physical symptoms - often joint pain or stomach problems, lowered resistance to infection
Behavioural problems - especially in young people
Who does it affect?
The standard figure says that around 2% of people in Northern Europe suffer badly, with many more (10%) putting up with milder symptoms (sub-syndromal SAD or winter blues). Across the world the incidence increases with distance from the equator, except where there is snow on the ground, when it becomes less common. More women than men are diagnosed as having SAD. Children and adolescents are also vulnerable.

What causes it?
The problem stems from the lack of bright light in winter. Researchers have proved that bright light makes a difference to the brain chemistry but why some people suffer and others don't is not clear.

Nerve centres in our brain controlling our daily rhythms and moods are stimulated by the amount of light entering the eyes. As night falls, the pineal gland starts to produce a substance called melatonin that tells our body clock it's night time; bright light at daybreak is the signal for the gland to stop producing this melatonin. But on dull winter days, especially indoors, not enough light is received to trigger this waking up process. Light is also linked to serotonin (also known as or 5HT), a neurotransmitter in the brain. This makes sense because low serotonin levels can cause depression and if you're depressed it can be difficult to concentrate and complete what would normally be simple tasks. Evidence has shown that serotonin levels increase with exposure to bright light - SSRI drugs such as Prozac have the same effect.

What treatment is there?
As the cause is lack of bright light, the treatment is to be in bright light every day. Going to a brightly-lit climate, whether that's skiing or somewhere hot, will relieve symptoms but if that’s not possible you can use a bright light. The preferred level of light is about as bright as a spring morning on a clear day and for most people sitting in front of a light like this for around 30 minutes a day will be sufficient to alleviate the symptoms. You don’t have to stare at the light, so you can watch TV or read or similar, just make sure that light reaches your eyes.

The light must be suitably bright. You need at least 2500lux (lux is the technical measure of brightness) which is roughly five times brighter than a well-lit office. Brighter 10,000lux lights take less time to use and allow you to sit further away. Simply using 'daylight' or 'full spectrum' lights at home will not work as they're not bright enough.

We encourage SAD sufferers to seek the support of their doctor. We can also supply comprehensive information packs for medical practitioners.

[Sarah.]

As soon as we have to start school again that's when I feel like that, I'm alright now but school is getting closer and i hate it and don't want to go. I wish it was April too, wwe houseshows yeeey.

[supernoodles!]

thanks jackie,that sounds spot on,its like an eye opener for me.Over the past 4 or so years iv been extremely depressed over the winter months and always felt better towards the summer months however ive had some bad things happen within these months so maybe thats the cause and if its not the cause deffinetly added to the problem

[CassetteFinger]

I also hate winter. I only like it because of my birthday.

[supernoodles!]

cool banner tommy

[supernoodles!]

woohoo its february-getting closer!

[FictitiousHouse]

Originally posted by supernoodles!
woohoo its february-getting closer!

I will still feel much better by April 1st. But I could be fooling

[supernoodles!]

lol,i just need sun!The sun came out the other day and even though it was still freezing and windy i was like woohooo and i felt better just for seeing some for a change!

[tinkerbell]

Rain+wind= bad hair day = unhappy women = death/hell

[Tom]

Originally posted by tinkerbell
Rain+wind= bad hair day = unhappy women = death/hell

Who said it has to be when its rainy & windy

*runs away before Tom receives a smack*

Theres only 4 weeks to go until spring Its now light at 8am and 5pm which is a good sign

Clocks go forward in 8 weeks! :bigsmil e:

[miracles]

Oh forget Spring. I want Summer!

BBQ's.
Swimming Pool's.
Water Fight's.
Sun Bathing with my Dior Sunglasses.
Ice-Cream.

My hot-chocolate and toast fascination is over now!

It's time for cocktails and fruit lolies !!

[Tom]

I like spring, but bring on summer anyway

Time to start falling asleep in the garden again and ending up looking like

[KKBL]

January,Febuary and March = cold,foggy,snowwy = wuhhhh huuuu

[Jackie]

Well the springs getting a little nearer now

[FictitiousHouse]

Originally posted by jackie46
Well the springs getting a little nearer now

It doesnt feel like that where Ive been standing

[supernoodles!]

i think we should make like the animals and hibernate in the first three months of the year-they suck!And november and december are only okish because of crimbo!