Why am I depressed? I just got married to a very wonderful man, I have decent insurance, & I don't have an "uncomfortable life, yet the days are getting noticeably shorter & darker , and I feel I standing at the precipice of a very long dark hole called "winter". I live in the midwest so it's going to come quickly. I have Major Depressive Disorder and in addition I have SAD. Physical limitations keep me from doing some of the things you're supposed to do to ward off this miserable malady, so I have to come up w/ other things, this site does help immensly, but you can only stay online for so long. I don't live close to any family so that's out, I would like to do something for others but feel limited by where I live. Well wah. wah wah. Does anyone have any ideas to help me to get "out of self" ?????
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siouxsblues
9/22/09 3:13pm
Hi Sioux
I often wonder this about myself too...things can be going great externally but internally I can be a mess.
We just had one of our Health Central editor's write a fabulous piece on SAD and here is the link to it. She has a lot of good ideas.
I think the change of seasons can be hard on many of us who suffer from depression. Maybe it is the darkness...maybe it is knowing that we will be cooped up...and winter can just be a dreary season with so many gray days.
What has helped you in the past to deal with the approaching winter season?
I like to make lists. Lists help me...like...write down all the movies I have never seen and start renting them one by one. Or books. Or music. If you have more time to yourself...rediscover your interests.
Well...we are here for you. Let's all survive this season the best way we can. Thanks for reaching out here.
9/23/09 12:42pm
Dear Merely, Thanks for your answers, that link you sent me to on SAD was good. In retrospect ,the day I blogged about being so depressed etc., etc. maybe I was just having a pity party, I don't know.I hate to always sound like a whinebag when I get on this site , I would much rather be able to encourage and support others. Sometimes I guess thats just not possible. If I lived closer to my grandchildren I think that would be helpful. Anyway, how're you doing? I'm waiting today for your midweek muse. I always look foward to Weds. Hope you are having a good day . God Bless u! Sioux.
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Sioux, do you use one of those light boxes for your SAD? I've heard they can help quite a bit.
I don't know what your physical limitations are, but maybe there is some way you could volunteer somewhere, like for a non-profit, a school, nursing home, etc. Or, how about something like joining a book club, cooking club, dining club.....maybe you can think of some others. I recently joined a choir and it does help to have to focus on something outside myself for a couple of hours a week. I like to bake, so I supply cookies for a couple of get-togethers held by a non-profit. Anyway, those are just some ideas I had, don't know if any of them would work for you, but I think you've got the right idea about getting involved in something. Hope you're successful in finding it!
You're very welcome, Sioux. You might be able to get a prescription for the light box from your psychiatrist - he might know if that works. One would think that Medicare would cover something like that, but I don't know - glad you're checking it out. Even if you could get out in some sunlight more often, that might help.
It would be great if you can find something you can volunteer at, something you would enjoy doing. Glad you found this site and that it's helping!
Judy