Hi, Merely Me. I am one of those people who can get more depressed in the spring. It doesn't seem to be as bad as it used to be, but I would definitely notice it. I used to think it might have been because my "normal" seems to be low-grade depression and when it would be beautiful outside, it felt like such a contrast to how I felt, which made me feel worse. I don't know. I also notice that if I'm in depression mode, I feel worse during the day and better at night. Maybe I'm really a vampire???
By the way, I didn't get the notification for this post - it sort of seems to be a random thing lately.
I feel the same way as you. I do not often seem to get anxious/depressed in the winter, but I often do have it in the spring. I do think the beautiful day makes me feel worse and I do feel better once the sun goes down. I think the fact that it is a nice day and you just can't enjoy it just increases that disconnected feeling you get. I don't know about you but my anxiety/depression is always worse in the morning and gets better through the day regardless of the weather. LOL at the vampire comment though.
This is interesting, I have always felt that. I always hear about sesonal depression that is tied in with the winter months due to lack of light. I have never felt that. However, I was just going back on my records of when I have called in sick to work due to "hay fever" because of allergies. It has been for the last few years that I have missed a few days here and there during the same period of time due to not being able to get out of bed. Now that I think of it, the last bad anxiety attack I had was in the winter and I was able to get through quickly. The recent anxiety attack I had was worse cause the anxiety is just lingering. I had already been experiencing some anxiety before that just when the warm weather started coming back (which is pretty early here in south Louisiana). I also note that I always go off my diet/exercise routine in spring, whereas in winter/summer I seem to have no problem with it. Interesting.
I like Winter because I like snow. Last spring I felt pretty bad for a week or 2 but that was because I had night art classes at the community college and I had to take a bus cause I didn't have a car. This spring I don't know how I'll feel until it hits but it's getting closer and my depression is getting worse.
I figure if it's not hints than it's because of the recent bumps in the road that I feel worse. I figured I would love for spring and summer to come because I love being outside and warmer weather is definitely nice. In Washington you don't get too many opportunities to wear shorts at night so it's definitely better. Summer nights are perfect as well but the loud children are out of school messing up the neighborhood haha.
That's an interesting idea, because so many people believe that with warmth and Spring returning that their mood will automatically improve. Perhaps it is the contrast with our mood -- growth, greenness, light, beauty, flowers -- that make it more apparent that we are still depressed...despite the bounty of Spring.
I think there is something to this. Every spring I grieve anew at my husband's passing and even though it has been years I always think - Here is another spring he will not see. Also, I am bipolar and spring seems to bring on anxiety and a mixed state. I would have never connected these things without your posting.
Hi MM and y'all,
I have a hard time remembering that I have depression, sometimes, because I feel so good most of the time. But depression is more than a feeling, we all "know." I don't notice a shift in depression with the seasons especially, but I can see how that could be about spring. Spring represents a time of greater interaction, with the gregarious rising to their "environment." As anxiety and depression often go together, having to deal with the increased "traffic" could forewarn of increased stress > thus depression. The worrier sees trouble on the horizon and seeks to go back into the cave. So many strokes for so many folks.
Ric
For me, spring is probably the best time of the year. My depression worsens in in the late fall/winter when daylight shortens and I can no longer garden. Also, the holidays have a lot of unpleasant memories for me so that only adds to the problem. Once spring comes around, the days get longer, my spring bulbs are emerging & starting to bloom and it was (she graduated last June) the start of my daughter's soccer (my favorite of all her sports) season in HS.
For me, the lack of daylight plays a huge part in my depression. I have bought the "natural daylight" lightbulbs for my home and I find that when I don't use them when it's not sunny out, it is much harder for me to fight the urge to go back to bed.
Even though depression is a chemical imbalance, I do believe that there are certain triggers that make it worse. I wonder if people who suffer more in the spring have certain triggers that make that a harder time for them? Maybe they experienced something unpleasant during the spring or, as someone else mentioned, maybe it's feeling "under the weather" during spring that makes it worse.
I find that if I can sort through my feelings and determine why certain things make me feel worse, then I can make positive adjustments, such as buying the daylight lightbulbs or "forcing" myself to get out on sunny days, to improve my mood. Sometimes, it's as small as "forcing" myself to take a shower or to leave the house but it helps most of the time.
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Hi M/M
I have never heard of spring depression. Seems like, if anything, the additional light would help depression after the winter. I can see where it would be a downer for the weather to start warming up then get hit with an April snow storm! But the change of seasons definitely helps me - better weather, more activity, more sunlight. I am not affected by seasonal depression but the end of the cold season definitely does not add to my depression.