Depression in winter

aed13 · 02-23-2009, 03:40 PM

Hi friends.

Curious if anyone has any good hints pertaining to dealing with depression in winter. Usually I counteract my very painful (though not debilitating) depression with exercise. It's much harder to work up motivation to walk to the gym when it's < 20 deg F. Which is a slippery slope since my other (non)solution to mental angst is alcohol; last winter I lost that battle. If I'm honest, this winter is heading that direction.

Thank you.
Alex

JazzleBug · 02-25-2009, 08:14 AM

Though I'm now living in sunny Texas, I grew up and spent the first 25 years of my life living in Juneau, Alaska - no sunshine and super long winters. Vitamin D3 is what the doctors up there "prescribe" and it allowed me to forego the anti-depressants I'd been on for 10 of those 25 years. I took that with a good multi vit and some omegas. Felt a big difference within a week, though I'd already been taking the multi and omegas for some time.

HTH!

my4misfitz · 02-26-2009, 12:25 AM

Alex- You don't mention where you're living, but I recently found out that my Vit D levels are super low and I've been suffering with some pretty signifigant depression (plus some other assorted symptoms). I live in the pacific NW and so the sun is limited here which doesn't help. My doctor put me on a course of 50,000 IUI of Vitamin D, once per week for 8 weeks and 1,000IUI daily. I'm trying to get outside in whatever sun might filter through the clouds for 10 to 20 mins per day. Not sure how that would work for you since apparently it's cold where you are. Only in the 40's to 50's in the winter here.

I've been feeling much better in the last couple weeks.

It might be worth a trip to an MD for a blood test to check your levels.

Best wishes for some answers and help.

AdamD · 03-02-2009, 01:00 PM

create new or smaller goals and therefore make new progress

I could say I'm depressed sometimes in the day, or for spells sometimes, but then I look at how I was for 2 months in the year 2000 (way worse), and I realize I'm never really depressed, I just need a jump start, or to let go of some "thing" holding me back. GL

eastcoastsurfer · 03-09-2009, 09:09 AM

Seriously, I would move. People just aren't meant to live places that stay <20F for any length of time.

Is it just cold or is the sun also gone during this time? Maybe you could build a sunroom and hang out there during the colder months. Or you could go to a tanning salon every couple weeks for a small dose of fake sun.

I do understand your pain. I live in a fairly sunny place and if I don't see the sun for more than a few days I start getting ancy.

Steve · 03-21-2009, 11:41 PM

On my doctor's advice, I purchased a light therapy device. It has been helpful for me. You might want to ask your doctor about whether it would help you. I hope you will get some relief soon.

foodfromafar · 03-22-2009, 01:55 PM

Alex, you can buy full spectrum light bulbs and that may help. Here is one brand:

As others have suggested, Vitamin D supplementation during winter months may also help.

liquidrive · 04-01-2009, 05:41 AM

Some quick ideas: you have an mp3 player to keep you company on those long walks to the gym ?

Yes full spectrum light is always a plus with winter depression, it can only help

Multivitamins might help as well, since they might hit exactly what you're low on right now, but I'm no expert so I can't recommend any brand in particular.

My personal solution is somewhat 'out there' but seems to work very well. Salvia Divinorum. But I wouldn't recommend sally on a fitness forum :P