NationStates Jolt Archive

It has the stupidest acronym of any disorder ever - it's not even funny ironic. I began feeling its effects today for a variety of reasons: it's been a pretty bleak day, one of my flatmates broke up with his girlfriend of three years and I'm unfortunate enough to empathically feel bad on his behalf (even though he seems to be in better spirits today, I'm not) and I've been living away from home for nearly a month now, and I'm consequencially feeling fairly homesick. If you add to this the fact that all my flatmates have gone out - one to visit his parents back home in England, one to a friend's 21st party, and one who doesn't like me much so I have no idea - then you get me sitting alone in a fairly large flat, contemplating my homesickness and my downturn in mood.

Does anyone else suffer from this utterly ridiculous disorder?

People around me don't. It's hard to be depressed when you're checking the bushes so I don't sneak up and tackle you. :)

People around me don't. It's hard to be depressed when you're checking the bushes so I don't sneak up and tackle you. :)

That'd certainly help me. Unfortunately, I've yet to find a Scottish analogue of you :)

I can't be depressed, I have too much to do. :(

I can't be depressed, I have too much to do. :(

I have quite a lot to do, but no energy to do it with. I'm gonna go running with a friend on Monday. Exercise usually helps, but my running shoes haven't yet arrived and I don't fancy running in my knee high cowboy boots with three inch heels.

I have quite a lot to do, but no energy to do it with. I'm gonna go running with a friend on Monday. Exercise usually helps, but my running shoes haven't yet arrived and I don't fancy running in my knee high cowboy boots with three inch heels.

Ah.

Well, it would be fancy, but probably rather painful.

Not so much, no. I lived abroad during a time and when I returned to Sweden I did so in the middle of winter, and at the time I returned to a part of Sweden which sees the Sun barely rise during winter and that was hard - very hard, but I managed to deal with it by spending a lot of time in nature and by taking solace in the aurora. The fact that the summers also barely saw the Sun set was a boon.

Now I live much further South and it isn't much of an issue, but I do miss the aurora and tranquillity of the North at times - the silent beauty of the winter landscape could be breathtaking.

I normally combat it with a combination of exercise, early morning rises and going out with friends. Unfortunately, I've just moved to a new city and have yet to make many friends - those that I have made so far are otherwise engaged tonight. If I'm properly informed seasonal affective disorder is quite prevelant in Scandinavia, and presumably Scotland too. All my flatmates are English, and one doesn't even believe me that it exists!

Not so much, no. I lived abroad during a time and when I returned to Sweden I did so in the middle of winter, and at the time I returned to a part of Sweden which sees the Sun barely rise during winter and that was hard - very hard, but I managed to deal with it by spending a lot of time in nature and by taking solace in the aurora. The fact that the summers also barely saw the Sun set was a boon.

Now I live much further South and it isn't much of an issue, but I do miss the aurora and tranquillity of the North at times - the silent beauty of the winter landscape could be breathtaking.

Ah.

Well, it would be fancy, but probably rather painful.

I reckon I'd make a fabulous cripple.

Click Stand;13131619']Can't feel bad living in (deleted for purpose of secrecy*) during the fall. Usually I get to feeling that way in the winter when everything is drab and boring. Right now nothing can get me down, short of trauma or death.


*Hint: It's in New England

Well we know it can't be NJ.

Can't feel bad living in (deleted for purpose of secrecy*) during the fall. Usually I get to feeling that way in the winter when everything is drab and boring. Right now nothing can get me down, short of trauma or death.


*Hint: It's in New England

I've only just realised that I've assumed anyone reading this thread would know what SAD was. A basic explaination can be found, as ever, on wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_disorder

Does anyone else suffer from this utterly ridiculous disorder?

Sorry, can you use a bigger font? The brilliant sunlight makes it hard to read. (Not to mention those distracting songbirds.)

I've only just realised that I've assumed anyone reading this thread would know what SAD was. A basic explaination can be found, as ever, on wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_disorder

That therapy lamp looks bloody annoying to me, but at least it helps other people.

I'm not aware of having that disorder, but today has been pretty shit all round (depressed anyway, then add to that a family death). I agree the acronym is awful, but the disorder does make sense to me even if I don't have it (or know anyone that does, though it may be so subtle as to be quite unnoticeable). I find keeping busy and going for walks (somewhere green, not man-made) often help level the mood.

the silent beauty of the winter landscape could be breathtaking.

Got any pictures?

I don't know. I've had a lot of random panics lately, but I think that's just because I saw a dog move towards me and stared at me and that made me panic. I don't think it has anything to do with what season it is, especially since I'm in Florida. It hasn't been much cooler outside than it is during the summer... well, just a little cooler, but it's still been over 80 degrees Fahrenheit usually... I've started wearing a sweater not because it's cool outside but because they set the air conditioning in the school on a lot so that it's around 60-something F, and that's too cold for me.

I think my point is that it's never really...winter here. So I probably have never had that...

I normally combat it with a combination of exercise, early morning rises and going out with friends. Unfortunately, I've just moved to a new city and have yet to make many friends - those that I have made so far are otherwise engaged tonight. If I'm properly informed seasonal affective disorder is quite prevelant in Scandinavia, and presumably Scotland too. All my flatmates are English, and one doesn't even believe me that it exists!

I don't know how prevalent it is, but most people have coping strategies such as you seem to and I used to. Some go to "light rooms" - special rooms that are brightly illuminated and completely white (the furniture is white and one wears white clothes) - to get their "light fix", others exercise, others eat ("winter blubber" is a priority to lose in Spring before the beach season starts), others throw themselves into hyper-sociability and so on.

-snip-

The last pic if from Norway, but that's basically the gist.

Ok that is beautiful! :) Man I wish we'd get snow like that here in NC, USA. Bah I'm moving to Canada.

http://static.flickr.com/187/371150621_022a58019d.jpg

http://www.myra.nu/myraTF-A-2064.jpg http://www.myra.nu/myraTF-D-80.jpg

http://www.destinasjontromso.no/images/AuroraBorealisTromsoscreen.jpg

The last pic if from Norway, but that's basically the gist.

*the missing speechless emoticon*

*snip pictures*

That looks so pretty. :)
I wish I could see snow someday, but I probably never will. :(

Got any pictures?

http://static.flickr.com/187/371150621_022a58019d.jpg

http://www.myra.nu/myraTF-A-2064.jpg http://www.myra.nu/myraTF-D-80.jpg

http://www.destinasjontromso.no/images/AuroraBorealisTromsoscreen.jpg

The last pic is from Norway, but that's basically the gist.

I wish Scotland were that pretty. It's so over-rated in typical Hollywood media style.

I wish Scotland were that pretty. It's so over-rated in typical Hollywood media style.

Shut your mouth! Scotland is pretty. Just not anywhere close to any larger towns. I can imagine it getting old, though...

I wish I could see snow someday, but I probably never will. :(

Just drive up north during the winter?

Good chance you will see some. :)

Shut your mouth! Scotland is pretty. Just not anywhere close to any larger towns. I can imagine it getting old, though...

Oh, it's certainly pretty, just not as pretty as that. It's prettier than England, at least.

Everything is prettier than England... ugh, don't get me started! My dislike for England has many, many layers and I can go on and on and on.

I dunno, England just seems very bland to me. Very generic.

That looks so pretty. :)
I wish I could see snow someday, but I probably never will. :(

Why wouldn't you be able to see snow?

Oh, it's certainly pretty, just not as pretty as that. It's prettier than England, at least.

Everything is prettier than England... ugh, don't get me started! My dislike for England has many, many layers and I can go on and on and on.

I dunno, England just seems very bland to me. Very generic.

Very shit. Yeah, that covers it.

Just drive up north during the winter?

Good chance you will see some. :)

That's a long drive. I don't know if I could handle driving in snow. :(

I've even been to Canada before, to see Niagara Falls, but it was in the summer, since that's when the break from school is longest.

Also, there is an alligator in the lake near my house. That is random to say, I know, but it's kind of scaring me now that I think about it.

Why wouldn't you be able to see snow?

It would be too cold for me, probably. I'm a complete wimp when it comes to coldness. It's 74 degrees Fahrenheit (23 or so degrees Celsius?) in my house right now and I feel like I'm freezing and I need a blanket.

Plus I've never really travelled during winter before. I guess there's nothing stopping me from seeing it someday, but it probably won't happen for a long time. I also really want to go somewhere in Europe this summer... I just am not sure where yet.

I have a feeling I'm being really incoherent and random now. Sorry everyone.

Seasonal depression is pretty common where I live. (Northern Canada). But it usually comes just before spring. After a long winter. And just so everyone knows - those 'beautiful winter pictures' do absolutely nothing for me.
I am affected by it, I usually feel pretty down at the end of February. I'm hoping to go to Mexico this year, but I probaly won't save up enough buttons.
My favourite cure? Liquor! Anyway feel better soon, and don't forget - without the bad times ou would have nothing to gauge the good.

It would be too cold for me, probably. I'm a complete wimp when it comes to coldness. It's 74 degrees Fahrenheit (23 or so degrees Celsius?) in my house right now and I feel like I'm freezing and I need a blanket.

Plus I've never really travelled during winter before. I guess there's nothing stopping me from seeing it someday, but it probably won't happen for a long time. I also really want to go somewhere in Europe this summer... I just am not sure where yet.

I have a feeling I'm being really incoherent and random now. Sorry everyone.

Eh, just wear a nice warm coat that you can snuggle in and you'll have a great time. Northern places and snow really are beautiful.

In fact, whenever it snows in England it always makes it looks a lot better.

It would be too cold for me, probably.

Well, we have these things called "clothes" nowadays. Very effective weather temperance devices, those.

I honestly understand. I'm currently recovering from what's been dubbed a "nervous breakdown", and the wasteland outside my window seriously isn't helping. Even with the sun setting in muted shades of pink and violet, the scene is a downright nasty one. It has become the backdrop to my nightmares, even during my waking hours. Just looking out the windows of my living room, I can visualize the large depressions in the grass-covered clay as deep, murky lakes, and visions of bodies being pulled from the putrid water still cross my mind. Yes, I dreamt there were lakes behind my apartment complex, and bodies were being pulled out. It's kind of morbid, but I can't really help these things. I was asleep, after all.

Well, we have these things called "clothes" nowadays. Very effective weather temperance devices, those.

I know. But even in the summer I'd be too cold if I wore anything other than what I do, which is long pants and t-shirts when the other people are wearing tank tops and shorts. I've worn coats in Florida's attempt at winter before and I was still too cold. I can't stand it being anywhere below a certain temperature, even if I have lots of warm clothes and blankets.

Seasonal depression is pretty common where I live. (Northern Canada). But it usually comes just before spring. After a long winter. And just so everyone knows - those 'beautiful winter pictures' do absolutely nothing for me.
I am affected by it, I usually feel pretty down at the end of February. I'm hoping to go to Mexico this year, but I probaly won't save up enough buttons.
My favourite cure? Liquor! Anyway feel better soon, and don't forget - without the bad times ou would have nothing to gauge the good.

I usually get it a bit later than October, usually September, but I think the moving away from home has contributed to its early start. The pictures themselves do nothing, but actually being outside and experiencing it does. I usually perk up a bit after February - the Christmas season is usually the lowest of the year for me, and I suspect the entire reason why we have celebrations at that time of year is because of SAD.

I honestly understand. I'm currently recovering from what's been dubbed a "nervous breakdown", and the wasteland outside my window seriously isn't helping. Even with the sun setting in muted shades of pink and violet, the scene is a downright nasty one. It has become the backdrop to my nightmares, even during my waking hours. Just looking out the windows of my living room, I can visualize the large depressions in the grass-covered clay as deep, murky lakes, and visions of bodies being pulled from the putrid water still cross my mind. Yes, I dreamt there were lakes behind my apartment complex, and bodies were being pulled out. It's kind of morbid, but I can't really help these things. I was asleep, after all.

I've had a few terrible nightmares recently, including one where I drowned with my dad. I think my insecurities about moving out and my homesickness are the root of those particular thoughts, though, rather than the disorder, since I rarely dream nevermind have nightmares.

I've had a few terrible nightmares recently, including one where I drowned with my dad. I think my insecurities about moving out and my homesickness are the root of those particular thoughts, though, rather than the disorder, since I rarely dream nevermind have nightmares.

I always used to have really graphic nightmares, since I was about five or six. They range from seeing someone get caught in a swimming pool grate or something and watching them suffocate and drown to having a breast beaten open and blood going everywhere. They got really scary, and sometimes I woke up nauseous from them. :( But then I realized that they weren't as bad when I stopped making up nightmares for myself every night. Though I still do occasionally when I have enough trouble falling asleep.

Does anyone else suffer from this utterly ridiculous disorder?
Yes, for example myself. But the best way to tackle it is to focus on shit that isn't the weather, basically.

I can't be depressed, I have too much to do. :(Isn't that depressing?

Does anyone else suffer from this utterly ridiculous disorder?

It's caused by lack of exercise. Getting dark + Cold = too much beer and TV.

Srsly.

I've had a bout of this myself, years ago, and the best thing to do is to force yourself to go out and go running or walking a few times a week. Clears it up in no time.

Isn't that depressing?

Exactly, its like a...a....I'm sure there is a term for it.

I always used to have really graphic nightmares, since I was about five or six. They range from seeing someone get caught in a swimming pool grate or something and watching them suffocate and drown to having a breast beaten open and blood going everywhere. They got really scary, and sometimes I woke up nauseous from them. :( But then I realized that they weren't as bad when I stopped making up nightmares for myself every night. Though I still do occasionally when I have enough trouble falling asleep.

Uhm.. That would be a key cause.

Yeah, don't do that.

Uhm.. That would be a key cause.

Yeah, don't do that.

I started it when I was 5 or 6 and it was a hard habit to get out of.

I don't suffer from it. I suffer from DPCPD .... Desire to Paper Cut People to death. I've been told I'm deadly with origami.

In all honesty, it pisses me off that everything in society has to be a disorder. SAD is one of the most retarded ones ever. You don't see the sun for 9 months and you get depressed... Yeah, because that wouldn't upset anyone in a like situation -_-

I started it when I was 5 or 6 and it was a hard habit to get out of.

Ah.. I used to create dreams if I couldn't fall asleep. I crossed the Antarctic at one point if I remember correctly... In a large steel box thing, with a seal, and a vending machine that dispensed tea. Sometimes there was a heck of a draft though. :p

Im sure you will see snow someday. Not only will you see it, but you will experience it, in all its frozen flaky goodness. :)

Not so much, no. I lived abroad during a time and when I returned to Sweden I did so in the middle of winter, and at the time I returned to a part of Sweden which sees the Sun barely rise during winter and that was hard - very hard, but I managed to deal with it by spending a lot of time in nature and by taking solace in the aurora. The fact that the summers also barely saw the Sun set was a boon.

Now I live much further South and it isn't much of an issue, but I do miss the aurora and tranquillity of the North at times - the silent beauty of the winter landscape could be breathtaking.

Gotta admit, cold silent places are a better retreat from soceity then the usual nature walks.

Does anyone else suffer from this utterly ridiculous disorder?

Apparently, a lot of my townsfolk and myself do, what with the several months of consistent cold, dark, expensive living way up north here.

Ah.. I used to create dreams if I couldn't fall asleep. I crossed the Antarctic at one point if I remember correctly... In a large steel box thing, with a seal, and a vending machine that dispensed tea. Sometimes there was a heck of a draft though. :p

Im sure you will see snow someday. Not only will you see it, but you will experience it, in all its frozen flaky goodness. :)

I couldn't just fall asleep with dreams. If they were happy dreams there didn't seem to be enough plot to them. I needed nightmares, or believed that I did, at least.

Yeah, I probably will. :)

I think most people have some variant of it. We're very much creatures of nature if we pay any attention.