SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

[Tokyo Tony]

Anyone have this? I'm pretty sure everyone has it to a certain extent, but I've realized that I'm generally not happy when it's winter - it's cold, ponds frozen, dark when I wake up, dark when I get home from work. I'm not depressed, but just a little less happy in the winter.

My point is, has anyone tried those sun lamps? I'm considering buying one if it makes me feel better, but don't want to spend $100 to $300 bucks on a lamp that won't do anything special.

[J Francho]

Try a Vita-Lite.

http://www.lightbulbkenny.com/vitalite.html?gclid=CLCgy6jPsZcCFcErpAodpGS2fg

[Siebert Outdoors]

my fix.  Start hunting. 8-)

I just dont like the short days. :-X

[Daniel My Brother]

Here's my unsolicited 2 cents...

Find something positive to occupy that time you'd normally spend on fishing. GMAN hunts, and this works for a lot of guys. I coach a couple basketball teams and bowl.

You will drive yourself nuts sitting inside under a heat lamp watching a calendar. Pick up a winter hobby and throw yourself into it. Time will pass and you'll be back on the water before you know it.

There is no place on earth I'd rather be than on a boat in the middle of my favorite lake on a warm day in April...but a noisy gym in December can get your blood pumping pretty good as well.

[Dan:]

I hate winter. It pretty much just turned cold here and I can't wait for spring already.

[-HAWK-]

They have a cure for "Seasonal Affective Disorder". Move to South Florida. We only have one season (SUMMER) so that cures your problem right there. Ill take some pictures from the Beach tommorow to cheer you up.

[Olebiker]

I lived in Kentucky for the first 35 years of my life and suffered horribly from SAD.  I suffered until I learned how to ski.  I got to the point where I really looked forward to January and February.

I live in Florida now.  The sunshine, relatively warm weather that allows me to be active all year, and a prescription for Prozac keep me from eating myself into oblivion during the winter.

[dman]

i agree with other posts...Get out and find something to do,  dont sit around....I get active with martial arts so i dont get fat over winter!

I buy most of my fishing stuff in winter too so that keeps fishing fun for me even now

[aceman387]

try taking omega 3 fish oil im not a vitamin pusher but my wife has been  buying this lately and i started taking it a couple months ago i am more upbeat than usual .this time of year i would get on a downer  because business gets slow but ive noticed im more upbeat this year and that is the only thing i can think of that is different .just before i posted this i googled benefits of fish oil and helping depression was one of them

[-HAWK-]

try taking omega 3 fish oil im not a vitamin pusher but my wife has been buying this lately and i started taking it a couple months ago i am more upbeat than usual .this time of year i would get on a downer because business gets slow but ive noticed im more upbeat this year and that is the only thing i can think of that is different .just before i posted this i googled benefits of fish oil and helping depression was one of them

Interesting, I wonder what it is about the Fish oil that helps with your mental state?

[atx_newbie]

I am probably one of those rare individuals that gets happier during the winter and cold weather.

After living 21 years in north Louisiana and central Texas, I am so sick of 100 degree days being the rule, rather than the exception, from March through October.  It's miserable.  I can't get dressed and get to work without my pits already being dark from sweat.  I can't enjoy a round of golf because I have to use 6 different gloves during the course of the round just to keep a hold of the club.  Then, by July and August, swimming doesn't even cool you off, because the overnight low was 88 degrees and the water never even cools off.  Don't even get me started on my A/C bills!

I love the winter, just because there are a few days where I can wear a full suit and tie and not be at risk of heat exhaustion.  Man, I can't wait to get to Chicago (only 3 more weeks).

[slomoe]

The lack of sunlight is a problem, but other things like family issues around the holidays, and money problems can make things worse.

I grew up with depression, and its a shame how society frowns upon it as if it were a choice. This is what really keeps people from getting the help that they need. This can be a very difficult time of year for some people, myself included. But living like this my whole life has made it easier to read what's going on with my emotions. Even if you can't pinpoint what is making you feel bad, (which is usually impossible due to the fact that depression is just a change in brain chemistry) you can learn what healthy external activities make you feel good. Like exercise and diet. Exercising creates natural endorphins that will help you feel better for a longer period of time. Avoid temporary fixes like shopping or eating junk food, they will prove to be more harmful than helpful.

If anyone is feeling down or just needs to talk shoot me a PM.  

[Tokyo Tony]

Good info guys. I actually did join a gym and I've been working out (lost 30 lbs in the last 4 months or so   ), and I'll probably start skiing again this year, but all that aside, it's just the cold and the lack of sunlight that get to me. I love being outdoors, but I can't be outdoors for long in the winter because it hurts, especially without that insulating layer I had before.

Any of you guys have experience with these sun lamps? I've heard they work well...but that's from the sites that sell them, so I'm not sure if it would be worth it. J Francho - have you used them?

And Hawk - I lived in Miami, FL for 10 years when I was a kid. Love it there and would like to move back at some point, but I can't right now.

[J Francho]

Required equipment in my office and over my breeding pairs of parrots, back when I used to breed them.  They worked on my 1st son when he was born a little jaundiced.  They said to put him in a sunny window.  Well, he was born in March.  There is no sun here in March, LOL.  The beneficial effects of broad spectrum, UVB, daylight balanced (5500°K) light is well documented.

Oh, and get a Flasher, auger, and a short pole and get out there, LOL.  Or do as I do, and find a steelhead stream:

[atx_newbie]

I know a lot of people will probably laugh at this, but...

Think about joining a tanning bed.  Or, you said you joined a gym, a lot of gyms have tanning beds available.  I can't afford to do it anymore, but it was always one of my favorite parts of my day.  A ten minute power nap, in the heat with the fans, you dream you're on a beach.  Not to mention, the vitamin-D that you get from it is great for your body.

[farmpond1]

I am probably one of those rare individuals that gets happier during the winter and cold weather.

I love the winter, just because there are a few days where I can wear a full suit and tie and not be at risk of heat exhaustion. Man, I can't wait to get to Chicago (only 3 more weeks).

The grass is always greener. LOL. I hope you feel that way in March (after you've received a good, solid dose of real winter). If so, more power to you. Personally, I'm already tired of it.

[Jimzee]

This is the time of year for stocking up on tackle for me.  Still hate winter though. >

[Tin]

Skiing and poker. But the way things are going it looks like no skiing, hopefully school keeps me busy to get my mind off other things.

[Muddy]

SAD= No acceptance for how things are, they even have a little   pill for this now. My favorite new syndrome>Restless Leg Syndrome, better known when I was growing up as If you don't sit still I will give you something to dance about (sans syndrome)  ;D

 Any way I feel blah also in the winter, a little reflection, a lot of gratitude and some prayer for acceptance goes a long way.

 Cleaning tackle,plotting a project boat and other things get me over the hump, no big deal

[grimlin]

I'll admit...I'm actually getting a little depressed this year.

Making inline spinner and putting skirts on a few jigs are helping...but i don't have enough money to support this monkey too hard.

Working for the steel automotive industrial with it getting extremely bad and everybody losing their jobs,I'm stressing out big times.

I'm missing my hometown Dallas,TX.  :'(  

[Tokyo Tony]

Or do as I do, and find a steelhead stream:

Either this weekend or next I'm going to the Salmon River in NY to catch some steelhead. Lookin' forward to it  8-)

By the way, thanks for the link to those light bulbs. That's much cheaper than actually buying these lamps from the SAD sites. I'm gonna give the bulbs a shot and see what happens.

[Olebiker]

My favorite new syndrome>Restless Leg Syndrome,

It's nothing new.  My poor wife used to just about go crazy with it.

[atx_newbie]

When I was young I used to get the RLS (or jimmy legs, for Seinfeld fans), and I complained to my mom about it.  She said I spent too much time watching TV, and needed to exercise more.  In my opinion, twitchy legs is just a symptom of leading a sedentary lifestyle.

So many things that you can go to the doctor and get medicine for are just caused by a lack of good ole physical activity.  How many kids with ADD were there in the 1800's?  My guess, probably not a lot.

[Muddy]

In answer to your question, What;'s That out the Window? I think I will gas up on the way home? Ax+Bx=c, Ah what were we talking about??

[FD.]

It's a vitamin C deficiency.  Drink plenty of OJ and let the sun hit your skin as much as possible.

As a side note, I spent a week in Cleveland and few years ago during the winter and felt the depression withing a few days.  I don't know how you guys do it.

Anyone coming to Central Fl this winter to combat the blues?  Let me know and I will take you fishing as part the research program to determine the effects of sunshine on the "pasty, cabin fever crazed and soft water deprived".