It happens every year. We turn the clocks back, and I spend the next few weeks wanting to cry all day. How do you cope with seasonal depression? I used a happy lamp last year, but it sent me into a manic episode and I ended up being hospitalized.
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Sorry the happy lamp had that effect on you. 
I try to spend as much time outside as I comfortably can. I also make sure to drink a lot of hot tea, preferably herbal/fruit or green tea – the happy chemicals in tea (especially green tea) plus the whole act of prepping and drinking it are incredibly calming to me.
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Yeah the light box makes me manic too.
The shorter days makes me depressed.
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I take vitamin d
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I’m certain that I prefer the nighttime, but the hollidays get me down sometimes.
Yeah, Standard Time causes depression in some people, so many that it’s called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
I had it so bad that I moved 1,300 miles south, but I realize that most people cannot do that for various reasons.
I like to be outside as much as possible; even if it’s cloudy there’s still sunlight. I also take vitamin D3.
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I spend an hour a day outside but it doesn’t seem to be helping this week.
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For once, I can honestly say I am not affected by SAD. I think I have a grasp on the concept. My MI flares more when it’s hot… go figure!
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Exercise helps me. I ride a recumbent stationary bike for 30 minutes every other day. This is good when I can’t go outside.
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we have daylight fluorescent bulbs in our kitchen. marked right on them.
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The fish oil seems to be helping me this year, I really like it for a variety of reasons. But it doesn’t work fast so you’ll have to stick with it.
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The way I combat seasonal depression is with long walks
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i think another thing in addition to the loss of sunlight is the activities we would be partaking in if it were sunny. My two cents is stay busy doing stuff you like. im feeling the setting depression as well. i hate the cold lol now i dont go out for walks/runs as much
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I’m sorry you’re struggling, Ninja.
This autumn, I’m doing well so far. I’m hoping I don’t go into a deep depression this winter. Last winter, I went into a severe depression. My husband planned a road trip to Arizona shortly after my depression hit rock bottom and that gave me something to look forward to during the dark times. We traveled down to Arizona and spent time in the warmer weather while it was probably snowing back where we lived. It really helped me get through the winter.
Maybe you can plan a mini vacation somewhere during the winter time. That way, you have something fun to look forward to.
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Poor Starlet is getting hit with the seasonal blues too. We decided to take an easy day yesterday, where we just ate fast food and did no homework (it wasn’t due until Friday anyways) and had our friends over to cheer us up. We talked about how he weather can make people feel sad and angry for no reason, and we can’t always help it, but we can work on making sure we don’t take it out on others.
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I was immediately cheered by the extra hour of morning sunshine last weekend.
One thing that helped me is realizing you don’t catch colds from cold weather. And it’s cold people I want to stay away from. There are rules to cold weather - stay well clothed and hydrated. But you never know how cold people are going to respond to you. 
When I was hospitalized last winter, they told me part of my symptoms were due to my old nemesis, SAD. They put me in front of one of those lamps, but told me to only do it for 15 minutes a day, and before 11am.
I’m sorry they made you manic.
Vitamin D seems to help keep it at bay for me.
Also, daily walks in the sunlight, but you said that doesn’t really do it for you.
It’s good that you recognise why you’re having these feelings. I know it’s not good to blame feelings on a diagnosis, but SAD can be quite debilitating.
Could you get a prescription for a mild AD that you only take during the heavy months?
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I think an AD or mood stabilizer would be a bad idea. I’ve reacted badly to all of them in dangerous ways.
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It snowed for the first time here in Toronto today. I couldnt be more happier.
I’m generally more happier in the winter time, I dont know why. Maybe because Siberia was mostly cold when I was growing up.
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I had no idea you were from Siberia! Wow I’ve learned something today!
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