SADs, real or not real?

[chi-town_mike]

Winter blues. I get them, but is it real or some made up crap I bought into?

[Thunderscreech]

It's real. I get them too and it sucks.

[Relic]

It's very very real. My wife is fighting it as we speak.
I just ended up adding full-spectrum lighting throughout the house to help fight it.

[jmattbassplaya]

It's real. A lot of it has to deal with people getting a lack of sunlight.

[HaMMerHeD]

It is quite real.

[Jim Nazium]

It's absolutely real. There's a lot of data to support it. It mostly has to do with seeing less sunlight, but it may also have to do with being stuck indoors and doing less activities you enjoy.

So get some exercise and turn on some lights. You can get "full spectrum" lightbulbs that mimic the appearance of sunlight that may help.

(edit : jmatt and relic beat me to the sunlight bit)

[Bassman316]

Makes you wonder how people who live in or near the polar night regions deal with it.

[arbitrary]

Originally Posted by Bassman316

Makes you wonder how people who live in or near the polar night regions deal with it.

alcohol

[Bassman316]

Originally Posted by arbitrary

alcohol

[SMILEYSIXX]

I get it during the summer actually, I love winter and fall.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

I find it to be real, getting into work before sun-rise, spending the working day in an optics lab (blacked out windows) then leaving after sun-set. Yeah, winter months suck!

[Skitch it!]

Which month were you born in as a matter of interest? I did read that folk born in the darker months (toward the end of the year) are more susceptible to this. I'm not too sure about that? Going back a while, a great tutor of mine (he played the on the Red Dwarf/Black Adder titles) told me he had the same SAD quite noticeably.

[chi-town_mike]

November. I must have it. I HATE August..because in no time its October...and Halloween is always rainy and crap. And in August..I know I turn the corner and bam! Winter...

I like June and July. Thats about it. Good inspiration to move southwest I say.

[chi-town_mike]

And WOW. I didnt know it was as common. I hope all you'se guys find ways to deal with it.

[Skitch it!]

Originally Posted by chi-town_mike

And WOW. I didnt know it was as common. I hope all you'se guys find ways to deal with it.

Your aware, awareness is the way ; )

[TJ55]

Count another one for "real". I have to make a real effort to get plenty of exercise and not cut myself off from everyone during the winter months. In the past I have isolated myself and that only makes things worse. Being conscious of what is actually causing the trouble was a big step in the right direction in my case.

[skwee]

Take some vitamin D! Also suggest stretching. Get the blood moving.

[MatticusMania]

It used to hit me pretty hard in the early winter months, especially around the holidays. In the past few years Ive had a very positive change in my overall attitude, and now it doesnt hit me quite as bad. Still, though, Ive been a little moody the past few months. Definitely a +1 for excercising.

[Skitch it!]

Originally Posted by TJ55

Count another one for "real". I have to make a real effort to get plenty of exercise and not cut myself off from everyone during the winter months. In the past I have isolated myself and that only makes things worse. Being conscious of what is actually causing the trouble was a big step in the right direction in my case.

+1 This and other coping strategies ; )

[colcifer]

It's the lack of melatonin, IIRC. In addition to helping you sleep it's a powerful happiness chemical.