Seasonal Affective Disorder and PTSD

[Eliza]

So I'm having PTSD symptoms again. I'm not sure if it's because I was asked about the trauma recently and it's brought it all back again, or if it's partly to do with the time of year. I'm feeling really down and depressed. I have previously suffered from Seasonal Affective Disorder, and it could just be that that's sending me on a bit of a downward spiral. Either way, I'm not sure what I can do to help myself. All I have been doing recently is sleeping. I had to call in sick to work today - I just couldn't face the day, and I spent almost the whole day asleep, and I actually feel worse because of it. I don't really know what to do with myself. I have always struggled with this time of year, but this is the first time the PTSD has become mixed in with it.

 

[MrMoonlight]

Sorry, you are struggling right now, this time of year is difficult for a lot of us. It's great that you are aware of the spiral...it means you can get ahead of it maybe.?

Are you showering? Sorry for such a personal question but sometimes that simple act of caring for myself can help.

 

[Friday]

My suggestion is to take a second day off, on purpose, and go do something fun. Whether fun is hot baths and candles or extreme rock climbing. You’ve been through the wringer, and deserve a bit of a reward to help balance things out, mod stress, and start fresh. Rx it. Stress related disorder = stress related treatment.... before it knocks you out for longer than just a day.

Ditto... snappy comeback time for your colleague that you can whip out whenever she pries... without having to think or feel anything about it. One of those snazzy political smiles & pivot, back on target. Every single time.

Ditto... since you know the season gets to you? VitD supplements, light box if it’s worked for you in the past, time outside. Power you up stuff.

 

[Eliza]

Thanks for your replies.

Are you showering? Sorry for such a personal question but sometimes that simple act of caring for myself can help.

I haven't showered today, but I did make a point of going out for a walk earlier to get a bit of daylight, as I know staying inside, although the easiest thing to do, isn't the best thing to do.

My suggestion is to take a second day off, on purpose, and go do something fun. Whether fun is hot baths and candles or extreme rock climbing. You’ve been through the wringer, and deserve a bit of a reward to help balance things out, mod stress, and start fresh.

I have the weekend off, so figured today could be a feeling sorry for myself day, and then tomorrow I have plans to shower and get some cleaning done in the day, and then in the evening I have plans with a friend, so I can reward myself for actually doing something productive.

I also got in contact with a counselling service that the company I work for provides to organise some sessions to hopefully nip these bad feelings in the bud. And I ordered a light box as well. Figured I need to work hard before this becomes a big downward spiral.

 

[MrMoonlight]

I did make a point of going out for a walk earlier to get a bit of daylight, as I know staying inside

That's great. I need to start doing the same. I'm just trying to work myself out of a similar funk. I've been in the same place for a few weeks...

 

[StormFront]

my heart-sister gets SAD bad. using sun lamps and taking Vit D has been helpful.
if you can set up a room or space in your home with sun lamps and a lounge chair and make it bright and sunny and tropical. drink lemonade with little umbrellas. might help :)

 

[siniang]

It might be just me.... but....instead of fighting it...maybe embracing it might be worth a try?

Not the depression, obviously. But the dark season. Which, depending of the nature of your PTSD, might be hard and not feasible, of course.

And screw cleaning and showering. Overrated :D Feeling-sorry-for-yourself-days are absolutely ok and have their place, but don't set yourself up for drawbacks by "scheduling" things you don't actually feel like doing. (but again, might just be me...I HATE cleaning. So forcing myself to do cleaning of all things WHILE having a low? Bound to backfire!)

Also? Taking a day or couple days off because needing to sleep because of depression? Perfectly valid, no need to feel bad or guilty. You'd call in sick if you had the flu, too, wouldn't you?

 

[Changing4Best]

Our weather has just flipped from full blown summer in the 90s in the afternoons to WINTER. Autumn was maybe a week long. I did happily get some photos of it though. I agree with the advice given above, take another day off and pamper yourself. Have fun. Know that you are not alone. Yes, PTSD makes this time of year suck. Agreed. Or maybe it is this time of year messes with our PTSD pretty badly. Whichever it is, does not really matter.

I cannot tolerate those lamps that are supposed to help us deal with this time of year (they give me headaches), but I do enjoy turning on all my lights in my home. Since it is a one bedroom appt, I can get away with that in terms of my power bill.

Other things that help are: running warm or even hot water over my hands, sitting outside in the sun in the afternoons, my Dr. upping my antidepressant, reading a good book, especially if it is about going to the beach or some other summer activities. Journaling about summer fun is helpful too.

I hope you feel better soon.

 

[TruthSeeker]

So I'm having PTSD symptoms again. I'm not sure if it's because I was asked about the trauma recently and it's brought it all back again, or if it's partly to do with the time of year. I'm feeling really down and depressed. I have previously suffered from Seasonal Affective Disorder, and it could just be that that's sending me on a bit of a downward spiral. Either way, I'm not sure what I can do to help myself. All I have been doing recently is sleeping. I had to call in sick to work today - I just couldn't face the day, and I spent almost the whole day asleep, and I actually feel worse because of it. I don't really know what to do with myself. I have always struggled with this time of year, but this is the first time the PTSD has become mixed in with it.

October 31 was a moon cycle, and Halloween. I consider Halloween the "start" of the holiday season. How about figuring out what positive plans you can make in the next two months to take care of you during this stressful time of the year. You have a positive holiday plan figured out?

 

[Lionheart]

I swear by my lightbox, it is the single most helpful thing I have tried so far and it wasn't too expensive,... they range from $25 to $50 depending on where you look. Mine is a SunTouchPlus -- Nature Bright.

 

[Eliza]

So I told my boss that my reason for being off on Friday was for PTSD and not for a cold like I said. She was totally fine about it, but it was hard talking about it and explaining it from the start. She's been a little bit walking on eggshells around me today, but I think it's because she didn't really know what to say. Aside from telling me I can be open and honest with her in future and saying I can talk about it and/or use her office as a little escape from the main office and space to have a cry if I need to. Hopefully she will go back to normal soon, as the whole sympathy thing makes me super uncomfortable. I've also signed up for some counselling through work, so hopefully that will help too.
I have a lightbox and vitamin D tablets now. So I used the lightbox for half an hour this morning, and that definitely helped. I've realised as well, that bonfire night/fireworks have been triggering things, along with the fact I mentioned the PTSD at work, and someone was asking a load of questions (I only mentioned the bonfire night thing to my boss though).
My boss has also asked me to call our sickness and absence phone line and explain it to them so they have a record of it. But I'm not sure I can face going over it yet again.