Changing Of Seasons--an Unrealized Trigger

[SeanCharles]

Greetings Everyone!

Hopefully the title explains this post... If not, then I will try and explain more within this post!

My first trauma was experienced in the turn of a new year... My father realized that his drinking was a problem in January of the following year. He turned to a 12 step program for help... My mother also turned to the non-alcoholic 12 step program (for support and to help herself come to terms with the addiction of alcoholism with what I feel was a false hope of keeping a family together.) This I can wrap my head around. There is a side of this I cannot wrap my head around which I have mentioned elsewhere and this post isn't the place for that issue.

The issue is that I have been noticing that I tend to get extreme depression at the onset of winter... In part, I think this may be related to Seasonal Affective Disorder, aside from that though I tend to have extreme feelings of depression. Whether this is a trigger of the past trauma or a response to the darkness because of the change in season or both, I thought I'd write this post and see what people have to share...

On top of the depression is anxiety which I know the root source of and may or not be intensified with this also, So many questions... So few answers... :(

--- SeanGeo

 

[Stranger2myself]

I agree with you it does get bad when the seasons change. SAD does have a psychological effect on the brain.

 

[J_trustno1]

I'm sorry that you are struggling big b. My mood has been up and down this year but in the past I always had depression falling at the end of spring and summer. I don't know what it is about the heat that makes me angry. I hope you get through this tough time with so many things happening all at once. My best wishes are with you. :hug:s

 

[KwanYingirl]

I can relate! I always get depressed in winter and I know my daughter does, too. I know it's not good for you, but going tanning really lifts my mood. I don't know if it's the warmth or light or what, but I feel better. When I used to ski, it made the winter fly by. It gave me a reason to love snow.

 

[Lucycat]

I find the seasons are a problem. My T has recognised that I need more support in the winter.

Today I am sitting beside a pool in glorious sunshine on a holiday. In 2 hours I will be flying back to Scotland. I just checked the weather - big mistake. Howling gales and road closures. Lots of surface water. When we get back at midnight we have a 100 mile drive back from the airport - welcome to Scottish Winter Lucy!

 

[SeanCharles]

@Lucycat Wow! I have not yet been to Scotland. That is on my dream places to visit given that I have scotish roots! :)

 

[TeaLeaf]

Have you tried a light box? I get depressed from the change in seasons and have been greatly helped by a light box, especially lately when the decrease in sunlight was so sudden in my part of the country. The key is it has to be bright, at least 10,000 lux and timed in the morning when you wake up.

 

[SeanCharles]

@TeaLeaf Hey! That's a great idea... I get a sense right now my spiraling is more than just the darkness though, I suspect it's about the time the trauma started! I know work has a couple of light boxes... I don't know that they help me as I am not around them enough given the way I travel on a daily basis...