I've been telling myself over and over again "I will not get depressed this winter.. I will not get depressed this winter"... I've been really good at putting on a 'happy' act and not letting on to my family and friends that I've been feeling really... down lately. It's like as soon as winter comes, I suddenly become so emotional and sensitive to everything.. I start to obsess over things that I normally wouldn't obsess over.. I think that people don't like me or that they're talking about me behind my back.. I start to make all these assumptions and jump to the worst case scenerio conclusions over the simplest things. I find lately even going on facebook is upsetting me if I see one of my friends replies to someone else but not to me. I don't understand how I can be more rational in the summer and suddenly as soon as winter hits, I become overly paranoid about everything and start crying for no reason or for something that normally wouldn't bother me.

Anyone have any coping mechanisms they use during the peak of your depressive states? I'm considering getting one of those lamps that is supposed to help seasonal depression but I heard they're really expensive. I think I just need to distract myself and limit my computer use during this time.. I just hate that I'm so emotional during this time and that everything seems to be upsetting me.