Since I'm on disability, I don't have to drive in the snow. My husband's employer is also generous about snow closures. We have snow removal for our driveway and side walks so that's not an issue. We only need to clean off my husband's car. Mine is in the garage. We can sometimes get huge snow falls, but they aren't a very regular thing.

Looking back, my moods are not particularly bad during the winters, with some exceptions. I love wearing cozy warm clothes. I hate being hot in summers, so winter can be a relief. I love my fireplace burning. Though I'd rather Christmas gift giving be cut down a bit, I don't hate that holiday. I like that my husband is home a lot during that period.

The only risk to my moods in winter is at the very end of March or occasionally end of February. I have a very clear history of mood upswings, even to full blown mania, between March and the end of June. They can be euphoric, but often turn mixed, and maybe mildly to moderately depressed afterwards. So spring is my most vulnerable time, which is typical. I was not feeling that great for much of this summer, but wasn't exactly depressed. I was manic with mixed features and brief psychosis this past May 2018. Autumns are usually OK for me. I feel fine now, but am sleeping more than usual. I'm going to ask for a reduction in my Seroquel XR dose.

Though I've avoided near hospitalizations many times, again mostly in spring, my hospitalizations were in the following months, backing up the pattern I mentioned (had this list handy):

1. End of March 2006 Mania mixed
2. Early May 2006 Mania mixed (spent birthday there)
3. Mid July 2007 Depression severe
4. End June 2007 Mania mixed
5. End March 2008 Mania, with psychosis
6. End February 2009 Mania mixed, with psychosis
7. Mid March 2009 Mania mixed, with psychosis (5 days after discharge from # 6)
8. Early April 2009 Mixed, rapid cycling
9. Mid June 2009 Depression severe (ECT treatments)
10. End July 2009 Depression severe, with psychosis

SSDI