Quote:
Originally Posted by BethRags
Anyone who denies the connection between season (light) and bipolar moods has not done research on the subject.
Interestingly, from childhood until my late 40's the intense light of spring and summer caused me to be depressed. The afternoons were especially painful. When autumn and winter arrived I finally had relief from the depression. Before I was on meds I would tend to be hypomanic during the darker months.
In November of the year I was 48 it all switched around. The week of the time change I plunged into a depression/mixed state, along with excruciating anxiety. In addition, I developed true mania (with psychotic features). Spring and summer brought some relief. And that's how it's been for 9 years. I'm already starting to worry about the day when the time changes; that will likely be the exact day a mixed state and severe anxiety hit. So I'm prepared, knowing that I will likely have to adjust my meds accordingly.
Fortunately, my pdoc is aware of the bipolar-light connection.
The article is very interesting. Fascinating, actually.
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Thank you, and I agree. The people that deny the possibility are mostly people who don't know that I'm bipolar. To them it's just natural that you adjust to DST in a day or two.
Very interesting that you mention things switching around with age. For me summer is currently associated with depression/mixed episodes and increased sleep problems. I generally tend to feel a bit better in winter, although it's not a given. I really love winter, although this year I'm pretty anxious about it too because I'm afraid of another surge in covid-19... Hope it won't ruin the fun too much.
I think my hypomanic episodes are pretty much randomly distributed over the year, although I haven't kept close track. I don't think I've had any for the better part of the year, just depression and mixed. Wish it were the other way around. I often wonder how my bipolar will change over the years, but I guess I'll just have to wait and see. From what I hear here it's likely to get worse.
