[HALLIEBETH87]

I wonder how common it is for those affected by bipolar to also have seasonal affective disorder. I'm still learning my cycle as it doesn't ever seem to always be the same but I am majorly depressed in winter months.

[Travelinglady]

Hey, HALLIEBETH87! I'm not sure, but I'd think it's a fair number.

[Shazerac]

I think it's pretty common. I always sink into a major depression on the first cold day of autumn.

[jmariah001]

I'm always worse in the winter months to. It usually starts in mid september, but this year it has already somewhat started. Summer was abnormally cold. I have a feeling this winter will be a bear. I hope i'm wrong.

The Winter is BAD for me too. (((Hugs)))

[lost_lover]

Where I live we don't really get winter weather but I truly hate the 'holiday season." The whole thing puts me on edge for months and I have a lot of trouble leaving the house. I always here SAD is related to the weather though and it is still bright, warm, and sunny here.

I'm always more depressed in the winter starting in Jan/Feb.

[99fairies]

I use a lamp when the days get shorter. It's not a miracle cure but I do notice a lift in mood when I use it.

[Teddy Bear]

I hate winter I don't have seasonal disorder just hate the cold

[Goals2017]

Winter is always a depressive season due to the lack of sun light

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Have you tried a SAD lamp? I have one and use it most years although if I'm cycling a lot or manic we skip it. Mine lets you adjust the intensity so I can control it enough to not be swung into mania. It really helps.

[Wild Coyote]

I tend to get stressed through the holidays.

I get deeper into SAD during Jan.-March.

H built us a large light which lights the whole bedroom. We have it set up all winter. It's on a timer, so it comes on as though the sun has already risen hours earlier than the natural sunlight during that time of year.

We also have a table top model for the kitchen table (or wherever).

Great question!


WC

[Shazerac]

Ugh! Don't get me started about the holidays I'd rather eat ground glass than do the annual Christmas Eve with the in-laws. Yet I do every year. The only thing worse is spending that evening with MY family.

[UpDownAround]

There is nothing wrong with winter that I-95 can't fix...

I don't care for winter anymore. When I lived near the Rockies in my 20s, I loved winter. I did a lot of snow sports. Now I can't stand to be cold. It bothers my joints and there isn't much I want to do.

So I do get down about winter, but it feels like a logical choice these days.

[Sunflower123]

I have SAD hit me as well usually starting around DST. My pdoc says a large number of his bipolar patients have the problem I do. I use a light box and have special spectrum lamps around the house. That helps a bit.

[Cocosurviving]

I deal with SAD around DST too. Soon as Halloween is near it's hit me. Last winter I started Zoloft and it helped a great deal. I was nervous about it sending me into mania. However I do take a mood stabilizer and a AP.

[BipolaRNurse]

I have SAD in the late fall-winter seasons. Part of it is I really, really hate being cold, and the other part is I have to deal with months of gray skies and rain where I live. I don't do well when there's no sunlight to speak of. I have a Happy Light now which helps some, although it would probably work better if I got up way earlier than I do (I'm a night owl who goes to bed around 1 or 2 and gets up around 10) to sit in front of it.

[scatterbrained04]

I think I do have some issues with SAD. I don't think it sends me into episodes per say, but it mimicks mild depression. I feel tired and blah and don't want to do anything. It's the gray skies and dreariness. Rainy days get to me in any season. So during the times of year where the skies are constantly cloudy, I have problems. Fall and winter, particularly. One of these days maybe I'll try a light box.