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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 345
 
| Should I call it the winter blues. In the last few years I have lost a father, husband and all my children have gotten married. This leaves me with a very needie mother who lives an hour away a 4 bedroom house which is putting me in the hole also have gained 75lbs. I live in the middle of nowhere and work anywhere from 9 to 11 hrs a day in a factory and I really do not want to associate with anyone. Talked to the Dr. and has decided I am going through my change and my thyroid is messed up. I only feel like this in the winter because I am so busy outside in the summer. Will be putting my home up for sale in the spring. My horses will go to my daughters house. |
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I Need a Xanax!
Posts: 2774
 
| Hugs to you. Maybe if your doctor gets your thyroid straightened out you will feel better. Maybe you should ask about a prescription vitamin D supplement too? Light therapy is said to work really well for the winter blues too. Maybe try an antidepressant too...if it makes you sleepy try taking it at night. Hope you get better soon! |
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 I Am Always Right
Posts: 4264
Location: stray dump capital of the world | I am so sorry for all of your losses. I'm sure they have to take their toll on you emotionally and physically. That type of loss back to back probably indicates something more than winter blues. My heart goes out to you. I would try what the doctor says first and see if that helps. Sending you some prayers....
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| I understand. Try getting a light for this issue - it can make a real difference. Since you are selling the house, does it need painting or something? Selling houses can take awhile so you can spend the winter getting all the little details taken care of so it shows well. You need to find something that will keep you busy--painting the house, or trying a hobby like painting pictures, embroidery, knitting, jigsaw puzzles, crochet, etc.
Right now, I am scraping the popcorn off my ceilings and repainting ceilings and walls. Can you cut back on your work hours a bit? You might also be hitting burnout from work and everything thing else that has gone on in your life. Can you take a week vacation or even a long weekend away somewhere? There might be cheap travel packages available right now.
Good luck. |
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 Wide Darn Open
Posts: 2141
| It is such a dark place to be...It has started to get bad again with me (I think holidays are the worst) and I've decided to try exercise this time along with lots of prayer and even counseling and just trying to change my outlook. The staying awake all night and not eating has been rough too but my blood work came back good so I'm not sure what to do.
Maybe if they get your thyroid straightened out that will help and hopefully spring will be here soon. Praying for you my friend! |
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 Underestimated Underdog
Posts: 3971
Location: Minnesota | Hugs and prayers for you. The one thing to always remember is your not alone. Winter is tough on a lot of use and adding extra stress and lose on top of that can seem unbearable sometimes. Maybe try reaching out to someone on here. Even if its just to call and cry to someone, which I've done, it will help. Talking to someone who knows how you feel and can just keep you company is someone what we need. Stay strong and reach out if ypu want.  |
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 Expert
Posts: 1440
Location: Texas | I've also had a case of the winter blues this year. The thing that helps me is to try to get outside and do something physical. It will release endorphins which will help boost your mood. I almost always have a hard time during the holidays and not sure why, I am really starting to think it is the time change. All I can say is force yourself to get up and be active reach out to friends even if you dOnt want to. In the end you will feel better. Prayers to you and I hope they get your thyroid sorted out ASAP |
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Cold hands and Warm Heart
Location: oklahoma | Get active in some way. The longer you sit, the more inside your head that you become and it snowballs to where its huge. Praying, doing for others and yourself, works. Everyone needs a purpose, its how we're built. |
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 Forever Young
Posts: 6768
Location: relocated to Texas | Many prayers for you. I have been dealing with situational depression as well, having gone through a divorce (after being married many years) this year because of my husband's abuse of alcohol and prescription drugs. You couldn't pay me to go on anti depressants after seeing so many become addicted to them. I would suggest that you exercise and try to stay busy. Get involved with a church or volunteer your time to help others (if you have any spare time, sounds like you are working a lot). Take care of yourself and even if you don't feel like it, try to get out and meet people. The worst thing you can do is nothing for yourself. |
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Veteran
Posts: 282
Location: MS | Ask your doctor about Cymbalta...it is a life saver for me. |
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My Heelers are Heroes
Posts: 4685
| Hollywood's Fan - 2014-01-01 5:23 PM Many prayers for you. I have been dealing with situational depression as well, having gone through a divorce (after being married many years) this year because of my husband's abuse of alcohol and prescription drugs. You couldn't pay me to go on anti depressants after seeing so many become addicted to them. I would suggest that you exercise and try to stay busy. Get involved with a church or volunteer your time to help others (if you have any spare time, sounds like you are working a lot). Take care of yourself and even if you don't feel like it, try to get out and meet people. The worst thing you can do is nothing for yourself.
I feel the same way about the medication. I find it rather odd that in all the advertisements it states may increase feelings of sucide. Excuse me but many depressed people already have that issue but your going to give medication that may increase those feelings? |
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Expert
Posts: 1815
| The best money ever spent is on a therapeutic light........for seasonal depression, as in winter blues. You only have to sit under it about 30 minutes a day........no side effects, all natural and it really really works. |
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 The Vaccinator
Posts: 3810
Location: Slipping down the slope of old age. Boo hoo. | Sending a hug. You have had a lot to deal with, but you also are taking steps to "handle" it - you have spoken with your doctor (and I assume he is taking steps to help you with the thyroid and get through the change), you are putting the much too large house up for sale so you have plans in motion. That says a great deal about you -- about how much strength you have and how much ability you have to be in control of your future! There is no doubt you are feeling very "tired" right now - - anyone would after enduring all you have endured. Try to maintain your "forward" focus, carve out a little time for yourself whenever you can (a cup of tea and a tv movie? or maybe a manicure in town? or just time with a horse at the barn for a little while?), try to get a little exercise even if it is just a brief walk of 10 to 15 minutes outside around your yard a few times a week.... Long, dark winter days are hard as it is and they are doubly hard when dealing with all you have on your plate, but as I said, it does sound like you do have a "plan" -- more so than I think you realize. Life occurs one day at a time so that's the way we can live it -- just one day at a time. You sound like a strong woman! |
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Forever Young
Posts: 6768
Location: relocated to Texas | cinch - 2014-01-02 6:10 PM Hollywood's Fan - 2014-01-01 5:23 PM Many prayers for you. I have been dealing with situational depression as well, having gone through a divorce (after being married many years) this year because of my husband's abuse of alcohol and prescription drugs. You couldn't pay me to go on anti depressants after seeing so many become addicted to them. I would suggest that you exercise and try to stay busy. Get involved with a church or volunteer your time to help others (if you have any spare time, sounds like you are working a lot). Take care of yourself and even if you don't feel like it, try to get out and meet people. The worst thing you can do is nothing for yourself. I feel the same way about the medication. I find it rather odd that in all the advertisements it states may increase feelings of sucide. Excuse me but many depressed people already have that issue but your going to give medication that may increase those feelings?
When my brother was a teenager his best friend's dad was the coach of their baseball team. Everybody loved the guy, he was always upbeat and smiling. He lost his job and became depressed (everyone gets depressed from time to time.) went to the doctor and he gave him some anti depressants. Well, the guy became addicted to them. His wife of many years left him because she could not deal with the new personality. He withdrew and talked little to his family. He ended up blowing his brains out. So sad, and this story is repeated all too often. My marriage was ruined because of prescription drugs and alcohol. Addiction is hell. Many anti depressants are highly addictive. |
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Veteran
Posts: 159
Location: Central TX | I'm really sorry to hear this. I am 34 and I have dealt with clinical depression since the age of 12. Getting out of bed everyday can be the hardest chore let alone driving my daughter to school, grocery shopping, loading up the horses and going to a barrel race. Depression drove my husband away, lots of my friends away, and has been a serious road block in my life. I suggest finding and talking to a psychologist. I put it off for years because it costs me about 120 a session...BUT, i started it 8 months ago and the man i talk to every week has helped me more than any dosage of prozac. I really feel for you and understand what you are going through. I am so sorry for your losses. May god comfort you in this time of need. |
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 BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | I won't comment on anti-depressants, because I think that should be between you and a doctor who sees you face-to-face. I do have a couple comments and random suggestions that might very well help a lot, and certaintly can't hurt.
First of all this is winter. A lack of sunshine in and of itself can cause the blues. Even if it's warm where you live, the lack of daylight has an effect. "Light therapy boxes" are available and they often make a difference.
You also have horses......start riding and just spending more time with them. They are fantastic therapists. When I feel blue or lonely, I do this and it helps a lot.
Have your vitamin D level checked. Because we are all so conscious of sunlight exposure and skin cancer, we slather on high SPF creams, which does a great job of blocking UV rays, but they also block the natural mechanism for conversion of Vit D to the most active form. Vit D deficiency is associated with significant depression. Get on adequate replacement therapy. I take 5000 IU per day, but a dose of 2000 IU per day is common for maintenence. If your levels are real low, you need to replenish your Vit D, so high doses for a while will probably be recommended. After a while you can drop the dose down.
Have you seen a good therapist or counselor? A good one can be a Godsend. I'm not talking necessarily a psychiatrist.
Don't forget exercise.....it can make a difference.
Finally, what you are doing right now is huge.....you are talking about it with others.
I think you will start to see improvement if you do all of these things, but if not, there are other options, including anti-depressants. They do have a very important role in certain people. The good news is that you have a lot of reasons to be depressed ("situational depression"). Who wouldn't be depressed, given what you've been through? It's when people get depressed for no particular reason that it gets very difficult to treat sometimes.
There's your "homework", LOL. I have a feeling you will bounce back! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 319
| Wow. You've really gone through alot this year. Losing your husband & father; changing relationships with your kids and mom. Do you have to get rid of your horses? You said they were going to daughters house. You've gotten some great advice. I want to share my experience with anti depressants though. They have saved my life and sanity. I tried to do without them and wish I didn't need them, but I do. Medicine isn't the only answer but for me it is a very important part of the answer. |
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 Love Me Some Robert Redford
Posts: 2335
Location: WV | Many hugs to you. I myself have anxiety/depression (more anxiety) winter is a hard time. I would agree and say it could be more situational than anything for you. I would try some of the suggestions from here but talk with you doctor about how you have been feeling. I am sure you two really know what is best for you. Good luck with everything that you have going on and take care of yourself.  You are not alone and always have someone to talk to here. |
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  Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place | It is good that you are reaching out to talk about it. I really want to check out the light box. I think there are a lot of people that get the winter blues. I've heard these really do help. As doc said try taking the Vitamin D. And exercise has always helped me too. |
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