SAD

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Do people believe in Seasonal Affected Disorder - the medical condition where the weather has a direct impact on mental health? Or do the stoics believe its just another excuse for people to whinge?

― Will, Monday, 12 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Its just that its really grey around here and, erm, I'm not feeling my best.

― Will, Monday, 12 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I dunno. I certainly feel crankier, more stupid and sleepier between November and March than for the rest of the year.

― RickyT, Monday, 12 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

it is not the weather in general but specifically the amount of sunlight. Yes, I believe in it.....there seems to be a reasonably large amount of evidence to support it. I remember feeling a sense of elation on seeeing the first rays of sunlight appearing over the school field when I went to school in winter. Daylength plays an enormous role in biology in terms of migrations, breeding seasons etc and it is only a combination of evolutionary change and the ways we attempt to shield ourselves from nature by creating artificial environments which fool us into thinking that the amount of sunlight we receive doesn't effect us. Also look at the amounts of depression (and the suicide rates) in northern Norway and other places which have protracted periods with no sunlight at all. And,, to emphasize that it is sunlight rather than weather in general, I've met people who don't like hot weather, love rain and snow but I have never met anyone with a genuine preference for darkness.

― MarkH, Monday, 12 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I think it does exist, I mean there is medical evidence to say that lack of sunlight prevents the release of certain chemicals in the brain is there not? Or am I just talking rubbish?

I do not believe that I suffer from it though, at least not to any great extent. Winter is kind of nice, in its place.

― Ally C, Monday, 12 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

yeah, it's ana ctual illness, treatment is available - lots of light etc recommended...I am,of course the exception, and I gets rsads - r for reverse...fucking hate summer.

― Geoff, Monday, 12 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Too much sunlight cited byt CBI to be bad for business productivity. Therefore rainy, dull winter is the secret to strong capitalism.

― Pete, Monday, 12 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

rainy = key to bettah future! (haha get a room)

― mark s, Monday, 12 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Naughty man. I certainly like summer better for the longer hours of daylight, feels nicer. But I don't think I get too unsettled/crabby because of it.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 12 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I get it, not so much at this time of year, but that long drag between new year and the first daffodil can be really grim. I'm thinking about getting a daylight alarm clock, a special lamp with bulbs that produce something very close to sunlight, that comes on gradually in the morning, mimicking daybreak on a summer day. Either that or a fortnight in Tenerife at the beginning of February would sort me out nicely.

― Madchen, Monday, 12 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

autumn is my favourite but only when it's sunny and crisp (mellow fruitfulness my arse) - when it's soggy and damp and cold and overcast and getting dark early like it is now i definitely feel myself getting more depressed. snow i'm OK with - it makes it bright outside. it's the drear gets me.

― katie, Monday, 12 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

the drear of hseffield is driving me down so badly this year. Darkness drizzle, greyness wet leaves everywhere, I hate it. i can't wait for the cold crisp january and february days when the year starts to open out again.

― Ed, Monday, 12 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ned, you're in the southern part of the U.S. where the differences between winter and summer solstace aren't as noticeable as they are to folks in the northern or southern quarters of the world.

That said, I only think MAD is a serious issue to those who move to the poles. There really isn't that much of a difference between the solstices in the continental U.S., from Miami to Seattle. But if you live in northern Alaska, Norway, etc., having non-stop sun -- or non-stop NON-sun -- can be quite a work on one's brain for those who aren't used to it.

It's summer that bugs me more, actually. It's hard to sleep (in Seattle) when half the sky is still a rich blue at 11:00pm.

― Brian MacDonald, Monday, 12 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Excuse me. SAD... not "MAD". What me no worry...

― Brian MacDonald, Monday, 12 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I feel worst during the long cruel days of summer, when the sun doesn't set til 10. And it's all warm, and hazy. I hate that, it depresses me no end. Winter days are short and more energetic. I like my sleep.

― james, Monday, 12 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

This might explain why all of a sudden I'm writing everyone angst- ridden soul-baring e-mails at weird hours and verging on tears while listening to prog records (Yes, I'm sure they make you want to cry too, very clever).

― sundar subramanian, Monday, 12 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Uncannily, we did just have our first snowfall yesterday.

― sundar subramanian, Monday, 12 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Seeing Christmas regalia going up everywhere depresses the hell out of me, that's for sure. I had to suffer through the first of many horrible mechanized renditions of 'jingle bells' this morning whilst waiting for the bus...blurgh. It hasn't even snowed here either...

― turner, Monday, 12 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

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