I suddenly feel somewhat depressed that I had to cancel my cuddle schedule. I had to apologize to her as the weather seems to be affecting my mood and I can't drive long distance.
I may be wrong about this, but I thought lack of sunlight affects depression more than cooler temperatures. If you have seasonal affective disorder (depression caused by the lack of sunlight when the days get shorter), a sun lamp can help. I definitely felt a difference when I moved from California (80% available sunlight on average) to Virginia (around 40% available sunlight on average). I got a sun lamp, and it did help me. Good luck.
I have that on my alarm clock. I have an alarm clock that mimics sunlight. It's called hatch.
Cold doesn't bother me so much as the short days. When it's dark at 4 PM, feels like life is going by too fast.
Sun lamp. 🛋️
Vitamin D
It’s still hot in Florida
Cuddling is a great way to stay warm.
I only get depression when the weather changes for about 2-3 weeks but the best way I've found to prevent depression is setting and accomplishing goals, most of my goals are financial and exercise, at least 30 minutes of walking every day, I'd love to weight lift but I have inflammatory auto immune problems that prevent it.
Cold weather doesn't depress me, it invigorates me. In addition, when the weather turns cold, it means there's a parade of fun holidays just around the corner!
Play games. Talk to people, spend time with my boyfriend
I can be depressed in any weather 😎 For me the problem with winter isn’t the dark or the cold, it’s the rain and snow that make it harder to drive and dress comfortably. Wet socks? Cranky. Driving in the rain in the dark? Anxiety.
But rainy winter is still better than summer days at 90°+. I guess I’m an equinox kinda guy.
Mine is Music therapy, journaling… walks in the evenings. Comedy rabbit holing, audio books for tools. Learn a new food recipe that speaks to my hearts Pray ……Pray …. Praying my way from the moment when I wake up and all throughout my day staying present is 🔑 key Also through touch, (different textures or materials) smell things that make me happy(aromatherapy) Going out of my way to be kind to myself is a must ! Depression is a stage we all experience whether it’s chronic or in momentary triggers. The main thing is to remember you’re not alone and to reach out and get help if you need to. Find someone to talk to and to help you to get through it. Depression can be heavy just know there is light at the end of the tunnel when you’re ready to find your inner light 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🤍
Just ten months out of a 17 year relationship our wedding was in Oct and I started getting really weepy when the colder weather hit. It's been alot.
@ladybug7 big hugs 🫂 🤍🤍❤️🤍🤍
my dr put me on vitd2 and taking almost daily when I was super depressed. thry also had me on Lexapro. it was helpful when I started it, but when he wouldn't renew my scrip last summer; I felt so strange coming off it. he recently asked if I wanted to go back on it and idk anymore. I take vitd3 a few times a week.
not cuddle related, but a few years ago. I knew a guy I was seeing who developed some seasonal depression. he didn't wanna hang out with anyone and was constantly at the gym. just cycling away.
I think a hard part about any kind of depression; it makes you feel fatigued to do almost anything. it's really hard to enjoy what used to make you happy. if you are in it long; it'll start draining what you enjoy normally. you may need something radically different or out of your wheelhouse. also practicing mindfulness to ground yourself when it's especially strong or intense
That's an important thing to understand about depression. People who don't suffer depression think it's about being a bit sad, and you just need to cheer yourself up. It's not even remotely like that. If you can think yourself more cheerful or just take some vitamin d and feel better, congratulations, you don't have depression. It's a distortion in thinking, one that drains your energy and accentuates the bad and convinces you that nothing is worthwhile. Being depressed greatly increases the difficulty of doing anything to get better.
@Jake_Cuddler weather absolutely can have a significant effect on mood. @BlueIris is right, it's about daylight hours (and intensity) not temperature. Sun lamp can definitely help, especially if used first thing in the morning.
Everyday depression in the non-medical sense happens to most people at some point. It can be mitigated, prevented or cured by everyday remedies such as removing the source of the depression (if known) and doing all things you are supposed to do anyway. Plenty of fresh air, exercise, nutrious diet, time with friends and family (assuming that helps) and anything else that benefits you. Exactly what that is differs from person to person.
Clinical depression, on the other hand, is a very serious medical condition affecting the brain, resulting in disfunctional brain chemistry and other brain damage. It is frequently fatal, either in the short term or long term.
There is no guaranteed cure but fortunately it is very easy to alleviate. You just need a full time personal physician; ditto psychotherapist; ditto psychiatrist; ditto physical trainer; ditto care co-ordinator; cook-housekeeper; spacious house with lots of natural light, ample grounds and helpful people to live with; supportive friends and family; a kind, loving and understanding partner; a fulfilling job; solid financial position; good physical health; a genuine willingness to change lifelong beliefs and habits; and a commitment to face very painful buried experiences and emotions and discuss them openly. Oh and plenty of good weather.