I'm normally okay. I've lived here for decades. This year is hitting me hard. I have lit every candle. We already have the Christmas tree up. I take vitamin D supplements. I don't know what is wrong with me. Nothing is helping me right now. I'm just exhausted all of the time, and a little bit angry.
by Aztecdune1973
28 comments
Where do people in Finland go on vacation? Here we’d go to Florida for a week until we were all sunned out
1) Remember this is not permanent. Take it a day at a time. Think of yourself like an organic living life form who needs sun light and colour to thrive. Now you can only just survive.
2) You’re not alone. Can’t wait for sunny, horny summer time.
If this isn’t normal for you, have a chat with your doctor. It probably is just SAD + getting older, but it’s good to make sure there’s nothing else going on.
I use one of those special bright lamps and I’m sure to do some good exercise/cardio in front of it for half an hour in the morning. I’ve noticed if I start to go two or three days without doing this, I start to catch a case of seasonal sad.
Yeah, it’s a bit weird situation. Too warm in Helsinki to have snow and too cold in Portugal to have a nice, sunny holiday. It’s just gloomy and dark grey all the time. You’re not the only one.
A proper kirkasvalolamppu could help. Make sure it has enough lux power, otherwise it’s just a regular lamp.
This is unsually gloomy November it gets even to us natives.
Get a bright light lamp.
11 days and it’s the darkest day. Then it’s Christmas, New Year’s and Epiphany.
Although winter is probably coming, the days are getting longer and it’s slowly starting to get easier. Remember, there’s Half-Year to Midsummer.
Do you do any sports outside btw?
I think a good thing to do is to lower demands and expectations of oneself. In this time of the year, i feel an increased need for rest. If i start to feel really tired at 19:00 i have no issue just going to bed and maybe reading a book or whatever.
I say no to invitations to do things that make me feel dread. I just don’t have the energy and willingness to do certain things this time of the year.
The Danish (or is it norwegians, or both?) came up with this cool concept of Hygge. Just curl up on the sofa, take a blanket, light up a candle and watch some comfy movie drinking a hot chocolate or something. Wear woolen socks and other cozy clothes. That is something that can strengthen the life force in you in this time
It is hitting hard this year, I’m feeling it too even though I have been exercising outside and inside, no alcohol, no late nights, priorotizing sleep and rest but still it is hitting me really hard this fall.
Edit: checked some stats and in Helsinki there has been 18 minutes of sunshine in December. The average amount would be 10-15 hours so no wonder if people are SAD!
Got plenty of things to do. Ain’t got no time for SAD.
What I don’t like is this constant raining, specially light showers throughout the day. Yo clouds, visit arid parts of the world for a week R&R and come back.
Lets hope for a bit colder weather to get a lasting snow cover as it makes the days much brighter. In the meantime you should try to:
A) Lean in to the season and enjoy Christmassy things
B) Be outside when its light out (e.g., longer lunches)
C) Eat citrus fruits regularly
It is what it is
People need to take waaaay more vitamin D supplements than they think. They also need to take K2 and magnesium with it.
9,000 IUs of vitamin D per day minimum. However you should get your levels tested first.
Get comfy and sleep a lot
It’s only going to get worse every year from now with the climate change and all.
Somehow the november depression hits harder every year for me. This year has been extra bad without snow and with constant rain.
I am seriously considering saving up my summer vacations next year to GTFO from here for at least a month next year. Regular weightlifting and walks with audiobooks/podcasts keep me sane and functioning.
I don’t think I’ve ever had actual depression, but I do feel way more tired in the mornings. What helps me is having a light turn on some 30 minutes before my alarm goes off and having it gradually brighten during that 30 minutes. It doesn’t need to get to anywhere near full brightness.
I use a Philips Hue bulb in a normal light fixture (and am happy with it) but I’m sure you can find other brands that to achieve the same. I feel a lot less tired in the morning and, importantly, my eyes don’t hurt like hell when I switch on the bathroom light.
Now, I don’t know if this could help with an actual depression but feeling less shit in the morning is better than not.
You’re not alone, I’m here after a decade, financially more stable then anytime before in my life, plus everything looks bright on the exterior, but this darkness and weather makes me contemplate moving away the next chance I get.
For me a bless 😌 not having to suffer with the brightness and not having to wear sunglasses.
The only nasty thing is the rain, can’t wait for the snow ⛄️
Buy a bright light (kirkasvalolamppu in Finnish). Also listening to heavy metal helps getting the darkness out of your system. At least for me!
In Dust2 the sun is always shining
If your work schedule permits, take a short walk outside on your lunch break. Or even a walk to the lunch place! Or working from home and super busy, go out to your balcony and do 3 x 10 bodyweight squats.
If you have flexible hours, consider working an extra 30min in the afternoon and go outside for the half hour between 11 and 13, no matter what the weather. There’s still daylight and it’s good for your body as well.
Culture helps as well. Theatre, art exhibitions, cinema, the local Yule market… Try something new!
Whenever SAD kicks in, pay a visit to any botanical gardens near you. If your in Helsinki, winter garden is always nice place to visit in these dark times
If you’re not doing it already, take a multivitamin in addition to the vitamin d supplements, it’s helped me feel better!
Get a bright light therapy lamp, a proper one. Seriously. I’ve suffered from S.A.D all my adult life and it gets worse with age. Bright light has helped tremendously. I bought the biggest and most powerful one in the market (from manufacturer Innolux) and use it every morning, but even the smaller ones can be helpful. Also don’t forget to so physical excercise at least a little bit, take a walk at lunchtime etc.
Light Therapy. 2000 lux *minimum* straight to your eyeballs, with a certified LT device. 10 000 lux is even better. Mind the use distance; lux drops off rapidly the further off from the source you are. Typical use distances are 10-30cm. Half an hour per day minimum, or up to two hours if you’re a severe case like me. Best used immediately after waking up, though really the important thing is to not do it in the evening.
My device (an older [Luminette](https://www.valohoito.fi/luminette.html) model) sits on my head, so I can move around with it freely. The only thing I need to make sure of is to have sufficient background light; if I use light therapy right in front of my eyes but the rest of the room is dark, I’m going to get a headache for sure.
This is most effective when starting *before* SAD hits you in the face, but it’ll do something even if you start now. I usually dig out my eye-frying light around October and put it away in February.
Add in *strict* no-caffeine hours before bed (8+ hours, depends on how easily affected you are), and if you’re able, some form of exercise. I lift weights at a nearby gym.
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