MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Always tired. Lethargic. Fed up with work. Eating too much cr*p. It's always ****in' dark. Riding my bike either happens in the dark or in the rain. Usual winter blues sh*te.
How do you deal with it?
I love winter.
I grit my teeth and get on with it. I take more days off in the winter, and make to odd trip or two to trail centres to get a days worth of good buzz.
don't wish half your life away. I cherish the winter, the sharp snap you can get in the air, the challenge of ice and snow, the feeling of battling the elements, opening my flask of hot chocolate - it's all good :o)
[url= http://www.bogtrotters.org/rides/2008/6dec/DSC_0230_.jp g" target="_blank">http://www.bogtrotters.org/rides/2008/6dec/DSC_0230_.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
My wife had the same issue - she forked out for a lightbox and found it made a big difference. Expensive but well worth it for the difference it's made.
[url] http://www.britebox.co.uk [/url]
I spend a lot of time having to listen to my mother on the phone moaning about the cold, the damp, the fog, the dark, the ice, the rain, the wind, my dad etc etc and how depressed it makes her feel and how she can't wait for the light, the dry, the sun, the warmth etc etc.
I get so peed off with her that it makes me feel glad to be alive and doing as much as I can regardless of the season and conditions.
mr omitn - either drugs or SAD or higher speed p0rn...surely - as the man above says don't wish it away.....
I book my holiday destination...
What sfb said, it's all in the head!
Dark and rainy isn't a bad time to go riding - empty trails, and being able to drift round corners...
A few things I am doing
1) Cherish the good days, trails as hard as summer, clear air etc.
2) Book some summer riding events (big rides with mates/holidays/races whatever)
3) See this time as a chance to get fit so you can hit the trails like a riding God in the summer (ok so a bit of poetic licence here)
I just stay drunk until the beginning of April
simon_f_barnes - that photo is very very wrong. Grown men in tights even on this well endowed chap (Not safe for some peoples work but its not nude- hence I posted the link and NOT the image itself):
Even men like that shouldnt wear lycra SFB!
Apparently, a well know cure for S.A.D. is to get a f*cking grip
omitn - get a grip man, you are giving northerners a bad name!
Lycra is functionally brilliant, some people prefer to go on a fashion parade - thats their choice 😉
I'm struggling with the same issue (never free from work unless its dark, and then I've got no-one to ride with so all I do is stay in the flat and watch TV or work some more).
So, some interesting variants.
It's interesting that more than one assumes I'm wishing it away. Not so.
I feel like plenty of others, I'm sure. It's just a weather, mundane life thing.
Plenty of riding going on - it's the only bit (other than my time with Mrs North) which keeps me sane: I was at the track on Monday, missed a night road ride on Tuesday (work until 1am - like the bad old days), will be at the club chaingang on Saturday (getting a kicking, no doubt), and MTBing for the first time this year on Sunday.
Summer riding is being planned and there are trips to look forward to: Tour of Flanders sportive in April, a week riding and chilling by Lake Como in early May, starting road racing in the spring/summer, Dartmoor Classic sportive with a good friend in June, riding the Étape in July....
But, right now, it's dark when I go to work, dark at work (my office doesn't have an external view), dark when I go home.... Just need to work out the best way through it - no different from anyone else.
Cheers all
OMITN (simultaneously conducting retail therapy online)
my solution for the last couple of years is to go somewhere hot and sunny for a week in the winter, It is nice to be able to get out on the bike in the warmth to get dry trails etc.
Have a hot bath, missus has a hot bath. Then both have carnal fun for a couple of hours. Call me basic but surely that clears the blues away?
If it helps- plan a mtb holiday in Spain now to leave in 3 weeks. You will be tied up with your checklists etc etc and wont even notice the cold here.
I remeber when I was off the bike for 6 months due to injury and make every ride count fair weather or not
Carnal fun for a couple of hours Hora? Pah! A likely story. I've heard you're on a hair-trigger.
It'd get you over an advertising break during Corry perhaps. But only if you thought about Margaret Thatcher and Russian Tractor collectives
Binners. It is true. They used to call me 'The Klashnikov'. Only because I used to like standing up and pray'n'spray
Is this past the levels of decency yet?
pray'n'spray? Does that involve alter boys?
Carnal fun for a couple of hours Hora? Pah! A likely story. I've heard you're on a hair-trigger.
PPFFFTT!
New keyboard please, Binners.
Hora; in't yer mates great at helping to boost you up, eh?
Well I'd hardly want him saying '2hours? That is mere-minutes to you my Stallion-friend'! 🙂
Ourmant'upnorth(like)- cheered up yet?
Ps. Binners, when I'm loaded and burst into a room......its a helluva mess 8)
I ride more in the winter. Harder and faster cos its cold and I don't want to dawdle. Its a good emotional thing cos it feels hard, so I feel like I'm training really hard (plus the addedd benefit that everyone else has the sense to stay in, so I feel doubly hard!). Also, come summer time, good weather feels even better and I feel fitter cos I've been riding all winter. Just treat winter astraining for the summer!
I started running more. A nice crisp morning always makes me grin.
Ourmant'upnorth(like)- cheered up yet?
Oh yes. Now that I've seen binners insulting your manhood *again* on here.
Are you sure it wasn't you binners saw in a corset way back then?
Exercise (and sh*gg*ng) always makes me feel better. It's the overall slog and grind of winter that gets me down.
Agree. I have really struggled to get up this week. I did manage to cycle over to Sports City (gym) and back yesterday evening though 😀
Binners is only jealous of my French Baguette 8)
Even men like that shouldnt wear lycra SFB!
I completely agree, but of course no one takes any notice of that 🙁
Difficult to do if your working until 1am but I would suggest a run at lunchtime when you can. Failing that at least stepping outside for a "fag break" even if you don't smoke just to get the day-light in.
I used to work in a fully inside environment and went a bit loopy not seeing the sun for a whole week during winters. Some exercise outside is really needed to keep your body clock sane.
I would suggest a run at lunchtime when you can
Was thinking about that. It doesn't do my knees any good (years of astroturf has wrecked them), but ought to be a good way of upping the exercise and daylight. I'll think about that for next week.
Binners is only jealous of my French Baguette
You two are obsessed with food. Oh, I see.... 😉
Go skiing.
winter blues in Manchester? try living in Norway FFS.
[i]"darrell
winter blues in Manchester? try living in Norway FFS."[/i]
Yes but you do have the advantage of Norweigan girls 😉
Yes but you do have the advantage of Norweigan girls
Really? Will Norwegian girls help shift it?
[url= http://www.noob.us/sexy/sexy-norwegian-girls-at-a-photo-shoot/ ]does this help - not really work safe[/url]
Just getting out for a walk at some point during the day would help. It's sunlight you need, not exercise and just popping out for a walk means more sunlight as you won't be messing about getting changed.
Well the doc has just prescribed Fluoxetine for me 🙁
It's been a bad couple of months & i crashed (mentally) big time just after New Year. Feel more stable now but hope i don't have to be on the pills for too long!
More bike time i reckon!
[i]winter blues in Manchester? try living in Norway FFS.[/i]
Try living in Manchester 365 days a year. FFS I'm trying to talk our lass into moving to Outlane, she wont have it 🙁
If you find it difficult to mentally motive yourself to run every lunchtime just pop into HMV, swipe a CD then run out of the door. The Security Guards should give up after a few hundred yards but progressively they will get fitter and fitter as well thus helping to push you further.
Either that or call someone a **** in the Arndale centre every lunchtime. 🙄
I lived in Manchester for 6 years. Love the place.
Well the doc has just prescribed Fluoxetine for meIt's been a bad couple of months & i crashed (mentally) big time just after New Year. Feel more stable now but hope i don't have to be on the pills for too long!
More bike time i reckon!
MD Hope it gets better. Mrs North has spent the last 6 ish months on ADs and, with a change to many elements of her lifestyle, and time away from work, they seem to be helping her a lot. I don't feel at the stage myself - I've just got that hanging miserable feeling everyone gets at this time of year.
The ADs will take a while to have an effect - usually people say about 4-6 weeks. You'll feel unwell at first (they often cause sickness, etc), but if that's still with you and bad after a couple of weeks, go back to your doc and get him to change them. Mrs North ended up in bed sick for weeks as a result of Seroxat, but has found Citalopram to be fine.
You'll probably take them longer than you currently anticipate, but go with it. You just need to consider that, when coming off them, it can't be done suddenly.
If you want more info, a number of people on here have direct experience. Loads were really helpful when I enquired about Mrs North taking them. In fact, I can think of one person specifically who is taking fluoxetine.
Everyone, including me, prescribed exercise to Mrs North and, while she has done a bit, she's conscious that she hasn't done as much as she needs to. It's a counter-cyclical thing - the time you need exercise is the time you least feel like doing it. You have to make yourself.
Hope it all gets better soon (and you've done me a favour).
Cheers
Tom
miketually said:
It's sunlight you need
I refer my honourable friend to the weather in Manchester - it's never very sunny (even in spite of the big glow coming from Hora's bum).
hora said:
If you find it difficult to mentally motive yourself to run every lunchtime just pop into HMV, swipe a CD then run out of the door. The Security Guards should give up after a few hundred yards but progressively they will get fitter and fitter as well thus helping to push you further.Either that or call someone a **** in the Arndale centre every lunchtime.
Quote of the day for me. Bravo!
If you find it difficult to mentally motive yourself to run every lunchtime just pop into HMV, swipe a CD then run out of the door. The Security Guards should give up after a few hundred yards but progressively they will get fitter and fitter as well thus helping to push you further.
😆
Sorry to hear that MD. I was prescribed fluoxetine in about April / May last year. having gone down that route before while at uni, I decided to go for counselling instead and am glad I did so. Not saying there is anything wrong with taking drugs, just that I knew for me it would only be of short term help and that my problems were more caused by issues I needed to get my head around. It's something to think about anyway.
Wishing you all the best (and sorry for the hijack omitn)
Outside in daylight is good, SAD lights can occasionally be had from Aldi (my daughter has one) if you can get one for home and the office it should help.
Exercise is doing it for me this year one of the upsides of being unemployed. Seek help sooner rather than later and you should avoid any need for anti-depressants.
Good luck
Ta OMITN & mrsflash 🙂
Last week was bad - silly bad. found myself outside B&Q ready to buy a rope, that's when i knew it was time to see the doc. I've always been somewhat down at this time of year but add that to the effects of my personal life going t!ts up & it all got on top of me.
So far the meds haven't made me ill apart from a little 'loose bum' effect on the first day.
So far so good n'all that....
Sandwich - good call. I'll check that out. Not planning on getting to the point of needing ADs.
Mrs flash - no bother. One big happy (usually) helpful family here, aren't we?!
MD - I forgot to say. The biggest thing for Mrs North wasn't taking the drugs, but doing CBT. I know that on similar threads in the past, the likes of Julian Wilson and TandemJeremy have recommended talking therapies, and having seen the results, I would too.
There are all sorts of talking therapies, all of which might broadly be covered under the heading of "counselling", but each of them addresses you and your issues in difering ways. so, Mrs North tried regular counselling (she talked, the counsellor listened), but that didn't work, because all she did was talk into an apparent void.
Then she tried CBT and found someone she could engage with, someone who forced her to re-evaluate herself, where she was at and how she could approach taking control of and changing her situation. This very much suited what she needed, and has proved succesful. She has started back at work (having ultimately taken around 6 months off), and I reckon only did so because the meds made her feel steady, and the CBT has allowed her to operate normally again. She continues to see her CBT therapist, but isn't so much receiving CBT anymore as life coaching.
Be aware that you may well need to pay for private treatment, rather than waiting to see people on the NHS - this is due to the often long waiting lists associated with counselling, etc.
Email me if you want to know any more: ourmaninthenorth AT googlemail.com
Cheers
Tom
FYI SRIs often reduce libido and orgasmic capability 🙁
CBT does not have this effect.
SRI's?
CBT ?
Ride more. Ride harder. Ride faster. Get high on endorphins. Ride even harder. Where's the problem?
SRI - serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. Most modern anti-depressents fall into this category (well, technically, they're selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors - they work by prevent the re-absorption of serotonin, meaning that your levels are lifted, making you happier).
CBT - cognitive behavioural therapy.
SFB (simonfbarnes) is right about the effect of SSRIs. However, many people having been close to the brink worry less about this in the short term and more about their overall mental health.
BWD - you're right. Save where one is too knackered to ride all the time. and most of my riding seems to take place in the dar and/or rain. And getting chucked out the back of a chanigang hardly does much for the old happiness stakes....
Well considering my libido has taken a real kicking anyway because of the ex, i don't think i'm too bothered about that right now!
I'm going to give MIND a call, apparently they do 6 hrs for free & they have a branch in town.
meaning that your levels are lifted, making you happier
to the limited extent that one CAN be happy without shagging...
I found St. John Wort helps considerably when feeling low and worried, no noticable side effects for me. Was also recently proven to be as effective as synthesised pills IIRC. After a few days on them you start to sleep better and pick up in your mood.
Theres the link: [url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4255087.stm ]Knew I'd find it somewhere[/url]
to the limited extent that one CAN be happy without shagging...
Quite. But you take the point.
Was also recently proven to be as effective as synthesised pills IIRC
ie not very, even the best antidepressants struggle to rise above placebo levels of effectiveness. The main thing is you're doing [b]something[/b]...
sfb - I know not of the actual reasoning behind it but I was first given them without knowing what they are (I trust my missus when she tells me I need something, very open to poisoning I think!) and within a week I was far happier, but I genuinely cannot wake up when I am taking them - they knock me into such a deep sleep I can sleep through multiple alarms. To me thats pretty damned effective. A family member was on proper pills after a rather lengthy and unpleasant (and ongoing) family problem and the difference in her almost overnight was astounding. Be it placebo or not, it turns your life around when you're feeling that low, which as you say, in turn leads to doing stuff that gets you back into the normal world.
Some people on here have overly simplistic views and are obviously confusing SAD with an off day. However the suggestions of riding more are correct, it's just hard to leave the house when you feel that bad. I've not had a bad run for several winters now and when I do I know to force myself out whatever the weather.
I've got a SAD lamp for work which looks just like a normal lamp, my workplace is very badly lit so definately had an effect on me. I also find a dawn alarm works which slowly turns on in the morning to simulate dawn light, so much better than getting woken up suddenly and hitting the snooze button 4 times!
I do a fair bit of riding - currently all on the road - commuting and weekend club rides. Interestingly, my enthusiasm for each is waning, but I know the value of being out there.
Some people on here have overly simplistic views and are obviously confusing SAD with an off day.
Interestingly, this is a more intense version of how I felt for a while last year after spending so much time working like a trojan for no perceived benefit. This feeling is brought on by the dark of winter, the recent redundancy programme at work, the lack of work to do daily.... It's by no means as bad as Mrs North had it - she had proper burn out - but it is lingering loinger than I'd like. A dark office with no external view doesn't help.
I'll look into a SAD lamp and definitely a daylight alarm. The latter might be a real benefit, as I'm struggling to get out of bed until it's light every day!
I hope you won't take this as rude, but the thing I learned from CBT is that you have to take control and responsibility for your moods. Life only has meaning through DOING, and every minute you waste in "can't be bothered" is lost to you forever. This isn't "Pull yourself together", which isn't helpful, but rather, there is so much you can do, so much fun to be had, that you owe it to yourself to do it and not languish :o)
Not sure who this is aimed at, SFB.
That aside, I agree entirely with this:
Life only has meaning through DOING, and every minute you waste in "can't be bothered" is lost to you forever.
It's how as much as possible of my life is lived. Even when fighting to get out of bed in the morning....
Not sure who this is aimed at, SFB.
it was to you. I suffered from depression on and off for 3 decades, but a few weeks of CBT fixed me 🙂
I'm not convinced it's depression, at least not in any significant sense.
I've seen the benefits of CBT first hand, and so would always consider that.
Right now, it is all about the peculiar combinaiton of winter + cr*pness at work.
Cheers for the advice, though. Much appreciated.
Go skiing! I am tomorrow 😀 😀 😀
Thinking about it, Scotabroad. Thinking about it quite seriously. Even though I haven't skiid since a school trip in 1988.... I mean, how hard can it be?
😉
I've seen the benefits of CBT first hand, and so would always consider that.
well, my mum had SAD too, and CBT helped her a lot 🙂
Well i have to say my 'troubles' are more linked to personal problems than SAD - although SAD does have an impact,
I came extremely close to hanging myself last week. No drama meant, that just how close i came to being a ****t.
It's not an easy thing to admit & i am grateful to my friends for pulling me through this crap.
Think on people.