[Yorio]

Do you believe in Sun Deficiency Syndrome? My wife says that when the weather turns colder up north, I get grouchy, fall silent, and hide behind books. I think it's because I can't play tennis outdoors or play golf more often. My hearts do light up when the days come closer to departure to TV. She likes me better in TV. What think? Is there such a thing as SDS?

[CaptJohn]

i think there is something to it. I've not lived up north but on cloudy days around here I simply do not feel as bright or perky. I would hate to spend a whole winter that way.

[pooh]

There is indeed.....it's known as SAD...Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) - MayoClinic.com

[Patty55]

Whoa, I thought this thread was about Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), my answer would have been ... Not so much anymore.

Sun deprivation? I've experienced it. Before I moved here I lived for a short time upstate NY. In the winter I got so depressed that I actually saw colors muted, kind of like living in a black and white movie.

[NotGolfer]

Yes! I think while living up north I had a tinge of it...though not to an extreme. My daughter has it as well as several friends of mine. I have 2 friends who bought the special lamp to sit under (you do it for a certain lenght of time). One friend built a house facing South with LOTS of windows to get more natural light.

I had never thought about it before someone pointed out to me that passive solar homes that were a rage back in the 70's and 80's didn't work as well in the northern states as in the winter the sun is generally under clouds much of the time. I took note and she was correct in this. Days are short and grey thus making folks a bit "blue".

[applesoffh]

Absolutely true...the grey winters of NYC were very depressing to me. Glad to be here in the sunshine!

[jblum315]

It's actually the lack of light, not necessarily sunlight. Days are shorter in winter and many people suffer from seasonal depression.

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by Yorio

Do you believe in Sun Deficiency Syndrome? My wife says that when the weather turns colder up north, I get grouchy, fall silent, and hide behind books. I think it's because I can't play tennis outdoors or play golf more often. My hearts do light up when the days come closer to departure to TV. She likes me better in TV. What think? Is there such a thing as SDS?

There is such a thing as "Sun Deficiency Syndrome". Whether or not you actually have it is the question. Don't let someone else tell you what you have; go by how you feel.

If your heart lights up when you think about TV maybe you are suffering from "Fun Deficiency Syndrome".

Do you take a vitamin D3 supplement? Have you ever had your doctor check your D3 blood level? As we age, we often need this.

[YouNeverKnow]

I don't know about SDS but I am up in Michigan right now waiting to move to the Villages this summer and with the days already being cold, dark, and rainy I have SMS. (Severe Mole Syndrome!) My eyes are getting smaller and I can only see in the dark! I also have an uncontrollable urge to dig tunnels!
I am hoping to be cured when we move down to TV!

[ugotme]

Not really sure if that is what it is called.

When I lived on Long Island, after a while of dreary, wintry days and not spending a lot of time outdoors I got "the itch" and my mood turned gloomy.

[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by Yorio

Do you believe in Sun Deficiency Syndrome? My wife says that when the weather turns colder up north, I get grouchy, fall silent, and hide behind books. I think it's because I can't play tennis outdoors or play golf more often. My hearts do light up when the days come closer to departure to TV. She likes me better in TV. What think? Is there such a thing as SDS?

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - Causes and Risk Factors



Click the hyperlink above............



For further info, then click the links on the left side......



We know several folks with S.A.D.; diagnosed when young. Also, later diagnosed with BiPolar, etc. Not everyone would be diagnosed with that......but we do know quite a few who have been.


Not to say that everyone would be that extreme.......... Most are helped with the “light” therapy.



As they say in Vermont, if you don’t like the weather.....just wait a day and it changes.


People who are creative and like to do crafts, art work, build things, write, compose, etc.........do fine in the winter months.


Ditto for those who enjoy the winter sports. However , we actually know people who live up here who HATE SNOW.


Hate shoveling and snow blowing.......etc. and they do get extremely depressed during the long dark winter months.



Sunshine definitely makes one feel cheerful...........but I would think extreme heat would make one as uncomfortable as extreme cold.........and constant grey skies. Actually, we've had quite a few of those lately with all the rain......



Luckily, as we get older, the winters seem to pass very quickly........and soon it will be springtime again.

[jojo]

[QUOTE=Patty55;570040]Whoa, I thought this thread was about Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), my answer would have been ... Not so much anymore.

[hotrodgirl]

I used to live in Tonsberg, Norway! In the dead of Winter we had just 3 or 4 hours of daylight, but in mid summer, 22 hrs of sunlight, 2 hrs of twilight! The first year it took some getting used to, but by the second year it didn't affect me too much. People there have various ways of coping and use solar lights. Also they keep busy with winter sports and skiing to one another's homes. Weekends away in the mountains and trips further south. Some cope better than others...

[Ripcord13]

I "suffered" up north with SDS (some delicious sea food) on the coast of Ma and I don't have it here in TV

[Count'n the days]

I do experience SDS and although I live in Houston now where the temps are very mild in the winter, I never see the sunlight when the days are short. I'm at work before the sun comes up and it is well on the way to setting by the time I get home. I'm down to 13 work days to retirement and we'll be on our way to our new home in TV. Hopefully, I'll make the time to get out every day and get my vitamin D naturally.