Or snow...does anyone here ever feel that their mood has anything to do with the weather or color of walls or the type of music you listen too? I have come to the conclusion that I hate winter. I woke up this morning and it is raining and gloomy out. I am trying to start my day positive this morning but I am thinking that my surroundings have at least a little to do with my mood. I can't wait for sunshine. I am going to try and be the most positive that I've been since starting the program and I want to hit that goal today! Anyway I would like to get others opinions on this topic. Thanks for sharing! ~Flutterby

Flutterby-Yes, I think the winter has something to do with our moods. I was tempted to buy one of the "Happy Lights" for SAD (seasonal affective disorder). They're pretty expensive so I had to pass. Kind of wishing I had a happy light today. I'm in mid MO so in the last few days the weather has gone from 70, to 10. From sunny, to 6 inches of snow to thunder storms today. Talk about mixed up! It is hard to motivate oneself to be positive or to find a positive goal for the day. I think we may be doing right now. Reach out and touch someone. See ya--Think sunshine thoughts. Carol-flounder no more

Carol,
Thanks for your reply. I started this day out with a goal of being as positive as possible despite the rain. It must have worked! I feel successful tonight! I went to an annual bowling event today and thought "I am not going to worry about anything, I am here to have fun!" I did have fun. I actually won first place for women in this event. My dad won second for men. I am feeling better today than I have for quite some time. I actually bowled on league for the last 4 years and I had to quit this year because of a cyst on the tendon in my thumb. I have been very bummed out about that. I initally was not going to participate in this event because of it but I decided to give it a try anyway...and I won! I do have a very sore and swollen thumb now though. I do not want to dwell on that. The rain is still coming down here in Iowa tonight. I am going to really concentrate on this positivity thing. Sometimes it is easier on the weekends than the work week though. Thanks once again. Have a great weekend!!
~Flutterby

Hi flutterby,

I try to make the most of each Season. I love dark, gloomy, rainy days as much as I enjoy a bright, sunny, warm day On the dark, gloomy, rainy days I turn on some of my favorite CD's, clean, and bake and I sleep in as that is good sleeping weather I used to get depressed about days as such...but overtime I realized I have no control over the weather, so I just go with whatever it is doing outside. I still get scared w/thunderstorms, tornado warnings, and high winds, but I am working on that. I am trying to just tell myself that it is ok to be scared of such severe weather, and that the only three things I can do is to stay informed, take shelter if necessary, and let go and let God. I am trying to get out of the obsessive pattern I put myself in when such weather occurs {we just had a high wind episode in Ohio from Sat. afternoon to Sunday night...ugh...that was hard as I chose to react very negatively}.

I think it is all about attitude and how we chose to react to whatever the day will bring

Have a nice day

~Angel

[This message has been edited by Angel (edited 02-26-2001).]

Hi Flutterby, oh how I can relate to this! I am having such a hard time this winter. I too am from Missouri.(hi Flounder) It has been so cold. I had an episode with anxiety about four years ago. Panic attacks came out of nowhere. It was a very cold and nasty winter. I was on medication for two years and off for two. I was great until the Thurs. before Christmas. My attacks came back with a vengence. This time I'm having all sorts of problems. Depression, sometimes anger, worry and fear a lot.

Now here's the kicker. I have been in Louisiana for about three days and I have been pretty good. I still worry. (but that's what I do, it's my favorite hobby)but I have felt so much better. To have the sunshine on my face and smell the green grass. Oh it's heaven. I asked my husband if we can stay down here until it gets warm at home. He didn't go for it.

I don't know why this happened. I used to love winter. Now I panic at the thought of another cold day. I also used to tan throughout the year. Both times I have had attacks surface I have not tanned throughout the winter. I'm trying to lay off that to save my skin but, what about my mental health. Does anyone else find that this helps them? I also considered one of those lights but I don't know what they do.

I think that we will find that this will be talked about more and more as time goes by. I'm pretty sure my dad has had this for a long time. He's a whole different person in the winter. Maybe there's something to the heredity thing.

Angel, I am the same way about severe weather. I am an absolute scardy cat about it. I think I will be worse this year than before just because of how I am feeling. Get this- Although I'm not even home the weather man said that there was a good chance for severe weather around my house. He even highlighted a section right around my area. I spent half the day Sat. worrying that the house would get hit by lightning or would be blown away by a tornado. Being like this really wears me out. I'm better than I would have been a couple of months ago but admitting this make me realize I still have a lot of work to do.

Only about a month or so till the time change. (if that is in effect where you are.) and soon after that it will be spring. I guess we can just keep thinking about that. I could go on about how I feel about the cold forever but I won't. I do have one question though. When you get cold do you feel any difference in the way your body reacts? Do you get more anxious or worried. I seem to notice that the colder I am or if I get a chill it really effects me and starts a worrying pattern. I don't even know if this makes sense. I just thought that I would ask.

Hope everyone has a nice day and thinks of sunny thoughts.
Vic

Angel,
I get really worked up about severe weather too. We won't have that here for at least another month or so. I'm not sure how I will react to it. I need to change my thinking as my girls are starting to get as bad as I am during bad weather.Thanks for your reply.~Flutterby

Vic,
This winter has been so long. I am in Iowa. We get a variety here! As far as your questions about noticing how your body reacts in cold...I used to be cold all of the time...but I was also very alert. During the past few weeks I have developed spaciness and feelings of unreality. I have been having hot and cold flashes. I actually almost welcome the cold (not cold weather). My husband has been complaining as I shut the register in our bedroom, turned down the heat in the waterbed and have the fan on. I throw all of the covers off as well. I feel smothered if the air temperature gets too warm. I feel better able to breathe with cool air and I feel more alert. This is a huge battle with my husband and I right now. I am considering sleeping downstairs. I am going to address this with my Dr. tomorrow at the request of my husband. I will let you know if he has anything worthwhile to say about it. Thanks for the reply! ~Flutterby

Hello,

Flutterby:

I can so relate to the cold air and the warmth being too uncomfortable. I drive around with my a/c on in my car...in the winter! Yikes! My husband complains big time, but I love to be COLD I am so much calmer when I am cold verses warm. For some reason, when it is too warm in a store, or in my home, or at a family members/friends home...I get really anxious. My parents turn their heat off when I am on my way over for a visit-God Bless them for trying to keep me comfortable My poor Mom puts on a sweater and a blanket...but I am calm over there now so she said it is worth it. It makes my Dad happy too as he has anxiety and he loves it cold. I keep the house at 60-65 degress in the winter...and we don't have the best windows so w/the draft that comes in...it is nice and cold in here. Our register is closed in our bedroom too...and I use a plain light sheet as my blanket. If it is too warm in the store...I leave. Tonight we went grocery shopping and they had the air on...AHHH...pure bliss in there My husband's teeth were chattering...poor man, but I was as happy as ever and I could have shopped til' I dropped. I think the temperature does affect our anxiety level, and I don't know why, but I live it too and I can say it certainly does to me too.

I am sure glad I am not alone on this one

Take care

~Angel

[This message has been edited by Angel (edited 02-26-2001).]

Angel,
I had to LOL when reading your response!! I am glad that I am not the only one!! You are so caring talking about your mother, father and husband. You are lucky to have people that will do things like that for you! I look forward to hearing more from you to brighten my day! ~Flutterby

Flutterby,
Yes Sat. (2-24) was a gloomy one wasn't it?! Hated it...felt anxious, no energy and moody. (From IA also) I am MUCH more comfortable cooler also, but this winter has been a b$%#@ for me. We have gotten spoiled the past few winters and boy have I felt it this year!! A real slap in the face to say the least. Our heat is always down in the winter and a/c is also down during the summer. People always tease me about how "cold" my house is. Gotta be cool, gotta be cool!! This temp. thing is a war at times between MY hubby and I too. We have 2 daughters and one has his thermostat and one has mine. Gets ugly around here sometimes! LOL I hate winter also! Not REAL crazy about spring either tho'...having a dog, cat and two kids, mud, mud, mud!! Can't wait for spring this year!

You mentioned a bowling tournament you were in...where at? I used to bowl also but I have tendonitis in my middle finger lol and a pinched rotater cuff in my shoulder. (This 40 thing sucks!) My 2 girls league bowl, and are quite good I might add.

Well, hang in there, spring isn't far off.
Chins up! Mick

Mick40,
I also have 2 daughters. I think that they both have their dad's thermostat. Mine has been fluxuating lately. During the day I am cold and wear a sweater and at night I am boiling hot. I don't know yet what this is all about.

The bowling tournament was in Cedar Rapids. I don't travel around much for the tournaments now that I had to quit bowling this year. I don't go much at all. Bowling was the last fun thing that I had left and I had to quit due to a cyst on my thumb. After not bowling for about 6 weeks I agreed to try this. I did it and I won but my thumb was swollen and sore. I won't be able to do that again for awhile. I don't know if surgery would help or not. I don't want to go through all of that and then start bowling again and find out that the cyst was caused from bowling and then it is just going to keep coming back. Bowling is the only thing that it affects. I just don't know if it is worth it or not. Boy I am a talker tonight. I haven't posted for a couple of days. I guess that I am making up for lost time tonight. Oh well. Talk to ya later. ~Flutterby