Can depression be seasonal?

[Sir Suomi]

Well, I don't know for sure if I have depression or not. But it seems like that during the late fall and then through winter, I'll have more moments of what I would consider depression. It'll just feel like a black hole inside me, sucking in all the fun in my life. It's never gotten too severe, and most times it'll only last a few minutes, although there have been a few times where it's lasted for a few days. So I'm wondering, can depressing thoughts become more frequent during different seasons? And also, on a side note, do you think I've maybe got a minor case of depression, or is it just hormones?

[Gigablue]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002499/ (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

I don't really know if you have it, but you should probably talk to your doctor if this interferes with your life negatively.

[LouBerry]

Well, it's proven that serious forms of depression come in shifts. 6 or so months of serious depression, 6 of none. So it could be that your depression cycle falls during the same time every year.

[workingatperfect]

Yep, depression can definitely be seasonal, it's most common in the winter. I get it in the summer a lot, sucks. You should talk to a doctor or maybe think about counseling if it's getting too bad.

[Lost in the Echo]

Yeah, I think so. From time to time, I think everybody gets seasonal depression.

I actually am the opposite though, for some reason the fall/winter months are my favorite times of the year, but I feel a little depressed during the spring/summer months.

As for your question about depression, no I don't think you have it.
You're probably just going through seasonal depression, just a minor case of it through, it seems.

[StoneRose]

I get much more depressed in the winter months. Everything about my mood changes, I have depression to some extent all year round, but its much more serious during the winter.

[Elvalight]

I tend to feel nostalgic around late Summer and for some reason, around Winter, sometimes. It all depends on how it looks outside. If u wanna talk, I had a MAJOR case of depression a year ago :( I know how it feels.

[StoneRose]

I tend to feel nostalgic around late Summer and for some reason, around Winter, sometimes. It all depends on how it looks outside. If u wanna talk, I had a MAJOR case of depression a year ago :( I know how it feels.
I know what you mean by that nostalgic late summer feel. Hits you hard sometimes.

[Sephtyan]

Depression during fall and winter seasons is actually likely a physical reaction and not a mental one!
SAD [Seasonal affective disorder]
http://seasonal-affective-disorder.com/

I know about this because my step father has it! He's an absolute asshole when fall and winter comes around due to getting less sunlight. Getting depressed due to those seasons is possibly caused by the decreased amount of sun you're getting, through shorter days and cloud cover. I'm not 100% on the medical aspect of everything, but I know it's due to a chemical imbalance being caused in the brain because of a lack of vitamin D from sunlight.

Be outside more and hopefully you'll be able to soak up more light!

[Sir Suomi]

I know what you mean by that nostalgic late summer feel. Hits you hard sometimes.

For me, it's almost like a thing where everything should be happy and good, and then all of a sudden it just feels like a black hole is inside me, sucking out all the happiness out of my, and I'm thinking, "Why am I not happy". But I normally just cover it up, continue to smile and joke around, and just soldier through it. You know what I'm saying?

[Bethany]

For me, it's almost like a thing where everything should be happy and good, and then all of a sudden it just feels like a black hole is inside me, sucking out all the happiness out of my, and I'm thinking, "Why am I not happy". But I normally just cover it up, continue to smile and joke around, and just soldier through it. You know what I'm saying?

This ^ This is me. I have these really rather predictable depressed periods in mid-late summer, and, ugh, it's a miserable monthish period. It always feels like, "what do I have to be so depressed about right now? Why is it so amazingly difficult to choke out laughter? Why am I such a dysfunctional person?" I also just kind of suck it up, but...man, it's hard, and I always feel so alone.

[AkuRokuStalker]

I recomend talking to your doctor about possibly being Bi-polar.

[Sir Suomi]

This ^ This is me. I have these really rather predictable depressed periods in mid-late summer, and, ugh, it's a miserable monthish period. It always feels like, "what do I have to be so depressed about right now? Why is it so amazingly difficult to choke out laughter? Why am I such a dysfunctional person?" I also just kind of suck it up, but...man, it's hard, and I always feel so alone.

I know. But I think I'm getting through it now. I've only had one really low spot lately, and that passed after a few hours. I think as long as I stay concentrated on sports, it helps me clear my mind about depressing thoughts.