Bipolar and weather

[wolf63]

I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder 10 years ago. I have noticed over the past years how much the weather seems to affect/effect my mood. Winds and other high pressures make me anxious and depressed. I also seem to suffer from SAD. Does anyone else have these problems ? Can I do anything? Is anywhere in the country safe to live in? It is enough to drive you nuts.

[sense4all]

There has to be credence to your theory - don't the French lose the plot during the Mistral, I even think Peter Mayle might mention it in a year in Provence.My best friend is a teacher and she despises going to work when it's windy she reckons it makes the kids unpredicable and barely managable.You could treat yourself to a light box to help with the SAD, but you're probably just going tohave to endure the high pressure periods.

[netibiza]

When I was a kindergarden teacher, it was well noted that high winds would affect the children, making them extremely over active and nervous.

[malaise]

Hi Wolf. I also suffer from SAD, and bizarrely I find that high atmospheric pressure brings on migraines for me! Additionally, some of the poeple I work with suffer more epileptic seizures when the weather is clammy and thundery, so there's definitely a lot of support for your theory. Also, as soon as the sun comes out and is shining down on my face, my heart does a wee leap of joy, and everything feels OK for a while. x

[noxlumos]

Yeah you are totally right. I'm depressive if the weather is bad, windy in particular and barometric pressure really has an effect on how I feel and also migraines funnily enough malaise. We run a racehorse resuce and notice the horses are appallingly difficult in windy wather so it extends to the animal world as well.

[Nelson100]

Have you seen www.mdf.org.uk the Manic Depression Fellowship they are there for support and a very good website for bipolar.They maybe able to help answer your question. Good luck!

[wolf63]

Nelson - thanks. I actually send out newsletters for our local Bipolar branch, but never really thought to try the web page of MDF, or in my case MDF Scotland, for help.

I am feeling incredibly well just now, just bouncing along in my "safe zone". Live is good and I am enjoying it.

[lynda44]

Hi wolf63
I have the disorder as well, for about 10 years diagnosed. i don't notice a great change in my moods sorry. I do notice though that if it is gloomy out i feel gloomy but over all i am not brought into any sever depression. the sun also has some happy effects but not anything too noticable. I live in a place that has lots of winter time and sun, so I don't really know to much about this. i did however read an article saying that a blue light is often found to help bipolar people. Maybe that would help you.

[Eve]

The weather really affects me, I have menieres disease and the pressure affects my ears which makes me miserable and ratty as it drives me mad and makes it so much harder to hear and i become much more anti social as it's so much harder to follow conversations, talk on the phone or be anywhere noisy and such.

I also get the big time dizzies so end up bumping into things, dropping things and generally behaving like a clutz.

[wolf63]

I am sitting under my SAD light bulb trying to build up some Christmas spirit so that I can travel for 6 hours on Saturday to have Christmas with my brother's family.

I think that this time of year is bad for everybody, but when you have an underlying medical condition it can become worse.

Jenna1978 mentions meniere's disease, most of us will have no idea what that is or what the everyday effects of many of the diseases we hear about everyday actually mean to the quality of a person's life.

We hear about all the people, celebrities usually, who have had a short but severe illness that may/may not have been life threatening.

But to struggle on day after day with any chronic illness, mental or physical takes a lot of strength of character.

Gosh - aren't I going to be a bundle of fun at Christmas!

Good wishes for everybody over the festive period, two weeks from now normal service will have resumed!