I dread it more every year too I feel the same that once the first snow is here I will relax ? And hopefully settle in with It although I still won't like it! :)

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a very real condition. It's a recognized form of depression. I'm sorry you struggle Moonie. So sorry about the birds which brought you joy.

I hate winter also. I cannot stand to be cold. Cold for me is anything in the low 6Os or below. When other people are wearing sweaters I am in a jacket. When others are in jackets I am dressed for the snow. LOL I get through our "mild" winters by counting the days to spring. I just keep telling myself one more month, it's only 12 weeks. LOL For some odd reason I don't mind the snow, at least to visit or the ice arena where I can work up a sweat.

I have set goals for myself this year forcing me to do try to keep to a regular routine so I won't enter what I call hibernation mode. I committed to weekly horseback lessons that will take place whatever the weather since they include groundwork. I am making a financial commitment by paying ahead. That in turn will encourage me to become more fit which may lead to walking more, skating or even biking. Hopefully that will lead to a healthier, fitter me who won't meet Spring regretting the days wasted during winter, gaining weight and sleeping way too much. See where I'm going? I plan to stay too busy to fret over how miserable I feel during the season.

Last winter I was also plagued with a lot of vertigo attacks due to my messed up ears. This year I hope to abort some of that with my above plan which begins this Monday.

Moonie, I don’t have SAD and don’t know what exactly causes it but I have suffered from depression off and on over the years. Since often times the underlying cause is hormonal related, I’m wondering if you’ve consulted with your physician yet? Maybe there are things you can do on your own to help ease the symptoms and/or there’s an anti depressant that can help.

Also, I realize for some this is hard to do or even impossible, but is moving to a place where the seasons are less severe an option?

We’re both bird lovers, it’s understandable why you’re upset over loosing them, I would be too, and in all honesty, you were probably much more kind to your neighbor than I would have been. Who cares if he’s offended that you spoke to him about it, if the cat is coming into your yard and killing birds you love, then you did the right thing and he needs to take resonsibility for his cat. (((Hugs)))

In past posts, I think I have seen your feeder setup on a shed roof. That location is too easy for kitty to access and pounce. You could offer a bit more security for the feeding birdies if the feeder was mounted on a round metal post. That makes it more difficult for a cat to surprise a feeding bird. The cat has to first climb a slippery post to get at the feeding tray. However, the birds will still be fair game when foraging on the ground for dropped seeds, and there will be some. Adding a squirrel guard on the post about 1 ft below the feeder will add additional protection and reduce pilferage of the bird food by other animals.

I actually like winter but my daughter and son both hate it and she gets SAD. But I suffer from depression/anxiety because of the all the sadness I read about and watch on TV and online. Cruelty to animals and children really get to me. I would be very pissed at the neighbor who can't control his cat. I love cats...have three the lowest number in years, but also love birds and would never let my cats stalk my beautiful cardinals and chickadees. None ever leave the house .

Yes it wrecks havoc on me in many ways including a lot of pain. Changes like that are terrible. The cold hurts. I have not been on as much either because of that. My hands are in bad shape. I have braces on just to be able to hold my tablet. I try not to get too out of sorts with people but my husband has felt it lately.

You are not alone. Let it out it helps lol.

I love winter and I hate sitting around the house so my grandson and I have scheduled 4 ice fishing weekends in northern Ohio and Canada. I don't care if we catch a fish, it's not about fishing.

I am so sorry about your low spirits and hope that you can find something that makes you feel better. I have heard that those who actually have SAD are sometimes helped by special lighting.

As far as your neighbor, I'm wondering whether his response to your reasonable questions might mean that he is suffering from a situation similar to yours but is expressing it differently.

One of my pleasures was watching the birds at the feeders. Several years ago I stopped as there was a large orange cat visiting my yard. I haven't seen the cat lately, so am thinking of setting up the feeders again. When one suffers from sad, that one little thing can make a huge difference.

Irma, set it up again. What about music? It can have such an emotional effect. Maybe good music you like.

Do those lights work for SAD, or too much of a bother? My daughter and mother have SAD. I don't know if I do, or just hate Kansas winters.

Yes, the lights work. Not expensive to try light therapy either.

DH and I have lived in Chicago suburbs area all of our lives. We are seeing very real Climate Change. It's upsetting, even if it has not resulted in severe weather events, as it has in other parts of the US -- and around the world.

Then we also have the whole political problem and enormous social and economic change.

Who wouldn't feel 'on edge', even without any personal or family worries?

I was just talking to a friend who was complaining about the cold. Cold weather is tough on old bones. The good news, we live in Virginia. It does get cold here, but freezing cold is rare and not lasting. I was wondering about how all my friends in really cold climate fare. My DD loves cold weather. Me, I can deal with a cold snap, appreciate it, but love it when it's over. I'm sorry about your birds but it's very difficult to control cats. I was lucky, I had an indoor, outdoor cat that pretty much stayed in our yard and was not a hunter. She was not a cat that stayed out all night. Unfortunately, I think that's rare.

It's a known fact that pet cats should be kept indoors at all times and not allowed outside for their own sake as well as for the sake of the birds and bird lovers. The depth of care for one's pet can be questioned if kitties are allowed to roam.

I agree, (and I keep my kitty indoors) but since the OP also had outside kitties in the past, it might be difficult to present that idea to the neighbor.

I hate winter....which most would take as a joke since we have so little of it here. January and February are cold and wet and muddy, out in the country where I live. I have to go out at least twice a day to feed the horses, but if not for that, I would be huddled by the heater, so I guess it is a good thing that I have to go out.

I am sorry about your birds. I am also sorry about your neighbor's attitude. I have come to the conclusion that some people you just can't get along with, but being a neighbor, that makes it worse. It is awful to live next to someone you can't get along with. I have a neighbor like that. She got mad at me because I filed charges against her son when he almost shot me. Actually, it happened twice and the first time I didn't press charges, just had the deputy go talk to him about it. She accused me of lying and making it up. She became completely unwound and had a melt down. She said, "Marilyn, you are an ugly, ugly woman." I found that amusing and told her, "Well, there have to be some ugly women like me, so beautiful women like you would have someone to compare yourselves to."

Her son has lots of problems....on meth, threatened to kill himself, threw her down the stairs, left his new truck sitting on the railroad tracks....got hit by a train,....but can't be careless with a rifle and almost shot the neighbor. Nope. Nope. Nope.

I hope your neighbor will get over it but if he doesn't....just accept some people you can't get along with, no matter what.

Hope you feel better soon...and again, I am so sorry about your birds.

I understand the hatred of winter. Try living in northern Wisconsin! It really sucks. We started winter in October this year. If I didn't have a job I loved.... Also, really understand about the birdies. They are such a delight to watch, and it sounds like they became "family" to you. I am not a cat lover, especially feral cats and those allowed to roam. Cats kill BILLIONS of song birds a year. It is well documented.

Moonie, I'm sorry to hear your having these struggles. I think we all have had times that are difficult and we try our best. You may want to pick up some light bulbs that simulate the sun. I have one in my lamp where I read and it makes a great difference. Have you had an all around check up lately, it could be that your body is out of balance like a thyroid problem or even a vitamin deficiency. It's worth while to find out. As for the naughty cat situation, it's in a cats nature to catch birds, they can't help it. I hope you can slow down and try to see the brighter side of life, it's there, just keep looking.

sorry those outdoor cats are giving you so much trouble. It's awful to lose something you're connected to in nature.

DH has SAD. He has to exercise out in the daylight in order to have Improvement on it during the winter. That has made the biggest difference for him. I hope you find a solution to achieving balance in your mood. (((((Moonie))))).

I live in Colorado. I love walking, hiking, but going to Yoga classes or water aerobics in the winter is fine too. Makes me happy!

I agree about cats not roaming. It's also not fair that you have to put up with other peoples pets. Your neighbor should consider walking his cat on a leash if it has to be outdoors. My cat is under "our" bird feeder right now. He's declawed(was that way when we adopted him), the birds are safe. Older cats(already declawed) need to be rescued too.

Aww Moonie. I'm sorry your having such a rough time. Wish I was close to you, I'd invite myself over and act so corny you would laugh the day away.

I'm also sorry this happened to your birds. Wish people would keep their pets in their own yard.

Anyway I have no words of wisdom to make you feel better but I am thinking about you and hoping the winter flys by and brings you sunshine, beautiful birds, and peace. (((MOONIE)))

Sorry you're having weather ... and bird loss problems, Moonie.

Many of the local birds have flocked and headed south. If you lived around here, you might mention coyotes to your neighbour, if he loves his cat, as a friend who had me keep two of his beloved dogs, at different times, for a short time when he was away ... was troubled, as was I, when both disappeared, we figure lost to a coyote/fox.

It's raining some today, here north of Lake Erie ... and they're expecting it to change to snow, later in the day. Sunset has been moving south daily for quite a long time, and is to continue to do so for about another month, before it starts its northern trek again.

Today, en route to the wellness centre (to visit the library here, so that I could "talk" to you), walking in light rain with no umbrella, I asked a lady who was walking a few steps ahead of me, also with no umbrella, whether it'd be O.K. if I shared her umbrella ...

... and we both had a bit of a laugh over that.

ole joyful

I am sorry Moonie you are having a sad time. I always try to think, things could be worse and they could. I do like winter, but now I really do not have to be out in it much at all. There was a time I would go out twice a day at least to take care of animals, but no more. I hope you do feel better soon.

Sue

I also HATE winter weather!...especially when there is a cold wind ... and I am so fearful of falling in the ice and snow. If I could afford to do so and someone to share with, I would go south in the winter months. Today is beautiful!!! so I am enjoying it so much ... we won't have many of those to come.

Moonie, I'm not at my best in Fall or Winter either, and its not the cold for me (I don't think), it's the shorter daylight hours that I'm sensitive to. It can make an actual chemical change in your body, brain. I've talked prescription light boxes with my doctor and haven't done that yet. She did suggest going outside first thing in the morning, looking up facing the direction the sun would be if the sun were shining for several minutes - this is coastal washington, we have a lot of gray mornings. Regular sleep and healthy diet, some exercise....all four of those things seem to help. It's not perfect, but even being told its a recognized physical condition and there are things that can be done to help, even medications, is nice to know...

When I remodeled my kitchen I installed enough lights that I could perform surgery in there. A couple of weeks ago, while looking for replacement light bulbs for those surgery lights, I saw some "old fashioned" LED lights. I thought they looked cool and I would need 3 of them so I thought, OK, these could work. And they do!! Hospital surgery room extraordinaire! Even better than the old surgery lights I had. They're just regular LED lights. Think they might be equivalent to the 60 watt. I often don't even turn on the 2 lights over the sink, that's how bright they are.

My other "trick" is to remember that after Christmas the days will start getting longer again. Between now and then I just have to get by.

Awww, you all are so sweet. Sorry to hear so many of us have to deal with this. I'll catch up here tomorrow.

Laughing about the 'surgery lights'. Each of our MBA sinks has a pair of sconces, which are adequate most of the time. Backup is a hanging fixture with EIGHT up-light bulbs. I bought it for its looks, and it does shed a beautiful glow with the dimmer switch on low. Give it high power, though, and "wheel in the patient"!

You need full spectrum lights (with all the different light you'd get from the sun) to deal with seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Lack of sunlight affects your body's circadian rhythms and certain hormone levels (in some people), causing depression and interrupted sleep cycles. Light therapy works. You have to get the light into your eyes.

My bird feeders are 8 feet high on a wire that is strung between 2 trees. I use a hook and pole to raise and lower the feeder. What eats the birds here are hawks and owls. We see piles of feathers all around. They have to eat, too, I guess, but it's not pleasurable to see.

This is an interesting though involved read. It talks about timing with light therapy and the impacts if you have an illness such as are bipolar. Apparently there is some evidence that an hour outside daily makes a huge difference. I'm outside several hours a day so that doesn't apply to me.

I like the fact that it gets specific like some people need early morning light therapy. And someone who falls asleep with the TV in the early evening may need early evening light therapy. It suggests an interrupted sleep or a half sleep before beginning the light therapy. Interesting to me.

There is evidence that sleep problems are one of the first signs for people with schizophrenia bipolar sad Etc. And apparently the evidence is mounting about that.

http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/articles/light-treatment-nonseasonal-depression

Personally, I enjoy the change of seasons. My biggest problem right now is I've been a night owl again the past few months so I haven't adjusted to the lack of daylight. That'll change soon. For cold, I just turn up the thermostat. Been working on the yard catching up on projects neglected for so many years and it's looking a lot better. May be part of the satisfaction and attitude. Having an extended fall season here helps too. Thanksgiving kind of snuck up without the snow and cold temps. Yeah there's been a tease of each, but temps are running 20-25 degrees above average, it's sure not winter.

Hope you're feeling better soon!