Thank you Don. I do walk every day with Daisy Dog. I do isolate myself. Well, actually, I have zero interaction with people for days on end. It’s the main reason I joined this group.
Jan, I had post-partum depression after my second son was born. It's a deep, dark place. I wouldn't want to go there again. I had never heard of post-partum depression. I just thought I was crazy. I was afraid to tell anybody because I thought they would just lock me away and my children needed me. After about three months, I woke up one morning and the sun was shining. The birds were singing. All was right with the world again. I learned that post-partum depression is self-limiting. I don't have any advice to offer. I wish I did. I just want you to know that I understand. I hope the sun will shine and the birds will sing for you again.
I read at least one study that showed post-partum depression may be linked to thyroid function @Shirley Martin. During pregnancy, the thyroid apparently decreased output due (maybe) to the output of the child. After delivery, thyroid function should return to "normal" within two weeks. If it doesn't, depression can develop. Some OBs are monitoring T4 levels post partum now. That could be something you could check out as well, @Jan Ahlmann. Especially if it is a new development or has been ongoing since menopause--when all the hormones in a woman's body switch gears.
I forgot to mention that I get a bit down in the cold dark winter, and vitamin B-100 supplement helps.
In Alaska isn’t the “cold dark winter” from August 1st thru June 30th? Thank you, Don, for your kindness and suggestions. I’m a lot better today, mainly because the sun is finally shining! I use a SAD light, but there is no substitute for the sun!
Not quite that long, but long enough. Alaska is BIG, and most Americans are not aware how big it is--about 1/5 of the rest of the U.S. with more shoreline than the entire Lower 48, so the seasons are not the same throughout the entire state. Here it is cool generally from around September to May. Most years snow is on the ground from October through April, but every year is a bit different. The darkness also is different around the state. Barrow/ Utqiagvik is dark from around mid-November until early February I believe--no sunrise at all. Here we get down to 4 1/2 hour days this time of year, but it will slowly gain and accelerate the daylight gain as spring progresses. Most of our suicides occur in March as the light gain accelerates, supposedly because your body clock can't compensate, but I have the hardest time around Thanksgiving, so it is a good time to plan a trip elsewhere.
Turns out Daisy the Dog is correct, our black cats are evil! Hannah threw-up in one of my shoes yesterday, an entire condo, and she picks the shoe. Her evil sister, Hope(less), bit me last night. Thankfully, she didn't sink her teeth all the way in or I'd have been in the ER. (I learned the hard way about 20 years ago that cat bites have to be treated within 24 hours as the wound very easily becomes infected.) Hope has never liked to be picked up, so, over the years, the only time I do is when she has to have her claws clipped or to go to the vet, which is only once a year. Last time I clipped her claws was at the vet in September. She was way past due and she scratched me yesterday, so it was time. I tried to scruff her and she bit, but, undeterred, I got her and she got her claws clipped and she got brushed. I know it's hard to believe, but she actually survived! She got extra treats and must have forgiven me because she climbed into my bed last night. Up at 3:30 AM, coffee, and a nice walk with Daisy, 1.5 miles. She didn't limp at all and hardly did any knuckling except toward the end. "Knuckling" is a symptom of her degenerative nerve condition. While walking, one of her rear paws will flip under. I can hear it scrape on the sidewalk. It doesn't bother her and now that I know what it is, I don't freak out. My vet has been very good at telling me what to expect, so I don't get to0 anxious. Working on a new quilt today that I hope to finish by February. It's called Exploding Heart checking in here today. Delivery pizza and a shot of bourbon to ring in the New Year, which will be wrung in at around 1PM as I go to bed by 4. Long story.
I have aways known the holidays bring on severe depression, but I really feel the veil lifting this time. Maybe it's because I've been able to share some of my problems here and you've all been so kind. Thank you again! Today, I feel better than I have in a long time. I didn't get very far on my quilt yesterday as I realized at step one that I didn't have the ruler I needed, well, not so much "needed" as would make my life a whole lot easier. I ordered it on Amazon and it will be here on Tuesday. I'll do the other steps that don't require the ruler. My final 2023 book count was 56.