Hey,
I live up in the north and have seasonal affective depression which kicks in around September - March. The days get shorter and darker and cloudier and my mood and energy hit all-time lows. I take antidepressants, Vitamin D and use sun therapy lights. But they only improve a little. As soon as the day ends around 3 pm I instantly get tired, depressed with no energy to deal with music production etc.
I realised I'm the most productive from May-August. And could not imagine doing music full-time with seasonal affective depression.
Anyone else and how do you deal with it?
Seasonal Affective Depression and music production. How do you deal with it?
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- addled muppet weed
- 111294 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
it's grim up north.
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- KVRAF
- 11950 posts since 31 Aug, 2013 from Someplace else
It's grim here in Nov/December. I've suffered from SAD since my late 20's, though. I take vitamine D, a minimal dose of Sertraline, leave off alcohol completely. That's an important one. It's a depressant. And I count my blessings.
“The Generals sat, and the lines on the map, moved from side to side.”
― Pink Floyd
― Pink Floyd
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- KVRAF
- 8074 posts since 9 Jan, 2003 from Saint Louis MO
I don't have regular SAD, kind of the opposite -- bright direct sunlight and heat are anxiety triggers for me. I've had depressive periods in my life for sure though.
As far as music goes, the best thing I ever did for myself was commit to recording a track every week for a year and posting it on my blog. It was kind of a chore at first but eventually things got unstuck and I was recording more like three a week and jamming in between. I didn't set any expectations of what kind of music I was going to record, so sometimes it was beat-driven stuff, sometimes experiments, sometimes more ambient music.
Not only did the discipline of doing that help make the creative flow easier and challenge me to do new things each time, I think it helped to fight off depression. And having recorded a ton of music, I could go back and listen to it later, and figure out what kinds of things were working well and what didn't. Some music is fun to make at the time but not great to listen to, but I found the intersection where I enjoy both the process and the result.
As far as music goes, the best thing I ever did for myself was commit to recording a track every week for a year and posting it on my blog. It was kind of a chore at first but eventually things got unstuck and I was recording more like three a week and jamming in between. I didn't set any expectations of what kind of music I was going to record, so sometimes it was beat-driven stuff, sometimes experiments, sometimes more ambient music.
Not only did the discipline of doing that help make the creative flow easier and challenge me to do new things each time, I think it helped to fight off depression. And having recorded a ton of music, I could go back and listen to it later, and figure out what kinds of things were working well and what didn't. Some music is fun to make at the time but not great to listen to, but I found the intersection where I enjoy both the process and the result.
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- addled muppet weed
- 111294 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
i think an actual instrument, be it guitar, trombone or a wall of modular, something tactile, is essential.
inputting notes in to a host, with a mouse, you can't lose yourself in it so easy. where you get to a point you can just play for fun, no expectations of a finished product.
as foosnark says, it helps to just do it, till it becomes natural to you. and at the end, while having no products, you will have ideas and the skills to get them down when you want to.
but don't be discouraged, tomorrow is a new day, and we try again
inputting notes in to a host, with a mouse, you can't lose yourself in it so easy. where you get to a point you can just play for fun, no expectations of a finished product.
as foosnark says, it helps to just do it, till it becomes natural to you. and at the end, while having no products, you will have ideas and the skills to get them down when you want to.
but don't be discouraged, tomorrow is a new day, and we try again
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- addled muppet weed
- 111294 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
7th on the list!Bombadil wrote: Tue Dec 28, 2021 3:59 pm It's grim here in Nov/December. I've suffered from SAD since my late 20's, though. I take vitamine D, a minimal dose of Sertraline, leave off alcohol completely. That's an important one. It's a depressant. And I count my blessings.
ive lived in number 6 and a few others
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- KVRian
- 545 posts since 17 Sep, 2020
If you're having difficulty with it, and it's actually affecting your life, then I'd say seek professional help.
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- KVRAF
- 2514 posts since 28 Sep, 2012
I end up making better music.
But to keep positivity, I exercise. Primarily swimming and bodyweight strength training, with some flexibility and mobility as well. I also avoid alcohol and comfort foods.
But to keep positivity, I exercise. Primarily swimming and bodyweight strength training, with some flexibility and mobility as well. I also avoid alcohol and comfort foods.
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- KVRAF
- 26033 posts since 20 Oct, 2007 from gonesville
only since a certain stage in the climate change has where I've lived since 1980 (with two brief exceptions) has it been winter cold.
I do remember Cincinnati, in an historically brutal winter, had me about completely out of bidness, because it was literally stifling in terms of basic mobility. I wasn't writing music then so I was a different person. Today the only thing worth doing is quite worth doing, to the exclusion of the dumb shit completely. I think I've had a situational version of that because it rained all winter.
But get strong, get ready for nuclear winter and all that Happy New Year
I do remember Cincinnati, in an historically brutal winter, had me about completely out of bidness, because it was literally stifling in terms of basic mobility. I wasn't writing music then so I was a different person. Today the only thing worth doing is quite worth doing, to the exclusion of the dumb shit completely. I think I've had a situational version of that because it rained all winter.
But get strong, get ready for nuclear winter and all that
Happy New Year-
thecontrolcentre thecontrolcentre https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=76240 - KVRAF
- 37262 posts since 27 Jul, 2005 from Scottish Borders
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- KVRian
- 503 posts since 24 Nov, 2008
I might give Sam-e a try. It can't be taken with an antidepressant ...
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- KVRAF
- 2514 posts since 28 Sep, 2012
Lol, I live in Cincinnati.jancivil wrote: Thu Dec 30, 2021 1:19 am only since a certain stage in the climate change has where I've lived since 1980 (with two brief exceptions) has it been winter cold.
I do remember Cincinnati, in an historically brutal winter, had me about completely out of bidness, because it was literally stifling in terms of basic mobility. I wasn't writing music then so I was a different person. Today the only thing worth doing is quite worth doing, to the exclusion of the dumb shit completely. I think I've had a situational version of that because it rained all winter.
But get strong, get ready for nuclear winter and all that