Well I'm nursing a zit on my forehead the size of a 2" gum ball. Why I wonder? The thing here is there are 365 days in a year - I suspect this zit will pass , as will you're blues if you're patient and continue to apply life zit cream.

Cyclothymic Disorder?? When everything is good, it's great but when everything is bad, it's sh*ite. Might I recommend a program called "All in the Mind" from ABC (Australia). It's f'n brilliant and helped shine a light on loads. Hope it helps!

Cheers

After 20+ years of suffering I finally got the help I needed and then...committed to it. It's a hard row to hoe. Decide you are worth the trouble. Mental illness is a health issue. Lose the shame and reach out to a trained mental health professional. Often that is not your GP, btw. Good luck.

SO many people understand how you feel - so many people are going through this right now, me included. Feeling like your bed and unconsciousness is the best it's going to get - it's the worst. It's time to see your doctor. This is the worst time of year, especially when you realize how long it is until the sun gets back. Something in you is saying, hey, this isn't right, I'm not living the way I need to be. You have to honour that voice. Whether it's exercise or medication or meditation or hot baths or fake sun or re-evaluating your choices, the first thing you can do is get to a doctor. Get a thyroid test. Communicate your feelings. You might cry. Get a referral to a counselor. You are not alone. You are not alone. So many people would be so miserable and concerned if they knew how you were feeling. Give them an opportunity to be awesome and tell them. You're not alone and there is no shame in what you're feeling. Writing this was a good first step. You can do it.

Well my back's been killing me for month...if you have your physical health take pride in that and at least be a little happy.

I have officially diagnosed and medicated depression, and I notice that my symptoms get worse as the weather gets cold and rainy, and the days get shorter. I grew up in Alberta, which is cold as fuck in the winter, but was usually also sunny. Vancouver is a bad combination of dark black dismal rain for months.

Point is. You may not have clinical depression, but I don't think the timing is a coincidence. And it only gets nastier from late November through to February. It's a good idea to go seek some help now, just in case.

You are seriously comparing a mood disorder to a zit? Really? You're not trolling? Damn, that's some cold shit. Grow some awareness and sensitivity.

And hey OP -- I too feel the looming darkness. You've reached out to us here and many of us empathize with you because we are fighting the same/similar fight. I've been listening to a lot of dharma lessons (dharmaseed.org for free talks) and swimming then sauna feels good right now. Reach out again to a someone who can support you through this time. Remember: sometimes our minds lie to us.

I've been to 15 different doctors or different kinds, I've done all kinds of therapies, I've been on a multitude of medications, I've changed my scenery, my outlook, my diet. I've come to accept that periodically, it's all going to go to shit. I find it easier just to fall apart and hope I can pick the pieces back up after.. And if not.. I guess start something new.