I've definitely experienced this in the past year or two as I've been exercising a lot less than I was in years past. Fall, Winter and Spring used to be marathon training seasons for me but I haven't run but one half marathon in the past 20 months.
Last winter I got very depressed and had most of the symptoms you've listed above. I knew I needed to start exercising more but I just couldn't snap out of it and I resorted to other means of trying to be happy which weren't so healthy.
But now that the weather where I live is cooling off I've started running 3 miles / day on my lunch breaks and I've had more energy and been a little bit happier in general. It doesn't take but a couple of weeks of consistent exercise to notice a big difference.
I've always taken vitamins and eaten pretty healthy but running is the key to me not being depressed. Especially in the winter time.
In parts of Alaska, alcohol is not sold Mid winter. With the "day" in the northernmost parts looking more like a couple hours of dusk, suicide and alcohol poisoning became high. So they outlawed it.
Good you recognized it, and took the necessary steps! Well done :)
Are the days there ever so bad that you cannot run? If so, what do you do then?
There are never days when I physically can't run...but my brain is what prevents me from running some days. It can always find an excuse not to.
On the days when I've planned on running (3-4 days per week) when I don't feel like it sometimes I go home after work and drink and think about how much I hate my job lol...or sit around and watch TV and zone out. Not healthy ways of dealing with stress at all.
I'm trying to break myself of this habit by making detailed plans for every day of the week. That's how I usually manage to stick to it.
Well, I was thinking inclement weather. No matter where you are there can be a bad day ;)
I'm guilty of veg days too. Sometimes they are necessary. But if you find yourself taking too many of them, then you gotta reevaluate, lol.
The detailed planning is a great idea.