Anyone else suffer from SAD? - Advice

EyeLikeBeer · 09-11-2009, 15:48

Season Affective Disorder. I have suffered with it for 3 years. This time of year is really shitty for me. I am constantly feeling a bit depressed and upset for no reason. I miss the sun. I mean I havent seen the sun for 3 days now

I also find it really hard to get up in the morning as well. Last night, I went to sleep about 12.30am but still today didn't wake up until 11.30am. I just despise this time of year and am feeling a bit poo. So I have decided to buy loads of clothes to cheer me up

Katia Polletin · 09-11-2009, 15:57

I suffer too, along with depression.

I find the 64k / 65k daylight light bulbs help though.

BigBHM · 09-11-2009, 16:43

I do too. I already suffer with depression too, but the last couple of weeks I have gone into a bit of a decline.
It is hard enough to motivate myself to do things and go out at the best of times, but when it is so dark, and especially cold, it just beats me.

I will try to get hold of one of those bulbs, thanks Katia

gallovidian · 09-11-2009, 17:37

Deleted.

gallovidian · 09-11-2009, 17:38

Yep, I'm not keen on the dark winters, and given that I'm in Scotland, they are pretty dark indeed up here. The upside is we get about 18 or 19 hours daylight in the summer - but in winter, meh!

It never bothered me until I went on holiday to Australia a couple of years ago, just around this time of year. We came back from the beautiful sun, blue sky, blue sea and white beaches of Oz, via Dubai, to land at Glasgow airport on a dull November day.

Ever since then I've really started to notice how dark and how awful the light quality is here during the winter months.

cheeks · 09-11-2009, 18:01

I don't suffer from SAD but I don't like this time of year at all.

At least during the winter you start to get more daylight, I'm very happy when we go in to March and the lighter days are imminent......

doughnut8 · 09-11-2009, 19:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katia Polletin

I suffer too, along with depression.

I find the 64k / 65k daylight light bulbs help though.

Do these things work?

I don't suffer from SAD but I think if it works it might put me in a positive state of mind.

Katia Polletin · 09-11-2009, 19:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by doughnut8

Do these things work?

I don't suffer from SAD but I think if it works it might put me in a positive state of mind.

They help me, the ones I use are for replacement of the regular lights in the house, either the old gloomy light bulbs or the gloomy energy saver bulbs, even though the ones I have are energy saving bulbs, they are full spectrum 64 or 65k daylight, so a bright white light not a yellow light.

doughnut8 · 09-11-2009, 19:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katia Polletin

They help me, the ones I use are for replacement of the regular lights in the house, either the old gloomy light bulbs or the gloomy energy saver bulbs, even though the ones I have are energy saving bulbs, they are full spectrum 64 or 65k daylight, so a bright white light not a yellow light.

I will purchase one, thanks.

ohmygosh · 09-11-2009, 19:24

I live in Norway, even darker than Scotland and last week was diagnosed with winter depression. I started my course of light therapy today and it will take two weeks to see whether it makes any difference. It's a very real thing and extremely hard to deal with, I have been told to up my vitamin d intake and try st. johns wort, if the light therapy doesn't work within the next two weeks then it's anti-depressants for me, I don't want to go down that road, but i don't want to feel as shitty as i do for yet *another* winter.

I am mixed race and apparently, the darker skinned u r the more chance you have of experiencing s.a.d.

India_Rain · 09-11-2009, 19:51

I'm bipolar and all through Spring and Summer I'm mainly manic, with a few short periods of depression.

Come Autumn, I crash down and stay pretty much that way till February/March. I'm thinking of finding out about diet to up serotonin levels though.

The light bulbs sound worth a go too. Does anyone know where to get them?

Katia Polletin · 09-11-2009, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by India_Rain

I'm bipolar and all through Spring and Summer I'm mainly manic, with a few short periods of depression.

Come Autumn, I crash down and stay pretty much that way till February/March. I'm thinking of finding out about diet to up serotonin levels though.

The light bulbs sound worth a go too. Does anyone know where to get them?

There are a few websites, but for one or two etc eBay isn't too bad.

Xassy · 09-11-2009, 20:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by India_Rain

I'm bipolar and all through Spring and Summer I'm mainly manic, with a few short periods of depression.

Me too. I only ever get manic in the Spring or early Summer but once Winter kicks in, I'm back into the hole of depression.

India_Rain · 09-11-2009, 20:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katia Polletin

There are a few websites, but for one or two etc eBay isn't too bad.

Thank you..shall have a look

India_Rain · 09-11-2009, 20:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xassy

Me too. I only ever get manic in the Spring or early Summer but once Winter kicks in, I'm back into the hole of depression.

It's a bugger, isnt it? Especially when you know it's unavoidable. I try to look at it as my hibernation time.

gallovidian · 09-11-2009, 20:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by ohmygosh

I live in Norway, even darker than Scotland and last week was diagnosed with winter depression. I started my course of light therapy today and it will take two weeks to see whether it makes any difference. It's a very real thing and extremely hard to deal with, I have been told to up my vitamin d intake and try st. johns wort, if the light therapy doesn't work within the next two weeks then it's anti-depressants for me, I don't want to go down that road, but i don't want to feel as shitty as i do for yet *another* winter.

:( I am mixed race and apparently, the darker skinned u r the more chance you have of experiencing s.a.d.

Is that really true? That's really interesting. I'm very blonde and look like I'm of Scandinavian / German extraction (don't know if I actually am or if I'm just generally Northern European) - when I'm on holiday in Tenerife or the Spanish Costas the Germans always think I'm one of them and come up to me spraffing the Deutsch!

Anyway, to get back to the point, I hate the darkness too, although I must admit it doesn't sound like I've got anywhere near as bad a case of SAD as you have...if it all...I think I just hate the dark!

Xassy · 09-11-2009, 20:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by India_Rain

It's a bugger, isnt it? Especially when you know it's unavoidable. I try to look at it as my hibernation time.

Yup, it totally is! Now I've noticed a pattern, I usually increase my anti-depressant doseage, which I did recently and I've been coping ok lately.

Are you on meds?

Xassy · 09-11-2009, 20:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by ohmygosh

I am mixed race and apparently, the darker skinned u r the more chance you have of experiencing s.a.d.

I thought it was, the darker skinned you are, the more chance you have of having a vitamin D deficiency.

India_Rain · 09-11-2009, 20:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xassy

Yup, it totally is! Now I've noticed a pattern, I usually increase my anti-depressant doseage, which I did recently and I've been coping ok lately.

Are you on meds?

Yeah, Prozac to stop me going too low and Zyprexa to stop me going too mad

Was on Depakote also but came off it to try and lose weight I'd put on.

chiliipepper · 09-11-2009, 21:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xassy

Yup, it totally is! Now I've noticed a pattern, I usually increase my anti-depressant doseage, which I did recently and I've been coping ok lately.

Are you on meds?

Did you check with your doctor before hand?
Im currently on fluoxetine (20mg) and been thinking about doubling my dose, but not sure if its necessary. Im coming up to a year of being on meds, but noticed that over the summer I had fewer down days. Im getting the same feeling now though as I did last year before taking anti-depressants, and I dont want to be in THAT place again.

Hibernation is definitely the best way to describe this feeling...
as soon as it gets cold and dark, all motivation to do the simplest of things becomes a huge task. I put on weight which turns me into even more of a recluse. All socialising goes out the window, just getting out of bed is an achievement.

Xassy · 09-11-2009, 21:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiliipepper

Did you check with your doctor before hand?
Im currently on fluoxetine (20mg) and been thinking about doubling my dose, but not sure if its necessary. Im coming up to a year of being on meds, but noticed that over the summer I had fewer down days. Im getting the same feeling now though as I did last year before taking anti-depressants, and I dont want to be in THAT place again.

Oh yep, definitley. I have a psychiatrist who I see every few months. I wouldn't mess with my meds without medical supervision, I learned the hard way.

I've noticed that every September/October, I dip into a low and instead of letting it end up in a full-blown depressive episode, I let my psych know I'm struggling. Usually a small adjustment helps.

dynamoe88 · 10-11-2009, 00:24

There's been a couple of thread over the past 6-8 weeks, which may help here.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...713&highlight=

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...922&highlight=

Cstar2229 · 10-11-2009, 01:12

Yes, I find my sleep patterns go kaput

I feel very sleepy at 8-9pm, then wide awake in the middle of the night.

I have also started to eat more chocolate. I usually eat it a couple of times a month. I have eaten some three times this week already!

I also drink more as well but not to excess.

Usually Christmastime is a HUGE struggle as it is so dark and usually sick to death of the preparation etc.

It usually lifts in February if it is sunny and I can go manic in April/May.

I also notice I get the first hints of SAD in late August when it gets darker a lot earlier, though not as dark as it gets now.

Then I get the sleep disorders when the clocks go back. I also had sleep problems last April as I got used to it being dark around 6pm then it's light till 8pm so it keeps me awake. It was even worse in Scotland and wanted an early night for a very early flight.

I have taken anti depressants but one lot made me put on loads of weight, the other lot stopped working even after raising the dose

grumpyscot · 10-11-2009, 07:00

I persuaded my employers to let me change my working hours - I now work 6am to 1:30 pm instead of 9am - 4:30pm. At least this way I get to see some daylight for a couple of hours.

I also got my desk moved to a location where there is a window. The main parts of our offices don't have widnows - total 360 degree walls. Only management (and a few slaves) have a desk near a window- I got one via the Health & Safety officer. So I get to see a little daylight through a window.

Both have helped.

09-11-2009, 15:48	#1
EyeLikeBeer Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 557	Anyone else suffer from SAD? Season Affective Disorder. I have suffered with it for 3 years. This time of year is really shitty for me. I am constantly feeling a bit depressed and upset for no reason. I miss the sun. I mean I havent seen the sun for 3 days now I also find it really hard to get up in the morning as well. Last night, I went to sleep about 12.30am but still today didn't wake up until 11.30am. I just despise this time of year and am feeling a bit poo. So I have decided to buy loads of clothes to cheer me up

09-11-2009, 17:37	#4
gallovidian Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 94	Deleted. Last edited by gallovidian : 09-11-2009 at 17:38. Reason: accidental double post.

09-11-2009, 15:57	#2
Katia Polletin Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The Little Village Services: 1 x HD & 2 x SD FTA Satellite, VM - 4 services. Posts: 3,455	I suffer too, along with depression. I find the 64k / 65k daylight light bulbs help though.

09-11-2009, 16:43	#3
BigBHM Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Brian May's Back Garden Services: Virgin L, Freeview, ps3 Posts: 1,434	I do too. I already suffer with depression too, but the last couple of weeks I have gone into a bit of a decline. It is hard enough to motivate myself to do things and go out at the best of times, but when it is so dark, and especially cold, it just beats me. I will try to get hold of one of those bulbs, thanks Katia

09-11-2009, 17:38	#5
gallovidian Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 94	Yep, I'm not keen on the dark winters, and given that I'm in Scotland, they are pretty dark indeed up here. The upside is we get about 18 or 19 hours daylight in the summer - but in winter, meh! It never bothered me until I went on holiday to Australia a couple of years ago, just around this time of year. We came back from the beautiful sun, blue sky, blue sea and white beaches of Oz, via Dubai, to land at Glasgow airport on a dull November day. Ever since then I've really started to notice how dark and how awful the light quality is here during the winter months.

09-11-2009, 18:01	#6
cheeks Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Somerset Services: Lion Power Posts: 17,914	I don't suffer from SAD but I don't like this time of year at all. At least during the winter you start to get more daylight, I'm very happy when we go in to March and the lighter days are imminent......

09-11-2009, 19:24	#10
ohmygosh Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The land of the midnight sun Services: Open to suggestion me! Posts: 1,782	I live in Norway, even darker than Scotland and last week was diagnosed with winter depression. I started my course of light therapy today and it will take two weeks to see whether it makes any difference. It's a very real thing and extremely hard to deal with, I have been told to up my vitamin d intake and try st. johns wort, if the light therapy doesn't work within the next two weeks then it's anti-depressants for me, I don't want to go down that road, but i don't want to feel as shitty as i do for yet another winter. I am mixed race and apparently, the darker skinned u r the more chance you have of experiencing s.a.d.

09-11-2009, 19:51	#11
India_Rain Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: UK Posts: 60	I'm bipolar and all through Spring and Summer I'm mainly manic, with a few short periods of depression. Come Autumn, I crash down and stay pretty much that way till February/March. I'm thinking of finding out about diet to up serotonin levels though. The light bulbs sound worth a go too. Does anyone know where to get them?

10-11-2009, 00:24	#22
dynamoe88 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,742	There's been a couple of thread over the past 6-8 weeks, which may help here. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...713&highlight= http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...922&highlight=

10-11-2009, 01:12	#23
Cstar2229 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Southern England Services: VM Cable TV & Broadband Posts: 21,882	Yes, I find my sleep patterns go kaput I feel very sleepy at 8-9pm, then wide awake in the middle of the night. I have also started to eat more chocolate. I usually eat it a couple of times a month. I have eaten some three times this week already! I also drink more as well but not to excess. Usually Christmastime is a HUGE struggle as it is so dark and usually sick to death of the preparation etc. It usually lifts in February if it is sunny and I can go manic in April/May. I also notice I get the first hints of SAD in late August when it gets darker a lot earlier, though not as dark as it gets now. Then I get the sleep disorders when the clocks go back. I also had sleep problems last April as I got used to it being dark around 6pm then it's light till 8pm so it keeps me awake. It was even worse in Scotland and wanted an early night for a very early flight. I have taken anti depressants but one lot made me put on loads of weight, the other lot stopped working even after raising the dose

10-11-2009, 07:00	#24
grumpyscot Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 1,154	I persuaded my employers to let me change my working hours - I now work 6am to 1:30 pm instead of 9am - 4:30pm. At least this way I get to see some daylight for a couple of hours. I also got my desk moved to a location where there is a window. The main parts of our offices don't have widnows - total 360 degree walls. Only management (and a few slaves) have a desk near a window- I got one via the Health & Safety officer. So I get to see a little daylight through a window. Both have helped.