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Does anyone else Have Seasonal Affective Disorder?

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AprilBaby

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As October approaches the last 3 years I find myself sinking into depression, culminating with Christmas and lifting around Mid March. My Dr put me on celexa which helps, but I tend to hibernate and just be miserable to those around me. I am happiest in the summer, especially 4th of July. Does anyone have a SAD light and what is your experience?
 
I do not have SAD.
Here's why.

I recognize that society has placed unreasonable emphasis on holidays.
I blame capitalism.
We are immersed in media all day long.
TV, radio, Internet, billboards, and displays in EVERY store, all tell us which holiday is approaching and how important it is for you to BUY this or that.

Many families reenforce the expectation of holiday fulfillment and happiness and the Norman Rockwell image of the holiday experience.
There is enormous pressure to do it right and love it.
YOU'RE NOT HAPPY ON CHRISTMAS! SNAP OUT OF IT. WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU!
29.gif


It takes a very strong independent person to not be affected by this.

I really don't do holidays.
My spouse does so I try to remain considerate and respectful but I feel blessed to be free from the obligatory rat race that holidays have turned into in America.

I am a very generous and thoughtful person.
Any day of the year if I see something a friend would like I get it and give it to them as a gift.
But come Christmas or birthdays I do not give gifts.

I do not like being pushed around.
If you like holidays, fine; enjoy them to the fullest.
But people vary, and expecting everyone to embrace them is not respectful of diversity.
 
I always notice a difference in my mood/personality during the winter months. Not sure where you live, but here in the Chicago area, it is pretty common and usually a result of Vitamin D deficiency (so I''ve been told anyways!). We get so many consecutive gray, rainy, snowy, blah days. I try to get myself outside on any sunny days, even if it is freezing, just to get a blast of sunlight on my face and find that helps my mood. My mom has a light box that a friend gave her, and uses it fairly regularly. She said it helps, although perhaps it is just psychological, who knows!
 
MagsyMay, I am in Chicago too. I totally get the weather. Information shows that lack of sunlight leads to lack of seratonin which leads to depression. The celexa blocks the seratonin reuptake. Technically it should leave you happier. Light is why people are happier up north here in summer. The SAD light is suppose to have just the right color light to mimic sunlight and therefore add seratonin to your system. Just wondered if anyone else found it worked? Good thing for your mother apparently!
 
Date: 10/25/2009 3:11:50 PM
Author: AprilBaby
MagsyMay, I am in Chicago too. I totally get the weather. Information shows that lack of sunlight leads to lack of seratonin which leads to depression. The celexa blocks the seratonin reuptake. Technically it should leave you happier. Light is why people are happier up north here in summer. The SAD light is suppose to have just the right color light to mimic sunlight and therefore add seratonin to your system. Just wondered if anyone else found it worked? Good thing for your mother apparently!
We have a SAD light for DH and he says it helps. I''m not so sure at all. Now we have found that his thyroid is deficient, and he is starting to take some thyroid hormone. I have high hopes that this will work much better than a SAD light. We''ll see.
 
Date: 10/25/2009 2:36:47 PM
Author: kenny
I do not have SAD.
Here's why.

I recognize that society has placed unreasonable emphasis on holidays.
I blame capitalism.
We are immersed in media all day long.
TV, radio, Internet, billboards, and displays in EVERY store, all tell us which holiday is approaching and how important it is for you to BUY this or that.

Many families reenforce the expectation of holiday fulfillment and happiness and the Norman Rockwell image of the holiday experience.
There is enormous pressure to do it right and love it.
YOU'RE NOT HAPPY ON CHRISTMAS! SNAP OUT OF IT. WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU!
29.gif


It takes a very strong independent person to not be affected by this.

I really don't do holidays.
My spouse does so I try to remain considerate and respectful but I feel blessed to be free from the obligatory rat race that holidays have turned into in America.

I am a very generous and thoughtful person.
Any day of the year if I see something a friend would like I get it and give it to them as a gift.
But come Christmas or birthdays I do not give gifts.

I do not like being pushed around.
If you like holidays, fine; enjoy them to the fullest.
But people vary, and expecting everyone to embrace them is not respectful of diversity.
yep, all one has to do is look at the history of the christmas holiday to realize what a scam it is. even the puritans didn't celebrate it.

mz

eta: not denying that some have physical effects with SAD but i see that as separate from the holiday issue. i also am concerned that we're becoming a medicated society and believe there are other alternatives other than taking more meds....some of which have side effects worse than the condition for which they were prescribed.

also, think about getting away in december/january to a sunny local: seems to help some people.
 
I live in Seattle which gets its share of gray days and I started taking Vitamin D supplements which I found helpful. I haven''t tried using a SAD light, but my understanding is that it''s supposed to mimic sunlight which is what delivers Vitamin D, and I prefer to take the vitamin directly.
 
Kenny...SAD is not about the "holdays". It is about how the weather/air pressure/atmosphere affects a person.

I definitely feel that during the winter months I am more irritable and I get "down" a lot easier. I was off work with stress/depression a few years ago and SAD was mentioned as a possible explanation.

Just a few weeks ago we had the first period of really dark grey skies and heavy rain. I definitely feel more miserable on those days. The atmosphere in the air is so oppressive. I love winter days that are clear and crisp. I hate the days that are just grey and drizzly though.

The dark mornings then coming home from work in the dark is also a factor on my mood.
 
Date: 10/25/2009 7:59:14 PM
Author: rainwood
I live in Seattle which gets its share of gray days and I started taking Vitamin D supplements which I found helpful. I haven''t tried using a SAD light, but my understanding is that it''s supposed to mimic sunlight which is what delivers Vitamin D, and I prefer to take the vitamin directly.
Vit D is suppose to help. That said, I do take a mild anti-depressant and have found it''s helped somewhat. I do think that cognative behavioral therapy is a HUGE success in combatting depression, in general. Maybe something to consider.
 
Date: 10/25/2009 2:36:47 PM
Author: kenny
I do not have SAD.
Here''s why.

I recognize that society has placed unreasonable emphasis on holidays.
I blame capitalism.
We are immersed in media all day long.
TV, radio, Internet, billboards, and displays in EVERY store, all tell us which holiday is approaching and how important it is for you to BUY this or that.

Many families reenforce the expectation of holiday fulfillment and happiness and the Norman Rockwell image of the holiday experience.
There is enormous pressure to do it right and love it.
YOU''RE NOT HAPPY ON CHRISTMAS! SNAP OUT OF IT. WHAT''S WRONG WITH YOU!
29.gif


It takes a very strong independent person to not be affected by this.

I really don''t do holidays.
My spouse does so I try to remain considerate and respectful but I feel blessed to be free from the obligatory rat race that holidays have turned into in America.

I am a very generous and thoughtful person.
Any day of the year if I see something a friend would like I get it and give it to them as a gift.
But come Christmas or birthdays I do not give gifts.

I do not like being pushed around.
If you like holidays, fine; enjoy them to the fullest.
But people vary, and expecting everyone to embrace them is not respectful of diversity.
Kenny - you sound like my DH. He''s NEVER depressed around the holidays and never has expectations of elaborate gifts. I, on the other hand, am always bummed when we sit with his family and they hand out gifts and never ever give one to me. . .they DO give them to the kids, but the gals only exchange between each other. . .last year I gave everyone something, but this year, I''m spending the $ *on me*. Even if that doesn''t make me happy, it won''t make me feel as bummed out as the last few years.
2.gif
 
I have a family history of it, and I have symptoms of it as well. My sleeping schedule takes a really awkward twist where I can't stay asleep for more than a few hours, but constantly feel sleepy and tired and generally apathetic towards everything. I haven't gotten a prescription for it, because even though my productivity and sleep/mood take a hit, I'm still pretty functional. But I'm also still in school where I have pretty flexible days and little outside obligation, but that may change when I start my med school rotations, I guess we'll see.

I have found SAD lighting to help though, as well as making sure I go outside for a few minutes whenever the sun is out. I also try to keep all my rooms as well lit as possible when I'm in them, which my hubby hates, but he hates it more to have me be so grumpy. I also do dumb stuff to try to feel more summery, like eat citrusy foods like oranges.
1.gif
 
Reverse SAD. I DESPISE, DESPISE, DESPISE summer, not that big on spring. Happy & all is great in the glorious fall & winter.

Summer is so hot & gross you can't do anything. It makes my body swell up and hurt. Tired from the heat. Sun ruins your skin. Mosquitos. Can't play tennis - too darn hot. Fingers swell & your rings fit horribly or not at all.

Bring on the pumpkin pie, fireplaces, crisp air, UGG boots (well, Costco ones which are far cheaper), cross country skis, snow, mexican coffee, outdoor hot tubs, . . .

Yeah Baby !!
 
Date: 10/25/2009 8:13:51 PM
Author: merrymunky
Kenny...SAD is not about the ''holidays''.
It is about how the weather/air pressure/atmosphere affects a person.

Oh.
That''s different. . .

. . . Never mind.

tv_saturday_night_live_300.jpg
 
I''m in Chicago, too, and originally from California. I don''t have SAD, but I do feel more blue in the winter. Good grief, winters here are brutal.
 
Snort! Thank you for throwing in a little Emily Latella, kenny!

When I lived in San Francisco, no, never had SAD, but in the northwest coast YES! I am trying so hard not to sink into a bitter, deep, dark funk. I could probably handle the cold, but the dark gray days just about do me in each year. I may have to try the Vit. D supps this year.
 
Date: 10/25/2009 8:13:51 PM
Author: merrymunky
Kenny...SAD is not about the ''holdays''. It is about how the weather/air pressure/atmosphere affects a person.
I think the holidays DO reduce the SAD feelings. I''ve lived in Seattle all my life and find that the "energy" surrounding the holidays create a "medication" of sorts that reduces the depressive nature. After that high has worn off, back to the slump it is.
 
Fortunately, I now live in Texas. But, I can certainly remember the DREARY Illinois winters. November, December, January, February, March, and into April. Ugh. I''d rather have six months of HOT than six months of DREARY.

Yes, I definitely suffer from SAD. If it rains too many days in a row, if the sun doesn''t shine, if the sky is overcast day after day . . . I swear I might just ''go postal''. My ancestors left Scotland and Ireland long ago on purpose. We need sun.

It''s gonna rain again tomorrow. Again. For every brilliant fall day we''ve had, we must have suffered through five rain days. Those are bad percentages for someone like myself.

As for Kenny''s viewpoint, he''s right . . . sort of. If we dislike the holidays because of rampant consumerism, we can always stop buying. Start celebrating the real meaning of the holidays. Or seasons, if you are not religious.
 
Date: 10/25/2009 7:59:14 PM
Author: rainwood
I live in Seattle which gets its share of gray days and I started taking Vitamin D supplements which I found helpful. I haven''t tried using a SAD light, but my understanding is that it''s supposed to mimic sunlight which is what delivers Vitamin D, and I prefer to take the vitamin directly.
rainwood - this is good to know. I''ve only lived in Seattle a few years, but it seems that each winter is harder than the last. This year I''ll give Vitamin D supplements a try. Thanks!
1.gif
 
Date: 10/25/2009 10:36:42 PM
Author: MC
Date: 10/25/2009 8:13:51 PM

Author: merrymunky

Kenny...SAD is not about the ''holdays''. It is about how the weather/air pressure/atmosphere affects a person.
I think the holidays DO reduce the SAD feelings. I''ve lived in Seattle all my life and find that the ''energy'' surrounding the holidays create a ''medication'' of sorts that reduces the depressive nature. After that high has worn off, back to the slump it is.

I guess it''s all about how you feel about your family and the holidays. I don''t have SAD, but I find the holidays generally very depressing. I love my family, a lot, but just generally the expectations, preparations, etc., always strike me as stressful (despite the rather sad fact that my folks never have made a big deal of the holidays anyway).
 
Date: 10/25/2009 10:36:42 PM
Author: MC

Date: 10/25/2009 8:13:51 PM
Author: merrymunky
Kenny...SAD is not about the ''holdays''. It is about how the weather/air pressure/atmosphere affects a person.
I think the holidays DO reduce the SAD feelings. I''ve lived in Seattle all my life and find that the ''energy'' surrounding the holidays create a ''medication'' of sorts that reduces the depressive nature. After that high has worn off, back to the slump it is.
Ditto. I get hit with SAD, and the Holiday''s help, they don''t make it worse, at least for me. Totally separate issues.

I take Vitamin D, we have a lightbox, I try to take a vacation in the winter. I''ve even resorted to tanning before, just to get the mood boost, but that''s pretty much a last resort!!!
 
Date: 10/25/2009 10:02:08 PM
Author: sonomacounty
Reverse SAD. I DESPISE, DESPISE, DESPISE summer, not that big on spring. Happy & all is great in the glorious fall & winter.

Summer is so hot & gross you can''t do anything. It makes my body swell up and hurt. Tired from the heat. Sun ruins your skin. Mosquitos. Can''t play tennis - too darn hot. Fingers swell & your rings fit horribly or not at all.

Bring on the pumpkin pie, fireplaces, crisp air, UGG boots (well, Costco ones which are far cheaper), cross country skis, snow, mexican coffee, outdoor hot tubs, . . .

Yeah Baby !!

ah, we are made from the same clay!

mz
 
I used to think I had SAD. Each year starting in October, the deep depression would begin and just like you, it wouldn't lift until spring. This went on for about 15 years. Some years were definitely worse than others.

When I got into therapy, I realized that I experienced a severe trauma during that time that caused PTSD. Each year at the trauma anniversary, I would get triggered and the depression would set in. I worked on the trauma in therapy and I have to say it was pretty tough. Fall rolled around and I braced myself for the darkness to set in...it didn't. Four years later, it's still gone.

I bring this up just in case there *might* be a trauma anniversary for you. If so, you might want to explore this in therapy.

If not, full spectrum lighting, that imitates the sun works wonders for people with SAD. Read up on it and install it throughout your home. Also, light boxes are proven to work. You can buy one or there are instructions on how to build one for pretty cheap. On sunny days, be sure to get outside and take in the sunshine.

I hope that maybe this year you can find something that works for you. Its truly awful to feel depressed during a season where everyone else is feeling so joyful. I know this really made me feel emotionally isolated. There are so many obligations during the winter and it begins to feel very overwhelming. Remember to be gentle with yourself. Be your very own best friend during this time. Ask yourself often, "what do I need?" and give it to yourself. Taking good care is usually the best medicine.
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_disorder

Nowhere is any specific "holiday" mentioned. Christmas...or any other.

As I said. It has nothing to do with the holidays. It's about light levels, atmosphere etc.

I'm not denying that holidays can make the reduced hours of light a little more bearable, but they are not a factor in SAD themselves.

It's 5.30pm here and pitch black already. This is the time of year I hate. It takes me a while to adjust I have to admit.
 
I''ve never been formally diagnosed with SAD, but I know I have it. In college it was even worse when I''d have to get out of bed to walk to class in all the snow- I wouldn''t do it. I''d stay in bed all day.

I lived in Switzerland under the cloud cover- we would drive up to the top of the mountains once a week just to see the sun during the winter months! It was awful!

I live in Ohio, and it can be pretty brutal at times. I don''t have an immitation sun lamp, but I do go tanning once a week or so, just to make me not so pale and the warm "cocoon" of the tanning bed makes me feel a little better (i know...i know...its bad for you.)

I totally can sympathize with the other SAD sufferers though! Let''s keep each other''s sprits up a bit this winter :)
 
I have it to some extent, mainly because I have sensory defensiveness. In my case (as in many others I''m sure), the holidays have nothing to do with it because I LOVE Christmas and the holidays. The worst for me is usually in January. I bought a SAD light two years ago and it does help me. It might not work for everyone, but it does for me!
 
I get this too...it just gets dark SO early in the evening once daylight savings time kicks in I almost can''t function! I could literally go to bed at 6:00 every night. And I also have ''night vision'' problems while driving in the dark...glasses haven''t helped much...so I feel like a shut in after 5:00 most days!


I''d love to try a full spectrum light box too, to see if it helps!

This year I am on more vitamin D too...and am going to take a natural antidepressant (5-htp), has no bad side effects and is supposed to help ''SAD'' too. And there are always diamonds to help the mood too!
2.gif
 
I totally have it. I used to be miserable in north dakota where we had winter 3/4 of the year and now I live in the sunniest state (it''s little known but colorado does get more sunny days which is part of what influenced me to move here) I could never move back, I love it here and I love my sunshine and warm temps :)
 
Date: 10/26/2009 11:49:25 AM
Author: House Cat
I used to think I had SAD. Each year starting in October, the deep depression would begin and just like you, it wouldn''t lift until spring. This went on for about 15 years. Some years were definitely worse than others.


When I got into therapy, I realized that I experienced a severe trauma during that time that caused PTSD. Each year at the trauma anniversary, I would get triggered and the depression would set in. I worked on the trauma in therapy and I have to say it was pretty tough. Fall rolled around and I braced myself for the darkness to set in...it didn''t. Four years later, it''s still gone.


I bring this up just in case there *might* be a trauma anniversary for you. If so, you might want to explore this in therapy.


If not, full spectrum lighting, that imitates the sun works wonders for people with SAD. Read up on it and install it throughout your home. Also, light boxes are proven to work. You can buy one or there are instructions on how to build one for pretty cheap. On sunny days, be sure to get outside and take in the sunshine.


I hope that maybe this year you can find something that works for you. Its truly awful to feel depressed during a season where everyone else is feeling so joyful. I know this really made me feel emotionally isolated. There are so many obligations during the winter and it begins to feel very overwhelming. Remember to be gentle with yourself. Be your very own best friend during this time. Ask yourself often, ''what do I need?'' and give it to yourself. Taking good care is usually the best medicine.


Thanks for your reply! I DID have a trauma 3 years ago that started the whole depression/SAD experience! In Oct of that year I was hit by a car crossing the street. I was not physically injured, but about a week after I started a severe panic attack that lasted till I had enough Xanex to stop it, about 2 months. I was home in bed unable to function for almost that whole time. I was fine in the spring and have gone down hill with panic about the same time (Oct) the last two years. My depression is not caused by the holidays, the holidays and stress exacerbate the depression. I am going to buy a SAD light AND try the Vitamin D and let you all know how it goes. My answer is not found in drugs...so no xanex and only the lowest dose celexa till March. Thanks for all the support! Does anyone have a suggestion for lightboxes they like?
 
Aprilbaby,

I did a therapy called EMDR for my traumatic event. It is very effective at clearing out trauma, even the military is beginning to use it for post-war soldiers.

The way it was explained to me:

When trauma occurs, your logical side and your emotional side stop communicating. They sort of split. This is what causes the panic attacks, etc. You can tell yourself you shouldn't be panicking, but your emotions, they won't listen.

EMDR uses right and left brain stimulation (usually in the form of headphones beeping back and forth in your ears) while you talk about the event. What happens is this causes the both sides of the brain to reconnect and you become less fragmented. Also, for some reason, the memory of the trauma becomes less vivid. It's still there, but it doesn't cause the emotial reaction that it once did.

I found it to be very non-invasive. I walked out of the therapist's office feeling 100 pounds lighter too. An event that I thought would take at least a year to work through, only took a few sessions to clear up.

This is the short version, of course. I suggest that you do some research on it and see if it might be something you would consider.

Wishing you well.
 
One more thing, if it is a traumatic event anniversary, it isn''t SAD. These are two totally different issues, so a light box probably won''t help. It might be a good idea to talk to your doctor about this.
 
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