Hi all, I have joined in a couple of threads below, but wanted to say hello. I am in England and the BEAUTIFUL weather we've had since Friday has made me surer than ever that the depression I've had since mid September is SAD. Esp as it came about in 06 almost exactly the same time and wore off by the summer.
So I am feeling good and positive and loving the sunshine.
I have a cheapish Lumie lightbox and have been in counselling on and off since Sept 06. I was resisting anti-depressants for a long time, until I finally thought 'this is silly' and started taking SJW in early Nov 07.
I'm now considering whether I should carry on through the summer, or start to taper in the run-up to equinox... then build up again maybe six weeks before the autumn equinox. I wonder whether anyone has any experience of this kind of thing? I am seeing my GP on 26th March to discuss. Currently taking 300mg morning and evening.
This season I started to use the various treatments in my armoury against SAD in mid September and have fared much better than other years when I haven't started until the symptoms have appeared. You only get to find what works for you by trying things out.
Please remember that you could get SAD during the summer months if you have a number of dreary days together (know that from experience last year), and that the weather may well take a turn before the equinox - especially fog!!
It is only you and your doctor that can decide how you will feel over the summer and depending on how far south you are in the UK will also reduce your need.