SAD and employee rights

Hello again everyone. :o) lost my original log in details but managed to register again using the same details !!??!! (Admin might want to look into that!).

I have a bit of an epic for you and would like your thoughts/knowledge on the matter.

I have been diagnosed with SAD for the past 15 years or so. Out of those 15 years I have been bad enough to take meds on 4 occasions (two of which have been winter just gone and the one before) My place of work know that I suffer from SAD, they are used to seeing my desklight (lumie) shining away. Now... three weeks ago I was moved from the top floor of the building on the south west corner to the ground floor North facing side. MMmmm So from a bright airy office to the basement basically. I had literally begged to be sited on the North west corner so at least I could get some natural daylight/sunshine at some point of the day. The answer was no because some other dept wanted the area. So I've been placed along with my dept on the north facing back wall. Next to a window but there is no sunshine on that side of the building at any point during the working day. I am really upset and feel that the powers that be are not taking my condition seriously. I don't just feel 'a bit fed up' in the winter, I have full blown SAD. I've tried talking to everyone in my management heirachy but they're just not listening to me. I'm beginning to get anxious and have had a number of anxiety attacks over the last week or so. It's very dull and claustrophobic where I am now and I am already panicing about what this autumn/winter will hold. I'm getting to the point where I feel I have no other option but to leave the job I have loved for the past 5 years. I don't want to continue taking Prozac every year and was hoping to make some changes this year until the move was decided. I've been bad the last two years and I think that was because I moved desks in my original position from sitting facing the window to sitting with my back to it.

Can any of you give me some advice? How do any of you others manage to cope? Am I just getting stressed about nothing?

Hi James.

Thank you for your reply. It's nice to think that at least someone is listening.

One of the reasons I'm getting so worked up is because the dept that do have the area I thought my team should have, have switched off all the lights in their area and keep the blinds closed because 'it's too bright'. And yet they made such a fuss about sitting there!

I find at the moment I'm having my lumie desklight on all day and this is causing a problem as the people now sitting behind me are complaining that it's distracting them. If I am told to switch off the light I think I shall be walking out of my job! That would be the final straw.

How did you get on with your plight?

I noticed there is a cafe in Glasgow called Tomato and they claim to have SAD lights. Although I went in and there was only one little crappy light that would have absolutely no effect as it's too far away from where anyone sits.

But at least it shows it can be done.

I wear a light visor at work because I'm up and down from the desk like the proverbial yo-yo, and moving from place to place on a regular basis.

For about two or three winters there would be snide, subtle and not so subtle comments. I would patiently say my piece, trying to educate people. Some listened and remembered; some had 'forgotten' by the following winter and it all started again.

Finally I'd had enough. An understanding colleague and I let it be known that if it continued I would be consulting my professional equivalent of a shop steward about discrimination against people with disabilities.

There hasn't been a murmur since.

Sue

I'm all-too-aware of how demoralizing it is to not have co-workers who understand.

One of my co-workers, truly a dear friend of mine, just doesn't get it. There is someone else who works closely with us who has SAD. In the wintertime, he comes across as scatter-brained and slow. I know he has a lightbox that he uses at work. My co-worker has made comments about him to me. I tried to explain about the winter-time and how lack of light during the day makes you tired ... I left it at that. It wasn't long before she commented again about him. I truly think she doesn't mean any harm... but I get defensive for his sake because I'm in the same boat. Probably not so severely as he is.

I think we've tried to bring it up with each other, but I think I've answered awkwardly as I, too, was struggling with SAD at the time. I wish we could talk openly with each other. I'm sure neither of us wants our co-workers to know more than they already have had to know.

Anyhow, it's somewhat off-topic. I'm truly sorry you're having a tough time. I don't know if my boss understands though once I tried to explain it to her. I wish I knew I could trust people and not regret having opened up and been honest.

I have a light at my desk. It's a bright full-spectrum lamp. Not a therapy lamp, but I felt drawn to it when it was a demo at the store. It helps me get through my day, and I'm fortunate to sit where it doesn't disturb others. I direct it partially at the white wall so that it helps but doesn't give me headaches from the intensity of it.

Summer, hang in there but if it gets too much can you try topping up your exposure at home? I found dawn assistance almost as usefull as sitting in front of the light for 30 minutes. I also preferred Lustral because the tablets could be broken in half or quarter so I could reduce my dose to suit me (which I must point out might not be recommended by your doctor). I wonder how long before employers are forced to provide correct light, I mean we know the law requires it but someone is going to get their a$$ sued sooner or later. Sweden I believe takes this kind of thing very seriously.