my intro & a couple of questions

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Razz
joined 5 Nov 2008
2 posts

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Posted by Razz, 20:35 6 November 2008

I found this site yesterday cruising the net to info. on SAD as it seems to be hitting me really hard this fall/winter. I have a great Doc. who is open to many different things. For the past 10 yrs. we've been treating my SAD by upping the dose of my anti-depressant that I take as I also stuggle with clinical depression & an anxiety disorder. I'm wondering about the effectiveness of the light-boxes or visors and so would love to hear from anyone who has tried either and what results they've had. (I had a friend who was part of a study 9 yrs. ago and she found that the light box did not change her symptoms at all. However I'm going to assume that technology has improved since then.)

I'm a 50+ female (post menopause) who lives in central Alberta, Canada. I can now tell within a week if it's the SAD coming on or if it's my depression getting worse. To me, at least, they feel different. With SAD I find myself more on edge and irritable. With the depression I feel totally without energy, motivation, all seems dark and fearful. Everything seems "overwhelming" and trust me the SAD only makes it that much harder to deal with. Are there others here that also struggle with duo (+) diagnosis?

Thanks in advance - Razz

Me
joined 29 Oct 2007
414 posts

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Posted by Me, 22:20 6 November 2008

Razz - hi again.

5htp shouldnt be used with antidepressants apparently. Just thought Id say that first so that I dont forget. x

My own personal experiences show me that SAD and depression go together like ham and eggs if I dont get it undercontrol in the first stage.

Ive mentioned it before on this forum but Im mention it again -because Im boring LOL.

My SAD (1st stage) comes on first - the sheer exhaustion and the need to sleep. Then I may have sleep problems where I want to stay awake until the early hours/sleep during the afternoon etc! As if my body clock works on a 20/22 hour day. I become totally disorientated timewise!

2nd stage - this is when I start to want to stop socialising, and 'know' that some people are thinking bad of me! This makes me lack confidence and I want to totally withdraw because I cant cope with it.

3rd stage - Depression. I feel so shattered and fed up with the world. I weep inside, and can not be bothered to do anything that expends energy. I cant be bothered to help myself - Im not worth it and so on...

My trick is to deal with it head on in the prefirst or first stage so that I dont drop further - because SAD would like me to drop to stage 3 and I wont let it.

Thats why I blurb on about exercise, vits, omega 3,6 etc. I find it best to catch it in the early stages as it is easier to be more motivated in those stages than when depressed.

Lightboxes should help in SAD cases.

Clinical Depression
I have had depression before (however thinking about it, it was snowing at the time so maybe that was SAD before I realised what it was!) Anyway, I recognise that awful feeling of being in a test tube, being able to see out but not being able to take part in the world. On occasions I have tried to climb up and out of the test tube but the inside is too slippy and there is just no way I can do it. I feel like all I can do is to sit at the bottom and watch the world going on around me - no body notices me there! And on that occasion, boy did I struggle with it !!!

I can not imagine that a Lightbox would help in this situation as this type of depression is not light orientated.

Lightboxes.
I brought my lightbox about 11ish years ago and it worked then, I became hyper. Thats when I realised that I also became hyper in the spring!

Good to talk to you Razz, keep on plodding, the people on the forum are great at support.

:->
Me x

Donna
joined 28 Nov 2002
285 posts

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Posted by Donna, 19:13 7 November 2008

Me.....woooowww you explained sad so well. I love the way you had put it and totally relate to what you have said.

I have upset a couple of friends last winter due to canceling two nights out with them both last minute due to sad. Each time I had panic attacks as I was getting ready to go out. One of them appears understanding now and we have sorted things out but the other one doesn't bother with me anymore even though they know I have sad. I suppose its difficult for some to understand if they don't understand it fully.

Hope all is well for you,

Take care
Donna x

Me
joined 29 Oct 2007
414 posts

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Posted by Me, 20:49 8 November 2008

Donna, bless you chuck - its good to know we are normal!!!!! lol

Doing well, coping well and 5htp every so often is doing a good job too.

Oh, I forgot to mention the carb cravings (stage1) and weight gain, followed by weight loss in the spring.

Basically typical SAD symptoms!

Wish you all the best this SAD season x

Me x

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