Seasonal Affective Disorder - Anxiety and Depre...

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Seasonal Affective Disorder

NoRegret profile image
36 Replies

Does anyone else suffer from this condition?

Fall is in the air and that means winter is around the corner. I become so depressed that I sometimes can't seem to function. I am on a medication for this and depression and anxiety meds. They help me allot except for this seasonal thing gets ahold of me. How do you deal with it?

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NoRegret profile image
NoRegret
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36 Replies
Marysblue profile image
Marysblue

I get worse depression in winter. I'm adding more vit d to see if that helps but I have no answer. A lightbox?

I haven't been diagnosed but think I have this.

I've heard of light therapy ?

Starrlight profile image
Starrlight in reply toMary-intussuception

I use a special light for winter, actually I use it all year round.

anon2508 profile image
anon2508 in reply toStarrlight

what is the light ?

NoRegret profile image
NoRegret in reply toStarrlight

What kind of light is it?

Starrlight profile image
Starrlight in reply toNoRegret

A light box. You can also use glow lights like for animals I think it’s the same stuff it’s close to being like the sun

NoRegret profile image
NoRegret in reply toStarrlight

Thanks, I'll check it out.

anon2508 profile image
anon2508 in reply toMary-intussuception

what is this ?

Mary-intussuception profile image
Mary-intussuception in reply toanon2508

It might be better to ask your doctor about light therapy.

I just did a Google search, there are so many light therapy lamps for sale and they're very expensive. I haven't tried one so can't recommend any.

The one that is highly recommended is out of stock.

anon2508 profile image
anon2508 in reply toMary-intussuception

how do these work and what is it they do exactly ?

Mary-intussuception profile image
Mary-intussuception in reply toanon2508

I haven't tried one.

I put the regular lights on when it's dark during the day and evenings. I use bright light bulbs.

My depression comes and goes at any time, but it's guaranteed to come during these darker months. I take a daily dose of vitamin d and I use a therapy lamp.

Also, having a hobby that you can do inside helps.

anon2508 profile image
anon2508 in reply to

what is a therapy lamp ?

in reply toanon2508

I am so sorry I missed this until now. A therapy lamp mimics the sunlight.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lig...

anon2508 profile image
anon2508 in reply to

ah so i gives the vitamin d etc benefits during winter

in reply toanon2508

Yep. Mine's from Philips.

Kainan profile image
Kainan

Yeah it affects me. I find it's harder to sleep this time of year and usually that messes me up. A good night sleep is so important. Also being outside more and managing stress

anon2508 profile image
anon2508

yip ! what are the meds you take ?

NoRegret profile image
NoRegret

Bupropion, abilify, remeron and lamictal.

anon2508 profile image
anon2508 in reply toNoRegret

are these all anti depressants ?

NoRegret profile image
NoRegret in reply toanon2508

no, I'm treated for other conditions as well.

BlueLlama profile image
BlueLlama

I live in the Pacific Northwest, and we get nine months of a wet, gray bucket of suck. I bought myself a sun lamp and drew eyes on it and named it Phillip. I use it a few times a week in the icky weather, and sometimes I talk to him so I can vent without having someone try to fix my problems. Don’t worry though, he doesn’t talk back. Also, when I exercise two or three times a week I tend to feel better emotionally.

in reply toBlueLlama

That's awesome! I never thought of naming or talking to mine!!

BlueLlama profile image
BlueLlama in reply to

I name lots of inanimate objects. My car is Henry, his antenna ball is a cow named Liza, my toolbox is Harold.

in reply toBlueLlama

My husband has a thing about the name "Bob". We have 31 pepper plants at home and guess what their names are? Bob 1- Bob 31

NoRegret profile image
NoRegret in reply toBlueLlama

Love it, "Phillip"

I love this topic. I relate. This year, I have an indoor electric tiny garden with a light and grow gourmet herbs and I am thinking of getting a sun lamp too because so many people seem to like it. I am going to try to take it one day at a time and do things that make me happy. Good luck. Keep me posted :)

in reply to

Hi Andrea! Good luck with it if you do get one!

What kind of herbs do you grow?

in reply to

Basil, mint, parsley, chives and thyme.

in reply to

Nice!

Marshall64 profile image
Marshall64

As others have mentioned, I use a light box too. It is called Sunbox jr. Since it is small, you have to be really close to it. It is a very bright white light. Other light bulbs will seem yellow in comparison. I probably have had mine 15 years. It helps but I try to exercise as well and be in as much light as possible.

in reply toMarshall64

Sunbox Jr.; I love it!🤣 I love to exercise as well, especially during these months.

I don’t take any meds but I can definitely tell that the seasons change my mood big time. I am ok during the summer / spring. Winter seems to my depression and anxiety. It always feel like I am lacking the sunshine and therefore can’t function properly. I just started to take some high dose of vitamin D. Hope that will help me get out of my low mood. 🙄 So make sure you are taking the right supplements or vitamins, go outside for at least 15-20 minutes every day. Exercising is also very good for depression. I sometimes meditate or do yoga (there are great YouTube videos for that). I hope that helps. See what works for you. 🥰

disneyfan18 profile image
disneyfan18

I'm not officially diagnosed with this but it has come apparent that my mood changes significantly when the weather changes. When it gets colder I have less of a desire to do anything, like my schoolwork. I'm worried this year it'll be worse since all my classes are online and it's already hard to focus. I try to take some vitamin D to help me get out of my sour mood and I also listen to music that I know will cheer me up.

I live in Michigan, USA, and in October it's all right because we still get some sunny days and I enjoy the Fall leaves and Halloween. But I know when November hits, it's blah!!! I can't stand when it's more than 2 days of no sun and rainy cold weather. My issues with depression definitely do get worse in the winter, no doubt about it. I might look into getting some type of light box along with taking more vitamin D. I've heard of something called a dawn simulator, it helps you to wake up in the morning by gently turning into a bright light so you wake up without a beeping alarm clock going off. Especially in the winter I always have trouble forcing myself to get up early in the morning, it's like I want to hibernate.

Ukulelelady profile image
Ukulelelady

Hi, I also suffer from SAD. I am not as bad this year as previous years though.

I take Vitamin D every day and use a light box first thing in the mornings for about 1 - 2 hours.

I also changed my glasses to clear lenses, as I had ones that reacted to sunlight before.

I am sure all these measure have helped as in previous year I noticed a real sinking feeling every autumn and it wasn’t nearly as bad this year.

Good Luck

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