Hibernation

I am putting this question out to you all to see what your thoughts are, having suffered from S.A.D., for many years now and as I have said in the past it is really only in the last 5 years I have realised what was happening, my thoughts are as with all species in the animal kingdom many species hibernate during Winter and then re-awaken in Spring ready for the Spring/Summer/Autumn that lies ahead, could it be that some of us humans have this gene within us where we are prone to hibernate yet because we live in the society we do this is not possible therefore we who suffer from S.A.D., are actually fighting against our own natural instincts to go into hibenation at this time of the year.

I have thought of this for a couple of years now and I am really coming round to that way of thinking, I wonder if anyone has done any research into this theory to find out if this is the case, perhaps we who are suffering from S.A.D., have a gene within us, I wonder if they took a blood test from all of us would they find this gene within us, food for thought, I think.

It's strange Patricia, before I knew what was wrong with me I always described how I felt as though I wanted to hibernate, go to sleep and not wake up until the spring. Then when I was "officially diagnosed" I understood why I thought like this. For me it was quite liberating.

I totally agree.
I don't think I have a disorder I think it's the non sad lot that have.
Practically all biological life alters in the winter but we super duper superior humans don't.....BOLLOCKS, of course we do, just some have evolved to deal with the situation better or their predominant gene pool originates from another part of the world.
Electricity is to blame for the aggravation of SAD. Before the light bulb etc people retired when it was dark and woke when it was light, simple natural but as usual we had to tinker!

Are your toes hairy?

whistlingPig,
You are absolutley right about extra levels of melatonin in SAD sufferers. However, some researchs suggest that even if melatonin levels are controlled, SAD symptoms do not disappear. Melatonin is just on factor, it seems, and a sleepy one @ that ;-)

Interesting stuff folks, no i don't think we ever did or ever were supposed to hibernate, it seems our species 'evolved' near the equator with lots of bright sunshine and then gradually spread north and south into lands with less and less sunshine and longer duller and colder seasons and we are still playing catch up - all those many and varied mixed up genes you as an individual are carrying, effect how well you deal with all this. If you feel your energy levels are getting low this time of year and you feel you need more sleep then whats the problem with this? - nature slows down and takes a break in temperate climates allowing it to rest and recover ready for the new season, don't feel under pressure from 'society' to feel and act likes it's the middle of summer all the time.

Wouldn't it be lovely to just have to work, look after children, etc for just six months of the year. I wish I could just hibernate from society every winter but I feel guilty enough about not functioning at 100% now. Having to say sorry to my 12 year old son every time he comes home from school at 3pm and I am asleep on the sofa or having to go to bed. I suppose he has grown up with it so just accepts it is part of me but it doesn't make me feel any less guilty.

I apologise often for the fact that I don't alwasy see things as logically as i should, or am grumpy and irritable. I feel that those are things I SHOULD be able to do something about,

Another thought... back to the "evolving near the equator" theory: Other species generally have a "range" where they can naturally be found.

It's our ability to adapt technologically, socially... maybe our genetics & biology can't keep pace.

Well,according to anthropology we all came out of Africa so the evolving near the equater idea seems to make a lot of sense.However,i suspect that SAD has a number of causes.
I once read that there was link between the brains inabillity to produce seratonin and childhood tonsilitis(i was plagued by it as a kid)

I'm 28 and actually still have my tonsils. But then again, like you said, there are other causes. I'm surprised it doesn't have to do with eye problems/light perception.

Amalthea, although you still have your tonsils(as I do) were you plagued my sore throats as a kid?

Tonsilitis just means "inflamation of the tonsils" I was just wondering if you'd had a lot of sore throats as a child?As I'm doing a bit of research into the link with childhood throat infections and the under-production of seratonin.

I had tonsilitus an awful lot as a kid - tonsils out when I was 15. I am beginning to think I have SAD. I initially thought it was depression from divorce etc and amon Citalapram, but very recently feeling very down, tearful all those things which went in the summer. Going to doctor this afternoon. Looking into light boxes any suggestions?

Hi Amalthea,thanks for that.

Good question, suave. I'm one of those who can't warm up in wintertime.

I'm very sensitive to temperature. I'm warm in 90+ degree weather. WHen it's 80 and other folks are moaning about the heat, I am thriving. Anything below the mid-70's is cold... so imagine how I feel when it's 30-some or colder.

I often find that I have a very fine line between hot and cold. I have a nice warm blanket... I'll be shivering when I curl up in it, then I'll be sweating. My feet and hands will still be cold... my legs uncomfortably hot. It's rarely "just right."

Would love to know what sorts of things can cause temperature sensitivity like that. I am still curious on how our sleep problems affect symptoms. I know I've expressed my feeling that the sleep troubles CAUSE depression, confusion/forgetfulness, fatigue... etc. Even if folks may not agree, surely lack of restful/quality sleep has to have some sort of effects that are common to a lot of SAD sufferers.

(Sorry to beat a dead horse here. If you'd like, blame it on my brain not letting go of the idea -- who the heck knows what's going on "upstairs" with me lately.)

I'm mostly German, on both sides of the family. I'm not sure how I feel about the ancestry theory, but it'd be interesting to investigate.

I'm always cold also.

With regard to sleep, I feel that my quality of sleep is much poorer in the dark months - I sleep but wake up feeling like I haven't. It's much better with the dawn simulator but I still think I'm not hitting the right deep sleep pattern.

Quote Amalthea: ''I know I've expressed my feeling that the sleep troubles CAUSE depression, confusion/forgetfulness, fatigue... etc. Even if folks may not agree, surely lack of restful/quality sleep has to have some sort of effects that are common to a lot of SAD sufferers.''

:) I don't wholly disagree with you. I believe that the symptoms can be intensified by sleep problems, but I don't believe they are the underlying cause. My symptoms are far worse, when my sleep is disturbed.

I'm interested to read that you insurance company may pay for a dawn simulator for you. Do you have standard health insurance or is this work related?