SAD Diagnosis

Dear All,

Im new to this site and it has already prooved very interesting. Today was the first time ive really looked into the whole SAD thing and reading your posts and information on the net, i honestly think ive found whats been wrong with me the last few weeks.

Sorry to bore you all with the details but need to give you some background.

As a person i am a very outgoing, very sociable person. Due to where i live im out and about most of the time, admittedly alot of the time i do go clubbing so maybe my nighttime life doesnt help such situtations.

Since the clocks changed, both me and my friends have noticed a dramatic change in my mood. I live with 4 of my best mates and they have all commented on my lack of motivation and comments such as "thats so not like you" are becoming increasingly more promminent.

I am a gay 20 year old male and me and my boyfriend have been together a year or so now, and in the last month we have never argued so much. We have a relationship based on talking not argueing. but just recently it got to the point of physical violence which is when i noticed something was wrong.

Since last wednesday i have not been to work (its now a week down the line!) It is very unlike me to not go to work for this period of time! I have been at my job for the last 3 years and its a very stable position! Since not going to work i have either been awake for up to 36 hours at a time or slept for 14 hour periods! I have been out once since and this is not me. Today for example, i was up at 6am (which i never do!) and then fell asleep at 2pm for 3 hours, did a few things and then had dinner, fell asleep at 7pm and woke again @ 10pm.

Sorry if ive bored you but your comments would be appreciated. I dont know what the best course of action is, but before anyone tells me that i need to do exercise to help me, i can tell you know, i never have and never will be an "active" person! I have no interest in going for a run or going to the gym so please any alternatives will be openly welcome!

Thanks for your time!
Liam

sorry Liam it should say that if you are not feeling like going clubbing. There is something wrong with the edit option

I too find that keeping regular hours i.e going to bed by 11 (I sometimes can't manage that late LOL!) and getting up between 7 & 7.30 is a good help. I try and avoid sleeping in the day if I can, as if you have sleep problems that is what is recommended. can't resist shutting my eyes some days, but try and do it in an environment where I won't go to sleep properly. regular meals,so your blood sugar is at an even level should also help prevent fatigue.

I find I have 2 different lives, one from Sept-March (worse between Oct and Feb) and quite a different one between April and September.

Haven't heard from you again Liam. Are you OK?

Hi i have just been reading some of your comments, im 25 and have suffered from depression for about 4 years now, i find this time of year very hard on me.
i notice it starts with the dark evenings and the bigggest problem i would have is getting up in the morning as it takes a while to go to sleep. i try to keep a regular pattern but never seems to help. then i go to work tired and with a lack of motivation.
i was considering trying the light therapy to see if it would help. can you suggest one which might be good for me?
thanks ann

Many of the members of this forum use a light box and/or dawn simulator. We find them invaluable.

There is a lot of information on the tab marked the same. Apollo light also have a useful section about light therapy.