polar nights

yes it affects them worse.

they must be really depressed beause with no,light at all their body cant tell if it noon or nite so they must sleep like 16-18 hrs a day

snow doesnt do any good if the sun doesnt crack above the horizon at all

for me i get more depressed when there snow because when theres snow its so cold and when i see snow i know its truly winter which means summer is so far away

you dont get the infra red rays that make you feel better

I must admit, nice bright snow does make feel a little happier, and if the sun shines on it even better.

Since we don't get to have 16 hr days over half the year, we have to make the most of what we have. I like to make the most of every ray of sunlight I get in the fall/winter. I do feel better when the sun is out, it may be bitchin cold lately, but, I can still feel sun on my face and warming up my coat. And I find the snow makes a big difference when it comes. It brightens everything. I have no idea if infra red rays enhance things, but I do know great bodies of snow, like the poles, can be seen from space, so they must be pretty bright. I live out in the country w/ no streetlights and its black here at night, but when the snow comes it even glows at night making everything brighter even when the sun isn't out.

In the abscence of ideal long sunny days, its still much better than what a far arctic day must be like.

jeanne

Good I'm not the only one that loves the bright snow.

I hate it too but the snow makes it a little better.

right now we are getting a snow storm but it is bright with the snow

But this is Canada and its winter. We are in the snow belt area close to Buffalo New York USA. They usually get more that we do.

I have to admit, even when the sun is shining on a cold winters day, I still feel low. I think with me, it's the cold I also hate as much as the dark days and being cold makes me very very sad. I have found this happens to me every year. Does anyone else feel the same???

Thats good news. Today was a bad day for me. I wanted to go for a run in the sun even though it was cold but had a stupid panic attack! Boy I wish I would of grown out of having SAD by now but hopefully the symptoms will reduce in time.

Yes my Dad had sad and now at 57, his symptoms are much improved which is good. So you have had it for 3 years? Did you know what it was at first? I am 36 and have had it since the age of about 11. My mum noticed a big change in me every September time! This goes on till April for me. I didn't know what it was till I was about 25 because not much research was done when I was younger. I hope you are coping ok.

Sounds like you have had a pretty rough time to say the least. Maybe you could get a second opinion from another GP??

Thats a shame. I feel you need much more support.

yea those weak rays we get in winter do little to improve my mood i cant even feel the radiant heat of the sun because the air is so frigid!

Hi SGL

When I first went to my doctor around 16 years ago with the symptoms, he told me I was either schizophrenic or was taking drugs! Needless to say this put me in a REALLYYY good frame of mind (NOT). I had just moved to another town so I booked into see a more local doctor who sat me down, held my hand, listened to me through the sobs and then said " Have you heard of a condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder?" Which at the time I hadn't. I could have kissed him! He was rather dishy :o) It has proved to me that a second opinion is always a good idea if you're not happy with the first!

My doc didn't know me very well when I first saw him in the winter, I think he was a bit sceptical, treated me for depression, which was fine, it worked. The next spring and summer I was there once again, my normal self, then back in the autumn in a bad way., It was THEN that he realised what I was telling him was true. He has always been supportive, never dismissive about SAD, more well,
'let's see'.

She(GP) seemed to thing that I have up and down moods. Some days are better that others but don't we all get that way. Summer time I am always up even when it is raining out. Comes on in Nov and lasts until end of Feb. They are to quick to give out pills.
I also started on Omega 3 one a day for the first week then 2 a day for the next week. I do feel alittle better for it.

Because some of them are in it for the money and some are not. I have had trouble with doctors all along. Eveytime I find one that if good they die. Then I finally found one that was good and we had to move. This area hasn't got alot of doctors and they have been trying to get more to come to this area but it has been hard.

Ya they get a cut for the prescription and then get paid for the time 15 mins for a 5 min appointment. I went in 3 years ago and sat down to talk. He looked at me and said you are clinical depressed. I was out in 4 mins with a prescription. To fast.

I know here you are not allowed to switch unless a new one comes to town they just don't have enought and lately there haven't been any coming. Our Population in this town is 30,000 and that includes alot of little towns to make it a city. So it is about 200 square miles. with about 15 different little towns. My GP has about 8,000 Patients or more and thats just at one office he has two. One in one town and one in another.

Ya it is difficult I wish I had the same doctor that I had before we moved. She was great. But she is over 150 miles away. NOT Easy to get to.