do u think i have S.A.D?

....i suffer from an illness that primarily makes me incapable of dealing with stress...basically this can be hearing loud music even for a short time to a job interview...in fact anything that takes me out of my comfort zone....it takes 5 full days to recover unless i get affected in between{which happens regularly}..the longest i have gone in about 15 years is 14 days without being affected....i have noticed i am more vulnerable if i sleep more hours....are these symptoms familiar to anybody?....the thing is it happens all the year round so am not sure if S.A.D..but i live in the north west of england and it's cloudy 90% of the year....my doc thinks maybe M.E.....{my brother has S.A.D}

Hi David,

Can I ask you, do these symptoms get worse during the winter months or do you get them all year round?

Thanks,
Donna.

oh yeh donna,,,wanted to add...the last time i can remember feeling really good was when i spent a couple of months in mauritius with constant sun......also when a dark cloud appears it feels like someone has dropped the planet on my head.....

Hi David,

It does sound familiar so you are not alone. Today, after a long day at work ,I have got home and feel like I have worked a whole week without a break! My attention span is very short and I don't feel like talking or listening for long as I feel knackered.

I am meant to be going for a run soon which will help me in the long run but I just want to lie on the sofa till bedtime!!

SAD can make you feel very stressed, fatigue, confused, weak, insecure, tense and anxious. Have you been to your Doctor at all David? How does your brother cope with SAD?

I have had sad for many years and one GP didn't believe in SAD (fool!) and one GP knew loads about sad and was brilliant! I found using a lightbox great for the early days but I do try tocope without now but I am a stubborn fool lol!!

Acceptance is a positive thing as it helps you cope better instead of having a go at yourself. Don't put too much pressure on yourself, e.g, like if you are tired, do less until you can manage more.

I do also think sleeping too much can make anyone feel worse and having a routine helps. Getting up earlier is good. Do you work or in education?

I think you should maybe see your GP first to make sure you don't have any other health issues first.

Hope this helps,

Donna.

.....the main point i'm trying to make is that there is always a specific thing that i can point to that triggers the symptoms which is why i'm not sure if it's SAD?