Anyone feel ok?
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Posted by Craver, 11:10 22 November 2005Hey all, I just wondered if anyone feels better than they did this time last year?
I'm still using the light for an hr a day, but feel almost 'summerish' in my moods. We seem to have a lot more sun this year - maybe its because we haven't actually hit the hard winter time yet. Just rambling with thoughts :roll: xx | |
Posted by paulst, 16:00 22 November 2005Hi craver,I think your right, the weather does seem a bit better this autumn. Better make the most of it because the forcast for later this week isnt good :( paul :)
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Posted by cazjenson, 15:13 23 November 2005hi
A few years ago before I was diagnosed S.A.D I was distraught as winter came round.I suffered the most terrible depression, anxiety, lack of confidence,social withdrawal, etc. etc. etc. I literaly could not get up in the morning ( hopeless when you have 2 young daughters), and no motivation to do anything. :cry: My G.P spotted the pattern and sent me to see a specialist, Then came the light box, then the dawn simulator. It's taken a long time to get some progress but it's there. :) I'm better in the mornings now if I keep a good routine ( the days have been pretty bright so far this year) but my afternoons and evenings are awful. I slow right down in the afternoons and I'm often in bed by 8.30/9 I also take anti-d's in the winter from about late sept. Keep your chin up Take care Cazjenson | |
Posted by Linda, 17:54 23 November 2005Caz, just a thought . . . do you have any light in the afternoon or evening? Some here, like Siddy, use it more than once at different times of day. Maybe it could help you with your evening slump. I know what it's like to be looking after kids and feel like you're struggling just to stay awake.
Best wishes, Linda. | |
Posted by cazjenson, 18:23 23 November 2005Hi Linda,
Thanks for the thought, I haven't used my light box later in the day yet, maybe thats something I can fiddle about with. I'll let you know how I get on. My daughters are 16 and 18 now so their pretty independant now but it was very difficult for me and them when they were younger, Fortunatly my husbands very supportive. Thanks again :) Take care Cazjenson | |
Posted by paulst, 21:16 23 November 2005I think this Autumn, with my tablets and lightbox im coping really well. I think a lot of credit must go to my little lightbox, it seems to give me a big energy boost first thing in the morning. I cant praise it enough :D :lol:
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Posted by PuppyLove, 00:57 24 November 2005Hi ive joined this site and good to see other people who understand. I am feeling bad at the moment, wasnt too bad until last week but now im really fed up of the dark and cold. Im in uk and not only is it getting darker each day its cold too and combination of the two makes me feel bad. Im not taking any medication or ever used light box or anything but have felt like this every winter and just put it down to winter blues so done nothing about it but put up with it and the deppression and tiredness ext. I dare not go to doctors incase they dont understand or are nasty about it. I hate november and december worst of all because getting darker all the time, at least i know the light is coming back after 21st december even though it is slow. Time seems to go really slow in winter i think, yet summer goes too quick. It was lovely in june this year though, both light and hot too but over too quickly, wish it would stay like that all the time. Anyway take care all and i maybe try the chat room one tuesday night.
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Posted by Linda, 08:50 24 November 2005Hello Puppylove,
You don't need to suffer!! I'm pleased you found us here, and the fact that you're posting suggests that you're willing to entertain the notion that there's a reason why you don't feel so good in the winter. Most GPs are clued up about SAD now, there are a few who aren't but other people here have said that if that's the case with your GP, why not try seeing a different one. Mine certainly acepts SAD as real and I think he understands as well as his training allows. I can't imagine any GP actually being "nasty" to a patient who is exhibiting depressive symptoms. It's also worth finding out whether there may be another medical problem underlying your symptoms and GPs can arrange tests for you. You could also try getting a light box and see if it helps. Most comapnies offer a 30-day trial period so you can see if it works for you. At any rate I'd encourage you to read/listen to what people say here about how they treat their SAD. It isn't too late to take steps to avoid feeling awful for the rest of the winter, there really is so much you can do to help yourself nowadays. Keep in touch, Linda :) | |
Posted by paulst, 18:47 24 November 2005Hi puppylove, im sorry you are feeling low. I know you are worried about visiting the doctor, I didnt want to go at first , but im glad I did . Its made me feel so much better, if you are depressed im sure your doctor will be sympathetic . please take care :) paul
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Posted by lill, 14:14 25 November 2005Im definatly feeling better than last year, this time last year i was a mess even with my lightbox, i put it down to recently getting a driving licence and getting 15 mins driving in direct sunlight first thing in the morning.
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Posted by PuppyLove, 21:25 28 November 2005Hi Linda and Paul, thanks for youre replies, and for being understanding, hope youre well. Im going to my drs this later this week so will see what she has to say but it has taken me ages to get the courage to go. Im not feeling too bad this week, in spite of the fact weve now had snow :( yuk, last week felt really bad, i suppose its the same for most of us who feel like this, sometimes can cope with it but then get down again but hopefully dr will help to make things a bit easier for me. I didnt realise so many people the same, and i found this site by accident. Anyway take care and hope speak with you sometime in the chat room :) . puppylove
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Posted by caz1, 20:54 4 December 2005hi there every one
i have been suffering the symtoms or some of them this winter, and i did last winter as well. i have not been to my doctor yet as i too feel silly.i am nervous, worried, stressed out about it, i have no motivation to do any thing, and thats hard with 2 children. i am so fed up and want my normal self back, i want to cry all the time. have loads of questions i need answered. is it true we dont all suffer the same or all of the symtoms. is it normal to want to fall asleep if you have had a good nights sleep,is it normal to get into a bad sleep pattern, like going to bed late. im just so fed up, sad, and hate the winter, dark months, i dont know what else to say as i cant even think straight any more. help caz | |
Posted by gailx, 22:09 4 December 2005HI Caz,
I am sorry to hear you are feeling bad.... First id say get yourself a light box... and go to the Doctors... A lot of ppl self diagnose they have sad. For me, (and literally millions) ppl find the light box helps them cope with the sad and takes away a lot of the problems with SAD. Its pretty amazing and I was not that hopeful before I started it.. but its great and you feel SOOO much better in a few days... (however you also go back to square one in a few days if you stop using it). For me, and I hope this helps, is accepting they way you are and not 'getting upset with yourself.' I think it started for me at about 25yrs old, and it wasnt until I got to about 35yrs old and I slowed down on the partys and late night, (wild child days), that I realised I still felt bad. Even in my younger days when I suffered with it, (and id not been going out all night), I used to get myself in a right old state, couldnt hack work, I was a nervous wreck ALL the time, Id cry when Id been in bed for 4hours plus still not being able to sleep.... When I was younger I put it down to my lifestyle, although I was really only going out once maybe in the week and fri and sat.... Once you know what is the matter, (and it sounds like sad but do try go your doctors) then you can do what it takes to improve things.. ALso I find helps is the relaxation tapes / Cds. I like Paul McKennas work and it seems to help me. Going for walks on sunny days helps and eating properly and going the gym. Most of the microwave food is full of bad perservatives and no vitamins... so take the time to have your own cooked food, honey in tea..... I read Gillian ... (forgot last name) you are what you eat book and MAAAAN that change my diet over night. Hang in there honey, you are not on your own and theres always a bunch of us on here who want to help you and will answer your questions... I hope this has helped, someone else I read today reminded me that 21st of dec is the last longest night, then it start to get better and the days get slowly better, so we are nearly at that point! Take CAre, Love Gailx | |
Posted by caz1, 00:05 5 December 2005hi gailx
thanks for replying to me, i feel very thankfull that the people on here are so nice and helpfull, and that realy helps as i dont feel that i can talk to any one else at the moment and if it wasnt for all you lot i would go stir crazy. im gonna go to my doctors tomorrow and see what happens.i have just changed my diet recently, well the whole families diet, more fruit and veg, mainly for the kids, as i didnt feel they were getting enough, we also eat more meat. the trouble is at the moment i dont want to do all that cooking as i feel its a chore and i just cant get in to it, where as a few months a go i was doing proper meals every day. light boxes, where would you say the best place to go, or the best one to buy. i have noticed you can buy special light bulbs, are these just as good or are the boxes better. sleep for me is not a problem, apart from i have got into a bad routine of going to bed late,so there for i cant get up in the morning and im tired in the day. thank you for your kind words, once i have spoken to my doctor hopefully i will be able to accept and talk about it to my husband and friends. im wondering about the sleep problems, can you have sad even though you might not suffer sleep problems as such. thanks ever so much again caz x | |
Posted by gailx, 02:54 5 December 2005HI Caz1
advert deleted The management You said about getting into bad habits about sleep.. I think that it could well be part of sad, as I eventually do get to sleep and sleep ok most of the time. However I dont get up to well and I have to have a tea time nap, if I am at home then great I take it, if not I usually work though it and feel tired until I get the nap! Last year, I 'went round the clock' so stayed up till 9.00am, and went to sleep at 9.00am, then a day or so later stayed up till 11.am and then went to bed, until I eventually was going to bed at 5.00pm and getting up at say 4.am... YOu know it took about a month and I was back to going to bed at 2.am... !!! So I dont think Ill bother to try it this year! It was a big effort to do that and I just fell straight back into my old ways...LOL! I thought it may help.. but the ppl I normally see where not about AM! Well let us know how you are doing and at least you are now taking steps to improve matters... Most of my mates understand.. a couple (that of course dont have it...) that does upset me give me stick about it, I have emailed them quotes on 35 milliom ppl suffer from it.. but they still think I am a lazy git.. Cant win them all... Love Gail | |
Posted by caz1, 03:36 5 December 2005hi gailx
thank you very much for that info, i searched both of them websites and found the new bluewave and £150 so i think i will buy 1, can use batteries and can take it any where. on the other site address you gave me i done a test. my score is 51 moderate, and recomends i use light therapy from 8.00 till 8.30 every morning. and yes we people who go to bed late are classed as night owls. i have dcr, delayed circadian rhythm disorder.which can cause sad, so it sais.so thank you very much, i do sort of feel relieved a little, with out sounding silly, as at least it means i know why i feel the way i do, and i didnt want the depression tablets. plus i know im not going mad. so thank you yet again, i will keep you posted, thanks so much | |
Posted by caz1, 11:48 5 December 2005hi
does any one know if the light boxes cause problems for the eyes, and also would i need to use the light box in the summer? im asking because im in dispute with my husband over this, another one who doesnt understand. very very annoying. thanx caz | |
Posted by Linda, 12:15 5 December 2005Caz, while I too recommend the test on Apollo Health and think it's a good site, I'm wary of what they say about their Blue Wave stuff. Here is what Norman Rosenthal says in his updated Winter Blues about blue light:
"Several companies have been marketing fixtures that emit blue light, advertising them as superior to white-light fixtures. Is this true? . . . The bottom-line answer is, at this time stay with conventional white-light fixtures. We have decades of experience indicating that these are effective and safe. As of the writing of this book, there is not one published study on the effectiveness of blue light for treating SAD. Nor is there the long track record of safety. On the contrary, there is long-standing concern about potential toxicity of blue light to the eyes. The burden of proof as to whether blue light is safe and effective must fall on those who advocate this novel treatment. So far, in my opinion, this burden has not been met." I hope this helps :) As far as using the light in the summer . . . well most people with SAD find that it ceases to be a problem maybe in March or April. Some others find that they have symptoms on overcast summer days and get their light boxes out then. Others who are not so lucky, find that some symptoms still persist in the summer but to a lesser degree. I was using light all last summer but I have clinical depression too, which it helped with. Let us know how you get on? Linda. | |
Posted by caz1, 13:38 5 December 2005hi linda
thank you very much for that info, i shall show it to my husband. if he is correct in what he is saying then fine, but i would like him to be a bit more understanding on the rest. i do remember someone (cant remember who ) telling me about how difficult it is to get people to understand. i think i would feel better if i were to get a white light, peace of mind, and as you say we have research on the white light. thankyou caz | |
Posted by Linda, 13:36 6 December 2005Can I ask what your husband disagrees with/doesn't believe? Does he think that it's normal for everybody to feel a bit down in the winter, and that you're exaggerating? (these seem to be the common things that people say.)
Linda. | |
Posted by caz1, 14:18 6 December 2005hi linda
yep he thinks im mad, he thinks that i should go to bed earlier,(before 12 midnight). so then i wouldnt be so tired, grumpy and the rest of it, have been given anti depressent tablets today. i told him i got tablets and he said i shouldnt try them, i should try going to bed earlier. | |
Posted by Linda, 15:24 6 December 2005Hm, yes I suppose for the person who knows nothing aout SAD, that would be the obvious answer.
Have you explained to him that you are simply unable to get to sleep early? Maybe printing out that leaflet from the Mind site, and letting him read it, would help. You can forget just how mysterious this condition can be to those around you who don't know what it's like. I had a long conversation with my husband last night and he was afraid I didn't love him anymore and wanted to leave him because I seemed to distant and "cut off." I also had to explain how and why my light therapy works. He said he's been lying awake at night worrying about these things, and if I'd have to be putting "that thing" (my light visor) on my head every day for the rest of my life. I simply had no idea this was going on and I'm glad we talked. I'm on antidepressants too, though they were the last resort for me and I resisted them a long time. I like "natural" remedies and I guess I was afraid of side effects, and losing even more of my humanity because of a drug. It hasn't been as bad as that and I've accepted that I need to take these pills for now. The sexual dysfunction was upsetting but ginkgo biloba extract has been an amazing help; apparently is clears the problem for about 80% of women. I feel for you Caz, it sounds like a difficult situation. Let us know what you decide to do? Take care, Linda. | |
Posted by PurpleIvy, 17:59 6 December 2005the gingko biloba helps in 'that' department? Is this true?
Purple Ivy | |
Posted by Linda, 22:31 6 December 2005Well I don't suppose it's guaranteed to help everyone, but research does suggest that it can help most women who get sexual dysfunction from SSRIs. I'm surprised it isn't a more talked-about thing. Apparently you can safely take one or two doses per day, but I only need one dose. I'm just glad I'm "me" again. In my experience it's rare to find a herbal remedy that works so quickly and noticeably, it really makes a nice change.
Ginkgo is expensive in most shops I've been in, don't know why; I was able to buy three times that amount from an online supplier for a little less. It's not of critical importance in my life, I just hate the fact that SSRIs do that to me; it makes me feel robbed of another part of my humanity, as if the depression didn't do a good enough job of that already. Obviously no one has to come here and admit that they get this particular side effect, it is after all a very personal thing. But I'd say that if anyone else reading this is affected too, this herb is definitely worth a try. Linda :) | |
Posted by PurpleIvy, 22:36 6 December 2005Yeah, well although it didn't really bother me that much, it definitely affected my husband! LOL It was bad enough for him having a depressed unhappy wife as well as the fact that I didn't want him. Result was in the past that I tended to wait until it was too late before going and getting the antidepressants when needed. Looks like there might be a way of having my cake and eating it........ not at the moment, I feel great now, but useful for the future.
Purple Ivy | |
Posted by Linda, 07:59 7 December 2005:) You getting by OK without the ADs this winter then?
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Posted by PurpleIvy, 08:05 7 December 2005So far so good. I didn't feel as good last week when it was really dark. I have 5* light therapy over Xmas as am visiting my sister who is living in the Caribbean. I am a bit concerned about getting over jet lag this time of year.
Is it possible to email you direct. DOn't want to broadcast too much personal information really. Perhap I'm just too sensitive? Purplecrab | |
Posted by Linda, 17:44 8 December 2005Sure. If you want to send me a private message, then that's possible through the forum. Just click on "PM" at the bottom of my post.
Linda :) | |
Posted by caz1, 16:46 11 December 2005hi linda
just wondering if ginkgo biloba comes from the doctor or can we get it from the chemist? | |
Posted by paulst, 19:03 11 December 2005Hi kaz, I think you can buy ginko biloba from most health food shops and Boots :) paul
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Posted by caz1, 19:30 11 December 2005thank you very much for that paul :)
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Posted by Linda, 09:19 12 December 2005The jar I'm using came from . . . uh, an independent chemist shop. Once I finish that I'll start on the jars I bought online; they're slightly stronger but other than that their composition looks similar -- and they were a lot cheaper. If you're interested here's the URL:
http://www.purelyhealthdirect.co.uk/phd/os/index.jsp;jsessionid=156FF196D3E1821FFDC7DF1FD5B23B44 Best wishes, Linda. | |
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