How do you know if it is SAD

Not everyone gains weight or craves carbohydrates (lucky buggers)

you could look on
www.sada.org.uk

It's the Seasonal Affective Disorder Association website. It doesn't say very much but there are symptoms and also you can send for more information including a wodge of stuff on lightboxes.

My lightbox is my saving grace. It keeps me alive in the winter. If you do think you have SAD you can get boxes from Outsidein on a 21 day return deal ---- anyone who knows more can tell you.

I got my boxes from a company based in southport
www.sadbox.info
they sell a lot of 2nd hand lightboxes and also you can rent them for a month and if you decide to keep it the rent gets knocked off the price you pay to buy it.

Bright One

Hi Matty55

I'm pleased for you that you have found us, but sorry that you needed to. There are now 89 registered users of this site, most of us only know each other as fellow saddies, none of us seem to know others in 'real life' who suffer with this horribly debilitating condition.

As Bright One recommends, SADAssociation can send you an information pack. If you join the Association there is a discount on lightboxes from certain companies, such as Outsidein (whose Forum we are all using @ the mo').

As Calm suggests, The Winter Blues book is brilliant, it's my sad bible and explains exactly why you feel the way you do. Equally good to lend to friends who are bewildered by the annual turmoil you go through. The Dr who wrote the book also has a website in which there is a page SAD ? - Test Yourself , it works really well :
www.normanrosenthal.com/winter_blues_2.html

Have a good scout about through the Forum and you will find all manner of stuff that rings true with the way you feel, and exactly what people do to help themselves. Personally, I couldn't survive without my lightbox ~ but, as has been witnessed by the gang on the forum, not using it with a seriously strict routine and correct timing has this year been my downfall. But, feeling completely dreadful, despairing, remote, blobby, lethargic, futile and pointless, I got to grips with a proper dedicated routine last week and within 5 days I was renewed and back to managing my sad. The black sludgy gloom lifted from my head and I regained control. I am still very aware that it's winter, I am not energetic, I don't want to party, but I am awake most of the time and feel that I will make it through to April.

All the best, trust you will find some comfort here. Julie

Hi Matty55,
I'm relieved to find someone who possibly has SAD but without cravings and weight gain - I have felt bad nearly every winter for years, but because all the SAD info I read talked about biging on carbs I thought I didn't have it - plus Doctors have never even mentioned SAD to me!! But this year I have got it bad and I have been researching a bit (that is how I found the forum), and I have read two references about SAD only causing 70% of sufferers to over eat. I wouldn't say I was lucky cos I am naturally underweight, and if anything go off food when I feel like this which is not a good thing for me.

Anyway I am glad you found us. I am renting a Travel Lite for work use and it is great!!