I'm going round in circles!

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Anonymous
joined 3 Dec 2008
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Posted by Anonymous, 19:50 18 August 2003

I've been looking at various sites about SAD and they all say the same thing. Light boxes, anti-depressants, massage, actupuncture, counselling, anti-depressants and St. Johns Wort are the only effective treatments.

I don't know how rich you people are but light-boxes start at 100 quid and massage, actupuncture and counselling don't come cheap either (or at all on the NHS). I don't want to risk the side-effects of anti-depressants, because they only supress the symptoms and I can't take St. John's Wort because I'm on the pill. Serotonin is supposed to help too but the only natural place I can find that is in chocolate, yet one of the symptoms of SAD is weight-gain so I really don't want to be eating large quantities of choccie, only to get even fatter and in turn even more miserable as a result. :roll:

Do light boxes really cost that much to produce? Or is someone making rather a lot of money out of us SAD sufferers?

Does anyone know of any cheaper solutions?

Anonymous
joined 3 Dec 2008
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Posted by Anonymous, 11:55 19 August 2003

hello,

There are a few natural remedies I discovered online that can counter act SAD. Vitamin C and B-12 is suppose to be useful. You can either take Vitamin C tablets or just increase your fruit intake. Try also to take walks during the winter months when there is some light visible this way you not only get fresh air but you can take in some of the light.

I recently bought a flood lamp that was of reasonable price from Woodies hardware and must say that the light it produces is very strong. It does make me feel better after having the lamp on for some time. You can try and see if this lamp will be of help to you.

hope this information is helpful

mel

Anonymous
joined 3 Dec 2008
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Posted by Anonymous, 18:22 20 August 2003

Thanks Melissaw. I'll have a look for one of those flood lamp things. Sounds good :)

siddy
joined 22 Jan 2003
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Posted by siddy, 21:54 29 August 2003

Hello, i wouldn't dismiss meds as only masking symptoms as prozac works on the 5HT receptors which are involved in symtoms of SAD. Basically it's not like taking a painkiller its not purely to mask symptoms. I would recomend prozac in the darkest months and also using lots of energy saving bulbs in lamps and ceiling lights so that you feel you can have lots of light without costing a fortune in electricity. Do lots of exercise if possible but I still recommend looking at getting a cheap lamp (maybe secondhand) it helps if you use it in mornings particularly to get out of bed! Yes lighboxes are generally overpriced and I know of one company at least that imports certain models from countries which must cost a fraction of the price to produce but savings don't seem to be passed on to the consumer! . . . . .siddy

oldhippy
joined 6 Jul 2003
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Posted by oldhippy, 08:49 9 September 2003

True there Siddy, Prozac is what the Doctor prescribed for me during a depressive session I had back in July and are still on them. Admittilly there is some side effects that can be experenced by some, but I was OK. Must agree that with the looming of Winter the depression that we all feel is not that much of a problem, but then again this is the prozac working in increasing the flow between the recepters.

I use also anything that is cheap. like so many Saddies and the alternative treatments for exapmle light boxes very sadley are not avialable on the NHS. Yes exercise in the winter helps and walks in the light time does help. PLus the good old Vitamin's as you mentioned helps a little, basically keep yourself in top condition, althought you will feel like going back to bed and wake up in April next year. As we all know this is tempory and come next March things will be getting a lot better..

Anonymous
joined 3 Dec 2008
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Posted by Anonymous, 03:57 9 November 2003

I've been looking at various sites about SAD and they all say the same thing. Light boxes, anti-depressants, massage, actupuncture, counselling, anti-depressants and St. Johns Wort are the only effective treatments.

I don't know how rich you people are but light-boxes start at 100 quid and massage, actupuncture and counselling don't come cheap either (or at all on the NHS). I don't want to risk the side-effects of anti-depressants, because they only supress the symptoms and I can't take St. John's Wort because I'm on the pill. Serotonin is supposed to help too but the only natural place I can find that is in chocolate, yet one of the symptoms of SAD is weight-gain so I really don't want to be eating large quantities of choccie, only to get even fatter and in turn even more miserable as a result. :roll:
My husband made my "sunshine lights". He made each one out of a florescent shop light with two bulbs, one a full spectrum light and the other an acquarium light (pink). I certainly wouldn't brag that it compares with the expensive ones, but it helps me quite a lot.
Do light boxes really cost that much to produce? Or is someone making rather a lot of money out of us SAD sufferers?

Does anyone know of any cheaper solutions?

Anonymous
joined 3 Dec 2008
46730 posts

send a pm

Posted by Anonymous, 04:03 9 November 2003

I've been looking at various sites about SAD and they all say the same thing. Light boxes, anti-depressants, massage, actupuncture, counselling, anti-depressants and St. Johns Wort are the only effective treatments.

I don't know how rich you people are but light-boxes start at 100 quid and massage, actupuncture and counselling don't come cheap either (or at all on the NHS). I don't want to risk the side-effects of anti-depressants, because they only supress the symptoms and I can't take St. John's Wort because I'm on the pill. Serotonin is supposed to help too but the only natural place I can find that is in chocolate, yet one of the symptoms of SAD is weight-gain so I really don't want to be eating large quantities of choccie, only to get even fatter and in turn even more miserable as a result. :roll:
Do light boxes really cost that much to produce? Or is someone making rather a lot of money out of us SAD sufferers?

Does anyone know of any cheaper solutions?

DATZME: "My husband, datzhim, made me sunshine lights. He took a shop light and put in the following two florescent bulbs, one full spectrum and one acquarium (pink). It is amazing how much these help, especially early in the morning when it is so hard for me to get out of bed."

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