Question is anyone knows?
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Posted by oldhippy, 17:00 13 November 2003Hi all thanks for looking
many lurkers or users of the board might be able to tell me if SAD is reconized as a disability? We all know the NHS now about SAD, but I am wondering if the relevent govenments who are in power are aware that SAD can be so disabling to many of us. The way I think of it as if the SAD is reconized as a disabilty perhaps many sufferers will get some help towards the cost of light boxes etc, of course it would have to be medically daiagnosed.. Anyone any thoughts on this, or even has anyone any horror stories when dealing with gov departments with them and SAD.. | |
Posted by Donna, 19:42 13 November 2003Evening oldhippy
I'm not sure about the answer, but I do remember a program a couple of years ago showed about 3 people who suffered from SAD. What springs to mind that one of the sufferers who was a female in her twenties didn't go out and had meals on wheels delivered to her door!!! Don't know if that was lucky or down to her GP? She did live on her own so she didn't have a partner to help. The program wasn't very informative about SAD and gave the impression that the lady was quite well at the time ( wasn't looking fatigue, not confussed etc ), this didn't make SAD seem bad to an outsider!!! Unless she was just trying it on because she was lazy??? I'm sure people wouldn't do this, well maybe they would!! :evil: She had energy to step out of the house, they should have showed a bad day!!! If I have bad days, I stay in but when days are good, I make the effort. I'm lucky to be getting less very bad days every year.This is due to accepting SAD I'm sure. Maybe the mind charity could give you the answer oldhippy??? True to contact them through their web-site, they detail SAD on it :D Hope this helps! Bye for now, hope u r having a good day!!! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D | |
Posted by oldhippy, 20:11 13 November 2003Hi Donna
I had a word with a friend I contacted and it seems that wait for it :lol: :lol: :lol: As SAD is only for xmas (sorry guys a joke) well the winter months which can be at a max time span 6 months that it is asumed a person is fine for 6 months. So the one disability that could be given to any person suffering from SAD that is not means tested and anyone can apply was the disabled living allowence. But as a requirement this can only be claimed if the disability lasts for more then 6 months. But, wait for it you have to have been ill for 3 months before it.. | |
Posted by Julie in Sussex, 08:56 14 November 2003Hi oldhippy
What a fine illustration that situation is of "between a rock and a hard place". Seems to work in exactly the same way as Redundancy Insurance, impossible, I don't think anyone ever manages to collect it. Could NHS Direct (phone or website) give you any other information do you suppose. I'll go and have a peep at their site later too. Blue skies and sunshine to you ~ Julie | |
Posted by oldhippy, 09:03 14 November 2003Thanks Julie
Why I was asking this was that as we all see from the forum many by circumstances cannot afford the private expense of light treatment/boxes. It would be nice if they can get a little support in order to get a light box, after all its a dam lot cheaper then getting anti depressents. But then there is logic somewhere. :shock: I sometimes think that if its something that cant be seen its regarded as irelevent and of course its a winter thing so you dont need it all year...:lol: I bet if Mr Blunket or Mr Blair had SAD the case would be diffrent, SAD would be the "In Thing" :lol: | |
Posted by dawn mimnagh, 22:04 14 November 2003Old Hippy - you are SO right - or any other VIP for that matter!
Can't you just see Posh and Becks sporting a funky looking lightbox - it would be all the rage then!! Maybe we need to start a campaign to raise awareness... | |
Posted by oldhippy, 00:23 15 November 2003Hi Dawn and all
Reading some of the posters here I think also Doctors should be more aware of SAD, this is not saying they are not. But sometimes its easyer to daiagnose depression itself as the root cause. You have to look at places like Finland etc where the winter sueicide rate is higher and sad is more readerly understood. I think the nearest SAD clinic to me is in Aberdeen and I supose many NHS areas might think its a lot of expense in semding someone there, hence the true amount of sad sufferers in the UK can be masked behind Depression as itself and not something seasonal. Its only when them in power are made aware of SADies and the problems that are present will anything truely be done to help.. anyway bed time for me :roll: Footnote From BBC Sad affects about 500,000 people a year in the UK, between September and April, but mainly during December, January and February. Professor Chris Thompson is carrying out a study on Sad behaviour via the Sad research centre at the University of Southampton. He said: "Because the depression associated with Sad is not the most serious, it does not tend to get beyond the GP surgery to psychiatrists, so the true number of sufferers may be much higher than current estimates suggest. | |
Posted by Julie in Sussex, 09:43 15 November 2003Morning there oldhippy (Donna and Dawn too!)
SO TRUE. Firstly, it is just so short sighted of the NHS - can't they see that the expense of consultations and drugs must in the end, especially if you add up the recurring years, add up to way more than the price of a lightbox per genuinely sad patient. The GP's quick-fix diagnosis being antidepressants needs thorough investigation. It could be so simple initially by offering the new patient a questionnaire to complete - there are two perfect examples of this in Dr Norman Rosenthal's "Winter Blues" book. We are after all talking about people losing 6 or so months of their lives, every year. My GP is now aware of my light therapy treatment, I even asked him if I could ask my lightbox company to send him a Doctors Information Pack, he agreed, they did, but whether he learned from that I don't know. If sceptical about something, people never take on board what you're telling them. Perennial denial. It is simply that I get furious to think that so many people are struggling unnecessarily with their winter gloom ~ I have 34 wasted winters under my belt. If GP's are feeling that mean about it, they could have one lightbox resident at their surgery, patient appears every morning for therapy and 'watch that space' oh yes, sorry, that's way too simple! Thank you oldhippy for the Dr Chris Thompson @ Southampton Uni information. Google gave me this link www.soton.ac.uk/~pubaffrs/0111.htm the article makes extremely interesting reading, especially for those of you who are visiting this SAD Forum and are still unsure whether or not you are suffering from SAD. It's a very informative read. Somehow though, I fear that we are just but a few little tiny voices shouting out for a major learning curve for all GP's in the area of mental health. Blue skies and sunny thoughts though! Julie | |
Posted by oldhippy, 13:04 15 November 2003I think thats it with SAD its the education of those in power to acept that SAD is/can be so disabliing for many sufferers. Man having any mental health problem is bad in itself, Yes that terrable word MENTAL HEALTH this seems to produce a efffect of someone that is not quite at home in the head, so many when faced with SAD go into deniel as not wishing to be someone with a mental health problem :? :?
As Many will know from my personal experence SAD for many years wrecked my life and relationships till I became aware what it was doing it. I did not want to admit "not been quite at home" in the Winter so the denial of treatment in any form happened. Drove me crazy :roll: :lol: Allthough much reasearch ahs been conducted in SAD nothing is done from whatever government is in Power to help the many sufferers and the system itself is set up so SAD suffers cannot ask for any help over the Winter time apart from been sick. Ok here is a prime example of the position.. I had a repetative strain injury in my right arm. The varoius Social services ran to help and provide anything that was required for me to lead a normal life at the cost of aboyt £1000.00 I recovered and all is well I asked about a Light box :shock: nothing :twisted: Points is the repetative strain was non medically daiagnosed the SAD is. Im sure these departments see SAD as something created in our own minds therfore open to abuse of the system. I was even asked if my SAD was cured from one gov dept such if the lack of any information.. Perhaps all should write to out MPs and demand equel treatment for out disability, YES its a disability.. :roll: I found this information on the net that is really good and from BUPAhttp://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/sad.html | |
Posted by Anonymous, 18:29 17 November 2003Dear Julie Old Hippy and all,
you are all so spot on. I don't even believe that SAD or depression is correctly labelled as mental illness - I mean do we sound 'mental'? Perhaps we have a 'physical' disability that affects our 'emotional' well being as well as our bodies, but other than that I would say we are a brave bunch trying to have as normal a life as possible, which is a battle sometimes, and trying to help others along the way. I will certainly read those links you posted on here when I have time. For some reason I haven't really felt depressed the last 3 days - possibly long enough on tablets, using lightbox and having 'like-minded people out there! I did the SAD test on the Norman Rosenthal site and I scored 11 and then 10 when I did it again because my husband refused to accept that my mood is 'marked' and is only 'moderately' changed. (Is it perceived or how I feel??) Anyway that means I only have the subsyndrome. I did the test in the Angela Smith book about 10 years ago and I got the same result then. I would say that depression is my main problem, but if what I have is 'mild' I truly feel sorry for those that score more highly. Mind you how do you determine whether you are 'slight' 'moderate' or 'marked'? Keep smiling! | |
Posted by Julie in Sussex, 09:18 18 November 2003Hi there 'Guest'
A very interesting conundrum, you filling in the questionnaire with hubby's overview ......... Perhaps you should rely totally on yourself being utterly grounded and honest with the questionnaire. After all, I find that no matter how I feel, the world is a stage and we perform to the very best of our ability even when we feel completely dreadful. I always 'try' for those I live with even if I don't know why I am doing that at the time. It must be deep seated pride, or the fact that no one can stand hearing how dreadful one actually feels with regularity, a desire not to alienate oneself, to fit in, or something. Love them to bits as I do in the summer, I do have a detachment from those I live with in the winter, but something deep down still makes me do my best. Perhaps I am even trying to bluff myself into believing that I don’t feel half as bad as I do. But, and it's a huge BUT, the reality of the grimness of this affliction is known but to me in this house. If someone has not been to this SAD place, they cannot know what it’s like. So, what I am saying is that only I could score my own assessment. Thinking that out used up every brain cell I have this morning so you will be pleased to read that I need to stop! Kindest things to you Guest, or are you registered and didn't log in? Julie (grey skies but with thoughts of blue...) | |
Posted by Anonymous, 19:20 18 November 2003Julie,
it was me not a 'Guest' - dunno why it is not saying it is not from me - normally I log straight in. Yeah we do put on a 'face' I think it is called survival. And it is typical of a loved one to try and play down how you are (in case it makes you worse to know the truth maybe), but even when I did the test without him first I didn't score that high - only 11 which is borderline. I feel shocked because sometimes I feel awful, but if true SAD is even worse then I dread to think what some poor souls are going through. Dawn xx | |
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