Is it just meor is this year worse?

Hi to everyone,
this is my first post this year,I had to reset my password as I just could'nt remember what it was & that just sums me up so far this year!
is anyone else finding this year particularly bad? as my sad is awful this year,I am really struggling to remember things,last week I got a £60 parking fine because I forgot to get a free ticket from the machine!! I have never done that before,thank god I get all my christmas shopping done & dusted in september before the sad kicks in as if I had to do it all now Im sure no-one would get anything,I just could'nt face it.
I find that my depression is not too bad at the moment,even though I am very antisocial & just dont want anything to do with people, but I do feel quite anxious & lay in bed at night worrying about the most stupid things that normally I would'nt give a thought too,I feel like a zombie all day,I just want to sleep all the time & my arms & legs feel like lead & my joints really ache,
I have suffered with sad for about 10 years & use a lightbox & take st johns wort,which normally is enough to curb it but I find this year the symptoms - especially the physical symptoms are the worst they have ever been,I was wondering if it has something to do with the awful summer we had in the UK so its somehow making the sad worse because we did'nt really get the sunshine & warmth early on,what does anyone else think?

I thought the Summer was terrible, my sad symptoms started earlier, not sure about Winter yet.

Glad to hear your'e having a good winter purpleivy & hope you hang in there paulst without it getting worse,you & me sound just the same whistlingpig you summed it up a treat when you said your brain felt like a lump of cheese thats just how mine feels lol!
I bet if you are anything like me you lay there at night worrying over the silliest little thing that people would laugh at if you told them & your right you do forget just how awful a bad year can be, Im longing for spring already,I just hope its a really warm bright one,
take care all x

I hope we have a good Winter, we certainly deserve it after the less than wonderful Summer.

I was going to post a thread similar to this, im finding this year alot harder aswell my symptoms have started about 1 month earlier than usual..... i also think its due to the very poor summer thoe.

I think the summer is the cause, and my experience has been similar. I'm troubled by the way I forget just how bad it gets.

HI and welcome to the forum, glad you have joined us, look forward to more of your posts when you feel ok.


paul

Welcome Toomucheffort, I think I can safely say you're not alone with the Christmas ball hating - it's taken me a while to work out why I love summer balls and parties but hate winter balls and parties!

Stick around here, it is really nice to know that others are feeling the same, I think it helps us know that we're not just "odd"!

I was very interested to read your posts. I'm heading off to the GP's later this morning, having had to take the day off work as the depression that's followed me for the last few weeks has finally peaked to the level of not wanting to wake up in the morning when I go to bed at night. I've suspected I may have SAD for a few years - but last time I felt like this (again, in December, two years ago) I was treated for depression. The prozac I was given did nothing but numb me to my surroundings and made my symptoms worse (swinging from manic to suicidal with no happy middle ground). Oddly enough, when I demanded I be 'allowed' to come off the medication, I normalised. Then, when spring took hold and broke into summer, I was 'back to my old self.' Last year wasn't too bad - though my immune system disappeared around November time. This year has been awful - since September I haven't managed a full five weeks in work without a break of at least a day. I've had four colds, several migraines that have each lasted more than two days and at the moment I would cheerfully give up work, life, the house and everything if I could just be left alone to curl into a little ball. I work as a teacher and while part of me loves the kids and their reactions to my lessons, today I never want to see another human being again. I'm not sure I have SAD, but I know that 'depression' would hit any time of the year and I also know I only need to 'get through' another six or seven weeks and I'll feel better. Does anyone have any advice for this 27 year old who's more or less written herself off?

Welcome to the forum. I do hope your visit to the GP was helpful. There are indications that you suffer from SAD, not the least of which is your overwhelming desire to withdraw from from life,work and everyone in winter, something that most here would share.
If relevant to you. you will find this forum very supportive. I'm not sure why, but it has a disproportionate number of teachers.
Good luck.

Hi maleficent angel,

I take med through the winter but not in the summer. I get full remission of the SAD in the spring.

I started in mid sept and usually start to taper off in March. Do it slowly and carefully. I did have side effects to begin with but they passed after a few weeks and I now have a manageable regime.

Hi Maleficent Angel (love the user name BTW!), it sounds to me like you're describing SAD.

I'd bite the bullet and either hire or buy a lamp - if you look on the main Lumie site they have a returns policy if the light doesn't work for you.

I have never been diagnosed with SAD, my GP was very focused on my stress levels and can't see past those! I can handle the stress but I know that I am a different person in the dark months than in the light months. I have never gone down the meds route, I don't like the idea of them, although I'm a different "me" in the winter, I do know it's still "me" inside.

Go for the light and see how you feel once you start using it. I'd also recommend that you try a dawn simulator as well. I found a lightbox was great and mine has changed my life but I still struggled in the mornings until I got the dawn simulator. I know it all adds up but I would try to get both and then see how you go.

Good luck, keep letting us know how you're doing - you're in good company here and we do know exactly how you feel.

Piglet x

Hi
I have had sad for 3 years now. I take meds for it and I have a light box. I was just wondering if anyone had the same problem that I do. I have summer sad symptoms in the winter and the lack of sleep is killing me. I now take a sleeping pill but it doesn't help with the early morning awakenings. Anyone have this problem. I also look forward to the spring and time change.

thanks but I kind of feel alone with my symptoms. The gp can't understand why I have the summer symptoms in the winter. Have any of you heard of that before

sorry I didn't mean to put any of you off but I just want some answers and the Gp has none but take the meds. She didn't even know how long to use the light box for. I live in Canada and our health care sucks. I have been trying to do research but you get alot of different answers.

JUST THINK OF A WARM TROPICAL BEACH WITH A BRIGHT SUN SHINING AND SOMETIMES I FIND THAT IT HELPS

Sandyb,
Maybe what shelley says is true... The longer you let yourself stay in, the more your anxiety will build. I imagine this has to be so hard and so limiting for you, and I hope you can break the cycle very soon. Maybe you can start out with a quick trip out instead of something complicated. I'm sorry to hear you're struggling.

Heather

Hi Stained Glass Lady... I always had the idea that the Canadians would be enlightened about SAd. I thought there had been quite a lot of research done at UBC

they tell me I suffer from SAD but they just give you meds I did the research on lightboxes and bought on but i can't tell if it is doing the trick.

good luck sandy with your move sometimes parents can help

I agree this is the worst year yet but look on the brite side 14 more days til the days get longer and 2 1/2 months till spring.

This really is the worst December I can remember, I cant wait till the days become longer again. We are going to have a wonderful Spring (I hope).

Hi everyone, I have just stumbled on this site and think it may be a lifeline to me. I have known that I suffer from SAD for quite a while but my GP has only receintly agreed with me. I am finding this year particularly difficult, feeling really down....if anyone has any suggestions as to how I can help myself I would be very greatful. I don't actually know a lot about SAD but was interested to read Shelly's comment as to how she forgets things, phew....I thought I was loosing the plot.... I forget things all the time and was beginning to think there was something worse wrong.

I have tried light bulbs but not sure if I have got the right ones. Please help if you can, thankyou.

Hi Arlene, the forgetfulness is very common - if you've got chance read through some of the old threads and I imagine you'll find a lot of things that feel familiar!