SAD Chat Room

I would guess that alot of people here stay up till early hours of the morning.

Would anybody be interested in an online chatroom, on paltalk, so at least we can humour each other??

Please let me know! be good to make some friends who are going through this, support each other, and just try to laugh and not think about things too much.

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I'm so sorry to hear you're feeling so bad. I hope I can be of some help. I live in WA, and it's so gloomy here lately. I'm looking for light therapy as a help. I have no energy or ambition. I'm getting much more exercise, and that helps with the depression. I hope you're getting enough sleep. Very important. I wish you to stay alive for a very long time. One thing that also helps me is Vitamin B.. it helped me a long time before prescriptions came along.. I use NatureMade from Costco, and take one or two a day. I only take Zoloft.. I understand a lot about clinical depression, but my bad thoughts are long under control, and it can happen for you as well. Are you going to try the light therapy? It seems to work, and when there's sun or even if you can't see it... 15 min. outside can also help your symptoms, and help with the VERY important Vitamin D JL I'll pray for you..

Hi. I've just been diagnosed with SAD and can have also felt realy bad lately. I am trying to be outside with the sun in my eyes whenever I can and to try and do something possitive every day. Does anyone have any other ways to cope

Hello everyone
I am Caroline, age 37, married with 3 children. and have suffered SAD for about 4/5 years now. The winter just gone is the 2nd time I have had the depression tablets. The difference being when I went back at begenning of April and the doctor said about cutting me down to stop. I told him that I know the depression will come back. He told me I had SAD, I already knew that even though the doctor had not told me before. I am feeling on top of the world at the moment, but over the winter I was the worst I have ever been. I did experience some weird things that have never happened before, will chat about them soon. I was a member of this site going back to 2006 I think was the last time I posted, and just returned.
Hope all is well
Caz

Hi Badger, were you ok in summer? It's likely to be SAD if you repeatedly feel ok in summer but depressed in winter. Is the SAD lamp working for you?

Thanks for replies, sat in the sun all day today and was able to tidy and function, summer is fine i just loose it in winter! Second day with lamp fingures crossed.
Thanks
Sarah

Hi Barney, yes I feel like that too, although I usually feel better at the beginning of May. This is a very frustrating time, waiting to feel better but still having symptoms. I'm just trying to get through each day at the moment and counting the days until May.

I'm so glad to get a response-I spend all of my time alone when feeling like this because I find being around people so hard so its lovely to have some contact. Hopefully May will bring confidence and happiness! I too felt better a couple of weeks ago but then crashed again-hope you feel better soon Colin and same to you Bagpuss :)

I'm going off to Turkey on Tuesday, so hopefully I will get a really good boost for the summer. But according to the forecast you will all get a good boost too in the uk during the next week, high teens low 20s centigrade all week, and reasonable sun shine. Hope its what we all need to shake the winter off.

:0)

I find that to be true with me. Things have been up and down recently, when the weather was getting better I improved but now it's raining and has gotten cold I've slumped a bit. Hope things get better for you :)

Feeling really fed up-still no better-hopelessness no confidence, tearful etc-just wanted to share that. I hope things improve soon so I can get on with my life. At least on here I know I'm understood, I just wish I knew more people who suffered in the same way, you can feel so alone sometimes. As though it will never end....forgotten what it is like to be happy

Thankyou-that means alot :) also happy birthday for the 21st!!

Thanks for the birthday greetings Barney! Hi there Bagpuss! I agree with you - although today has been sunny here today, I think the weather's about to change but hopefully it will get better as we go on. I do hope so - it's been pretty grim the last week or so. Do hope you are feeling some relief Barney but really do understand how you feel on a low. Take care all. x

Hi Badger... sorry to hear you have felt sooooo bad this week ;o( I felt particularly bad this last 2-3 days and just cannot think straight; driving me crazing, used the lightbox morning and afternoon which must be doing something but still feel pretty aweful. I too felt quite good a while ago. Its no joke! Do hope you feel better soon though...you take care x
Lets hope we get some real sunshine and warm weather soon ehe? x

I got back from Turky this week. Had a great time. Didnt feel bad at all.

But now I have been feeling low again since I got home. Have been in front of light box every morning :-(

Hi Poppy - love the name; same name as my Spaniel!
Great to have you with us - I have had SAD for about 12 years now and
can only speak for myself personally.

I do not feel as good with a lightbox as I would in the Summer months with natural light but then a lightbox cannot possibly give the same amount of light. But you would definately
feel much better than not using one at all.

Its all to do with light levels measured in lux. A typical summer's day is around 1000,000 lux but a dull autumn day is around 1,500 outside. A good lightbox offers about 10,000 lux
of light but time spent in front of it and distance from the lightbox are all factors to take into account. You need to follow the instructions you get with the light box.

Some people also feel temperature has a profound effect on them as well as light although some dispute this. Personally I feel it does contribute to how bad I feel.

Just a point about the anti-depressants. I too refuse these drugs but I do use St. John's Wort through the winter months and into summer if we are having a dull, miserable summer. But please check with your doctor first though Poppy before doing anything.

I don't have an alarm wake-up light but would imagine its a much nicer way to wake up on a dark winter morning, if nothing else! Good Luck with it all and keep in touch;-) xx

Glad to be of help to any SAD sufferer - its very debilitating:-(

I use the Diamond 4 Lightbox with white lights and have found it extremely efficient as its so powerful you don't have to spend much time in front of it if you are very close. Sometimes I use it whilst doing other things at more of a distance so need to lenghthen the time of use.

With the lack of light we're having with this terrible summer so far and so much cloud cover, I have been using it sometimes even now for short periods. Let's hope the sun shines soon!

Hope it all goes well for you :-) x

Hi Poppy - sorry to hear about your accident.

Seems as though you are doing all the right things. Our home has been completly re-decorated and re-furnished due to my problem with SAD. It used to be full of dark beams and dark furniture in a cottage style. Now I wont have anything dark. White, sunshine yellow, pastel wall colours, bright modern furniture, lots of glass, mirrors and all heavy curtains have gone in place of white blinds. It really does help. Light and airy is the key.

I can only think most people use this site in the winter months as there doesn't seem to be much response here. Though I'm surprised this Summer more people are not looking in as with such a lack of sunshine and dismal days I have had to use my lightbox much, much more this summer. Its almost felt like being winter.

First signs for me usually start around end of Septemeber, going into October, definately by the end of October. You need to start using your lightbox well before. If you wait until you feel tired, lethargic, sleepy, depressed etc. it takes much longer to correct. So use before that happens. :-) x

Hello AnnieQ, yes I find it impossible to relate to people when I'm low. It helps to remind yourself that often people aren't aware that you feel that way-that stops the anxiety from escalating-sorry to hear about the diabetes-Barney

Hi guys.
Just wondering, does the social withdrawal that comes with S.A.D also include your loved ones? I don't feel bad avoiding the world at large but I feel so guilty when I just want to curl up next to my lamp and read and be left alone. I feel like the worst mother and wife on the planet :(

All I can say is-don't feel guilty-when depressed you are suffering and feelings of guilt will only add to that. Its easier said than done but try tour best to be compassionate with yourselves :)

Koko & Poppy, I feel the same when I'm in the depths - I'm a bad friend, bad girlfriend, bad daughter etc. Barney's right, try to be nicer to yourselves. If it was your loved ones feeling really down would you think worse of them for it? No, you'd be concerned, trying to understand and help, not criticising so don't criticise yourself. Poppy, I had some CBT earlier this year and I found it helped, maybe the counselling is worth a try?
Remember too that it's OK to need time to yourself and to rest. Don't try to second guess how people are thinking about you because you're possibly not thinking right about yourself at the moment. I know it's tough, I've had SAD for 10 years, some OK years, some terrible ones, just keep fighting x.

Koko, yes, I withdraw from everyone, hubby included too, strangely not from my children, I dont know whether it is a mother thing, but they still register no matter what, they are grown now, so they know about SAD, and they understand that it could happen to them one day too. I wish I did not withdraw as I know some lovely people and have some fab friends, I feel like a fairweather friend and even though I know they love me, if I cant be around in the winter, I feel I do not deserve to have them around in the summer. I stitch and make toys and surprise presents for them when they feel down or they are not well and always make sure that I tell them how how important they are to me. It can be a bitch on relationships though.

Hi Poppy.
It's a great book, definitely worth reading if you can find the time and energy. My husband is reading it along with me, he's very open to learning as much as he can. It's frustrating for both of us, though, that even though we both know all of the things to do to help each other cope, they don't always work. Sometimes he's too tired himself to offer me any kind of energy or support. I, in turn, feel like a drain on him. It's a vicious circle. Thank goodness he loves me and remembers what summer is like. I think his memories are what keep him here. It's certainly not my company right now!

Hi Ricy.
Sorry you're having a hard time. Me too :( It's the withdrawal part that hurts me the most. I have a wonderful family and friends and just can't enjoy them right now. I want to stay in my favorite pajamas, huddle by my lightbox, and read all winter. I'm normally a chatty, insightful person and right now I can barely string two words together. I'm seriously thinking about relocating to somewhere sunny too. I'm in the northeastern USA and would really like to go south!

Thanks, Poppy. Great reality check :)
Glad you're feeling better. What movies did you see?

Wondering if anybody has compared the blue vs the white light boxes. Anybody use a visor? I want a visor but wonder if it might be uncomfortable. I love you guys. I posted way back in January very depressed. A got some very caring responses. It is good to have friends that really understand and care.

Hello! I've read all your comments about suffing and enduring our dark winters. I can relate to all of them, I just so sleepy and don't feel like being around people. Reading from the forum has made me feel that I'm not on my own with SAD. Regards Pete :)

Hello! How do you all deal with working and dealing with SAD? Thank you!

Hi folks! I'm new to this forum as I felt I had to do something to help with my depression which has been yoyoing for years. I was diagnosed with SAD last year and a friend suggested a light box. I have just ordered one and look forward to it arriving. I have found all your posts very informative and I pray that it works for me as my medication barely touches me on dull and dark days. Susan

Dear all,
I am sorry to hear about your problems, it looks like many of you are going through difficult times. I personally suffer from depression and I know how difficult life can be. I have just purchased my first SAD light and am waiting for it, my doctors told me that it would help my symptoms in the winter which definitely get worse. What worries me however, is that many of you, I presume already have SAD lights and yet you still suffer from symptoms... can you explain why this is? Is the light not effective?
I am on antidepressant medication but it is not really very effective and the side effects are problematic. I just wanted to mention that I found the following book really helpful to me, it is definitely worth a read. I wish you all the best.
Kajendiran

I have just ordered my first light box after suffering with the symptoms of SAD for the last few years/winters and being diagnosed around February time. I find it hard to motivate myself in the winter months and even harder to get up in the mornings and engage my brain. I crave and eat carbohydrates which take as little effort to make as possible e.g. warm buttery toast and could quite easily curl up and sleep almost anywhere when my tiredness gets to the point of "sleep or cry" (even in the middle of the pavement as I described to my doctor). I'm an outdoors kind of person and in the summer months feel a million dollars when out and about having adventures but in the winter all I want is my pyjamas and my bed or at my best to curl up and switch off in front of the TV. I have declined anti-depressants as I want to give the light box a go first. I think for me one of the main things that keeps me going is my partner who is incredibly understanding and knows when to make me get up and be more active and when to leave me to rest. I just wondered if anyone has any other advice they could give me to make sure I utilise my light box best?? I'll also be boosting myself with lots of fresh vegetables and some vitamins too this winter as I tend to get struck down with terrible colds that take me weeks to shake off (last year I was so ill I struggled to stand up and missed the whole of christmas whilst my partner took less than a week to recover from his cold). I suppose I'd just like to know if my symptoms are generally what is experienced by everyone here and to see how you all cope with them. It's so good to hear about other people's experiences and to know that I'm not alone in dealing with this!

Amoeba, I used to have tons of colds etc before I developed SAD. I think that was just another way of it coming out. I have this weird thing that I just want the day to go really fast when I have SAD, so I try to make sure I am watching a lot of films and stuff and take it easy on the chores.

RE the light, I don't find they are that good so I am trying to make sure that I am surrounded by bright light all day!