Already ???!!!

Hi all :-) I was just wondering if anyone else is feeling the change already ?, it was like someone flicked a swith for me :-(

Marky Mark

Yes Mark - I felt that switch flip too! It seems that each year it gets earlier and earlier.

thank goodness im not the only one who has noticed the feeling of sad comming on it is like a switch being turned on as if ur body is in tune with the change in temp and the darker days and nights.

hi jo i normally find that if i do my light box a few months b4 i actually need it it does the trick

Me too Mark, just this weekend actually. I think I will get the light box out tomorrow.

I felt it too, and it really was like a switch was flicked, was so weird how sudden it happened. glad it's not just me, i thought i was just having some crazy mood swings for the past week!

Thank goodness we are still having some sunny days, but last week I had my litepod switched on most mornings.
I didn't think the summer was so bad this year, but my body clock is now thinking otherwise!

It's definitely time. i feel this has started earlier this year than the last few years, but as we have all been aware - worse summer we've had in ages!
I've had my light on for a week now. Today seems a particularly rubbish day, and i feel very tired. Just lately though i've started to look for the invisible straw that seems to be coming from me to have all my energy sucked out of!
I'm 27, is it so wrong to want an afternoon nap? and an evening nap? and a morning cry?

Still chin up eh - got until March to go!

No,we are the normal ones, everyone else is nuts.


Paul.

I am so pleased I read this thread - I have just dug my lumie out and had it on for an hour at work this morning as I have been feeling grim for the apst few day!

Well surprise surprise...I thought that this forum was kinda dying really. It seems like it's perking up rather early this year, after what seemed a relatively quiet year last year.

I've been telling myself for the latter half of the summer that I must be suffering from depression of the non-seasonal type, as it was August when I felt low for the first time. I'm now really starting to wonder!

I had my lamp out once, started back on my first proper day in college (oh, well, OK, I went in for an 8.45 start and left again at 2.45!), used my dawn simulator. I'm wondering how I'm going to get myself up in time to do lamp time before going to work.

In spite of the fact that things seemed to start in August, I have had a relatively long good spell, having visited my daughter in Mexico at the end of January while she was living there. THe longest spell of 'OK' that I've had in years. A shame it didn't go on a bit longer really.

I have quite a stressful time coming up, so thinking that I ought to start a low dose of medication soon. There has been quite a bit of sunshine here over the last few days, so that tends to put me off my guard rather.

Hi Koko, welcome, you could have written that for me!

I get low level depression through the year, it gets much worse during the Winter when sad rears its ugly head.

Paul.

hiya Andrew im the same i use my light box throughout the year as it does seem to make a difference just wish i had done it this yr as we have had a bad summer never mind u live and learn.

Hi everyone, I am with you all on that... it's deffo time to get the lightbox out and have made my appointment at GP for Wed so back on the meds...oh the joys :-)

Hi Paul, good to hear from you, yes onwards and upwards hey. Glad your not feeling too bad yet, have you been on your meds through the summer as well?

Yes, ive stayed on medication throughout the year and fingers crossed, I might have a half decent winter, (well at least I can hope).


Paul.

Hi Sleepy-bear, try just to take each day as it comes rather than think too far ahead otherwise it will all just seem too overwhelming.

We too were planning our wedding for May next year but have put it back to Sept so that I have April-August to prepare for it. I knew there was no way I would be able to cope with the arrangements during the winter.

Hope you start to feel better soon x

Hi ya

Doing ok this year, last year started mid august due to being in a caravan in a forest where it was either raining or full of midges - hence lack of light. This year plonked caravan in sunny place away from blood sucking insects and it has certainly put off the SAD symptoms for 6 weeks or so - cool.

Had a couple of troubled days but overall doing ok! Just starting to realise the first symptoms of sad - in my case late nights, eating more carbs and being extremely happy when an exercise is cancelled!! Still I must work really hard to get these three things in order to give me a little more time before i started me sleepy stuff.

Am wanting to get a job but am really worried that I will not be able to cope during the winter time. As you will all know there is nothing worse than having to drag yourself out of bed to look after the family, house and work when ou feel like you have had no sleep for days. I will feel such a failure if i dont manage it (most other people do)- maybe it will be then that I have to come to terms with the depth of my SAD as I will have no personal time to exercise/sleep as I need to to keep myself sane.


Maxak8, The two sides of SAD...

Looking at your dilema with my SAD winter head on - I would feel pessimistic about anything including the move. Staying here during the winter, surrounded by supportive friends etc would help a little but wouldnt touch my feelings. And the thought about being away from those same people would be worse. Thinking about moving and the work attached to it would be daunting, and frightfully tiring. Oh just the thought of it would send my brain in a spin.

However the same situation in a summer climate would be different. I would get a my hyper spring 'high',where I would see it all as a big adventure and organise tons of fantastic things to do, eat less, exercise more (and wear myself out!)and be happy away from my family. The two sides of SAD eh!!

Close family commitments refrain me from moving else I would be the first in the cue chuck - However, Ive had SAD for as long as I can remember and found numerous ways of being able to cope during the winter. You are really not alone in your feelings chuck.

In the meantme, pop to the doctors, if only for a chat and a moan. Try to take control of your SAD and not let it overload you with feelings. Exercise is brilliant (and can get you to socialise without you really thinking about it), vits, healthy eating are all boring stuff but do help. Oh and dont be embarrassed to take a power nap should you need one or a power walk at lunchtime for that matter. I take 5htp for my bad days but it doesnt work for everyone. If you are interested best look up the pros and cons on the internet as its apparently had a bit of history! My Lumie morning light alarm is brilliant, couldnt cope without it. My light box is great and gives me a high, but i find I dont always have the time to say still in front of it for half/hour at a time.

Oh and I was told once by one GP that almost half the population (a little inflated me thinks but I get the message) is on antidepressents for one thing or another but we just dont talk about it (some work better than others!) So dont worry ask for help

Good to speak to you all.

I have panic attacks when I'm really ill with SAD, but I think it's just an indication that I'm not coping and worrying that I'm going to make a complete t*t of myself bursting into tears, falling asleep or forgetting something simple.

Patricia, you will always find some way of getting through this, just at times it can get the better of people, so just hang on in there and work through it. I do no what it feels like and there are people out there supporting you and wishing you well x

Anybody have trouble remembering things? Im not sure if its the medication or the effects of sad, but my memory is rubbish at the moment.


Paul.

Hi all,
I'm new to the forum so I hope you don't mind me gate crashing the discussion.
I was reading above about the cross over with SAD and Depression. Having SAD doesn't mean you can't also have Depression. The two are often found together. (Adding insult to injury!) There is also a seasonal aspect to Depression - you find it gets worse in winter.
Check out Seasonal Affective Disorders Association website if you haven't found it already which I've found helpful.

Paulst, the memory problems can be caused by inadequate or poor quality sleep. I have fibromyalgia and I've learned this. In talking to the sleep doctor, I learned that people who have sleep apnea also have memory issues.

I was hopeful that I just had fibro. Last winter wasn't bad for me and (in denial), I stayed away from the forum. The night before last, I struggled with sleep and had seen several overcast days. Yesterday morning, I was in a terribly foul mood. It ended up being a beautifully sunny day and my spirits lifted.

Really kind of disappointed to admit that I seem to be in for another round of SAD.

-- Amalthea

Hi all
Done it again. Edgy, tired,feeling anti-social, hitting the bakers, going to bed at 9. And all because I fail from year to year to remember to use the light regularly, and just how crap this condition is.
The penny has dropped now of course. But I still feel like an idiot.

I thought I was doing well so far, but not so good now - feeling worthless and depression is kicking in, and I'm so tired.

Patsy1...........

Just read your above post re:panic attacks. I am on Citalopram due to my panic attacks taking over my life each winter. I felt I was dying! I found it difficult to sometime sgo out the door due to panicking so much so I do feel for you hun. I am sure many others get panic attacks too due to SAD. They would last for a few hours sometimes. This put a strain on my relationship each winter. The Citalopram prevents my panic attacks so wish I tried them years ago!

Hi all.
Can anyone comment on how their families and friends support them? Do you have to ask/explain, or do they just scoop you up when you're down? What kinds of things make you feel better? I find SAD soooo isolating. It's the worst feeling in the world to be lonely and want comfort but not able to ask for it. I'm like a sponge and can only absorb, nothing to give out. Can anyone relate?

Thats how I feel patricia. Sometimes I sit in my van wanting to start working and just can't motivate myself to get out of the van. If my customers ever saw me they would think I was loony. I talk to myself and force myself to get out. 10 mins after I start working (outside) I am fine and can work all day without problems.

So far my light box and dawn simulator seems to be helping me to be more boosted, but its still only been a week, but good things so far... Am looking into 5HTP too. lets see......

Its worth a try, Dennis. But do research before you buy one. You can buy them from various outlets (like the one of this forum) with a gurantee that if it dosnt work within 30 days they will give a full refund, they even pay the P&P...

So you can try before you buy and stand to lose nothing. You could also try ebay if money is a bit tight, but buy one of the known brands, not a cheap led light etc... If you dont like it you can relist it on ebay again ;-)

For me it has been great. But I needed a powerful light to be able to get the therapie in 30 mins before I go to work. You might like it. You cant lose, its worth a try.

Hi there and welcome,

Sorry to hear you are having a bad time. I started on Citalopram 20mg last winter after using my lightbox for many years and just didn't help. This winter am back on citalopram but have up the dose to 30mg so far and was starting to get panic attacks again. I will now always use citalopram each winter for 6 months as it has given me a better quality of life in winter time. If you are struggling with the lightbox and have found the citalopram helpful, maybe you should reconsider taking them again for the winter time?? Nothing wrong with that. Hope this helps,

Donna :-)

Lumie will email you the ZIP instructions. You can find the email address elsewhere on this site.

Hi guys, just checking my laptop is in hospital just now lol, I am borrowing my daughters one to check emails etc., just thought I'd have a quick nose on here while I was at it.

I am finding it harder now that the clocks have gone back, yuck.

A very good friend just offered me a use of her holiday home in Cyprus for a couple of months, if only it was that easy to just drop everything and go, I would be there in a shot lol.

I do think of you as I try to get through the day and it's great to know that somewhere out there, there are people who really understand what this horrid thing is like.

Hi Patrica,

Yes I wish we didn't have to change the clocks at all. Hope all is well with you as you said you were in hospital. Get well soon and hope you return home very soon x

I find the spring change of clock is worse for me. The autumn change is not great because of the dark mornings, but when the clocks go forward in spring and suddenly im getting up at 6am but my body thinks it is 5am, thats murder!!!

Not feeling it yet. Infact strangely enough I'm actually Enjoying this time of year. Maybe because I'm now unemployed and I get up when it's light. Also, I've changed my mindset. Instead of thinking "Oh great the nights are drawing in" I welcome it. It's really helped. Just have to see how I go. I really hope I've "cured" myself. Dr still won't take me seriously but I'm upping sticks in Jan to Devon so will find a new Dr if it rears it's ugly head. I will not be beaten.

Hi Guys,
I am back in the land of the internet, I got my laptop back on Friday and this is the first time I have had to check in.
It's been kind of up and down lately, I am find it hard to function on an even keel, I am hoping to get a new job which I am hoping will give me the motivation to keep my mood up, will have to wait and see.
I hope the rest of you are all coping well.
ClairB, well done you for managing to get your head around it, I hope for your sake you really have beaten it.
I am trying to stay positive, but I know that the nearer it gets to December the worse it will get.
Can I ask anyone really, but I bought a light alarm clock thing, not a body clock, but similar, the only thing is that at night I can't turn the light off completely which means that my bedroom is too light to actually fall asleep, silly me threw the instruction manual out or at least I think I did, are you meant to be able to shut the light off or does it stay on all night?
Thank you.