Helping someone with SAD
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Posted by Bensi, 09:43 22 November 2010Hi All.
I am new to this site, but have signed up to see if there is anything i can do to help my girlfriend. We have been together now for 8 years. We got engaged this year and are due to get married in 2013. We have been living together for the last year and a bit. For the last couple of years, my girlfriend has started to suffer with depression, or panic attacks. It was only last year after seeing a specialist that this was diagnosed that this could be SAD. After reading up on SAD, i can certainly say she is suffering from the majority of this symptems. I thought it was brought on by stress, as this always used to satrt arround september time and in the winter, which always seemed to coinside with either uni exams or something. Last year it satarted after we had moved in together, and she was hunting for her first teaching job. She was having obsesive thoughts about horrible things, however we both new that she would never act on these thoughts in a million years, as that is just not her. Last year she went to see a doctor, and they put her on a list to see a speacialist. Unfortunately, by the time she got to see a speacialist, winter had passed and she was on the up. I thought we had managed to fight this, and we had got through it, but now we heading for winter again it seems to have come back. She has a very good memory, and can remeber the days she felt bad last year, and has got it into her head that these days should be bad again this year. This is to the point where i had to really persuade her to go to the garden centre this weekend as she remembered that she went to the same garden centre last year and had a panic attack in the middle of the garden centre. This is really hard for me as winter is my favourite time of year, and i really wish she could enjoy it like i do. I really love her to bits, but i feel really useless, as nothing i seem to do lifts her spirits. Has anyone got any ideas or suggestions of what i can do to help? Thanks Ben | |
Posted by dahash, 12:33 22 November 2010Hi Ben. Maybe a good start for your girlfriend SAD issues would be a trial period of lightbox use? Or/and some supplements such a L-tryptophan.
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Posted by Bensi, 12:53 22 November 2010Hi. She has a light box that she has been using for the last week. ITs a Lumie one, hence how i found my way to the forum.
What is L-tryptophan? is it herbal? | |
Posted by Nina, 14:03 22 November 2010Hi Ben,
L-Tryptophan is a food supplement, one of the ones which helps the brain make serotonin which keeps mood up (hopefully). Try health food shops. Check if she's on other medication though, coz herbals can interact with prescription drugs. I'm sorry you feel useless, I know its frustrating. You could try reading Winter Blues, and get your girlfriend to read it too. My other half read it last year and i think it helped him understand what i go through. Gentle encouragement to keep going out and doing things which she likes is the way to go, but accept that some days she may just want to stay in and hibernate - don;t pressure her coz she probably feels acutely aware that she's not her usual self and thinks that she's letting you down in some way. Keep reminding her that you love her. Encourge her to go back to the GP if she gets worse. There are lots of kind people on this forum with a lot of experience so neither of you are on your own. Good luck | |
Posted by florana, 14:38 22 November 2010Hi,
Firstly its great that you are so supportive and wish to help. What kind of Lumie lightbox is she using? Is she using it every day for the reccomended time in the morning? Regarding Tryptophan, it is as mentioned above a herbal supplement which boosts Serotonin (a brain chemical that has the most links with depression). You could also look at 5-HTP as an alternative to Tryptophan. The construction of Serotonin in the body goes like this: Tryptophan -> 5-HTP -> Serotonin Then when its dark or time for sleep: Serotonin -> Melatonin (the "sleep hormone") When its 'dark' therefore the body may not be producing as much serotonin, and for those whose serotonin levels were on the lower side it can become dangerously low. But for some SSRIs (on prescription) antidepressants are more effective if they need help not with the level of serotonin but the uptake of it I think. Also I guess some people don't absorb things well (supplements). What works for one person may not work for another. But its worth a try before an SSRI if someone has the time/freedom to experiment. I made a long post a long time back for someone asking about alternative over-the-counter (either at pharmacies or online) remedies, as said above if she is on any other medications she may need to double-check about contradictions: http://www.lumie.com/forum/sad/2010-10-08/i-am-new-i-need-support#177531 There's also things such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy which is more accessible on the NHS these days due to it getting a good track record in efficency. Its said to help people in managing their condition, by teaching them strategies to overcome certain difficulties. She may find that even if she addresses the physical side, some mental 'habits' may of formed. I totally know how she feels about expecting another panic attack at times/places I had one previously. But personally I would address the physical side first and then work through the rest. As I think whilst the physical side is dragging you down its difficult to overcome those difficulties. CBT is listed as an option doctors in the UK at least) can give to patients: http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Seasonal-Affective-Disorder.htm | |
Posted by Nina, 15:24 22 November 2010Hi Florana,
I agree with you about the CBT. I had some and it's stopping me being so hard on myself about my physical symptoms. I've tried most things and it seems to be finding the right combination that works, although its only November so we'll see how it goes! Are you still learning to live with SAD or have you cracked it? I've tried to learn as much as I can to see if I could rationalise my way out of it - wish it was that simple! | |
Posted by florana, 19:31 22 November 2010Hi Nina,
Good to hear its helped you. I haven't tried CBT yet but know someone with a different condition who seemed to find it helped. I only this year found I may have SAD so just getting started really. I have PMDD which is year round. When describing my worst PMDD moments a nurse mentioned the timing sounded within SAD encatchment. Apparently a lot of women with PMDD can also have SAD and Lumie has a study on their site about it. So I recently got a lightbox. Still looking into PMS/PMDD which is a different playing field to tackle but some treatments are similar to SAD treatment. e.g. I am looking into possibly experimenting with L-Theanine and 5-HTP. | |
Posted by jglitter, 10:23 27 November 2010Hi Bensi,
It's wonderful that your fiancee has such a supportive partner! When my symptoms started, having my boyfriend's support was a huge help. It's great that you're helping her look into treatments--motivation and worry can be such an issue if the depressed person is doing it alone--but make sure you don't put too much pressure on yourself. Often when I was depressed all I needed was for someone to say "I'm here, I know you feel awful and there's not really anything I or anyone else can do about it--but still, I'm here and I'll hold you as long as you need me to." Don't feel useless--it's the being there, rather than the providing a cure, that is the most important. I just received my lightbox (a Zip) yesterday, so am still waiting to see whether that helps me--in the past I've tried 5-HTP and it didn't work for me (though I have a friend who swears by it) and St John's Wort (which helped enough that I decided I could cope without it and stopped taking it--bad idea!) Some CBT is also very helpful, but if the waiting lists are long there are other resources available. My doctor recommended this site to me: http://www.livinglifetothefull.com/ It sounds cheesy but it's got exercises and lessons on depression and CBT which are very helpful. I'd also recommend Paul Gilbert's book Overcoming Depression--although I only ever pick it up when I'm depressed and thus lack the motivation to get all the way through, it has some incredibly helpful explanations of why we feel the way we do and the way negative thoughts create a feedback loop, and how to challenge those. One of the most helpful things to me has been practicing a simple thought: if I'm beating myself up over something, I think "if a friend of mine was in this situation, would I think less of them?" and the answer is invariably NO. It really helps me gain some perspective quickly. Good luck! | |
Posted by florana, 20:36 27 November 2010Hey jglitter welcome to the forum and contributing helpful posts.
Be mindful of potential contradictions between St Johns Worst and light therapy. Research suggests that it can raise photosensitivty in the eyes. I think some people are more at risk than others (at least 1 member still uses St Johns Wort) but I would advise asking a doctor or maybe even an optician regarding any risks to your eyes. As an alternative to 5-HTP did you ever try Tryptophan? Serotonin construction goes in this way: Tryptophan -> 5-HTP -> Serotonin And at night Serotonin can be converted into Melatonin the sleep hormone. Some I've heard get along better processing/absorbing the Tryptophan stage than the 5-HTP. Also with 5-HTP the dosage or timing may be important, as well as taking breaks (weekends or 1 week a month), heres some advice (dont know about their products but the advice is good): http://www.raysahelian.com/5-htp.html Also a page on Tryptophan: http://www.raysahelian.com/tryptophan.html By the way I also would hesitate to combine Tryptophan with 5-HTP and do research before combining with St Johns Wort, just to be careful of serotonin overload / serotonin syndrome. Also I heard some take Tyrosine to prevent tolerance of 5-HTP or Tryptophan: http://www.sjwinfo.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2850 http://www.raysahelian.com/tyrosine.html Good luck with the lightbox. | |
Posted by Patricia, 22:12 3 December 2010Hi I would like to ask a bit more about CBT, I don't know enough about it but it has been suggested that I try it by a well meaning friend.
I have also tried 5-HTP and found that it didn't work for me. | |
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