doctor know?

Hello All, I am knew to this forum so please excuse repeated problems/questions.
Firstly i feel so down that i even wept reading some of the posts on here! maybe it is because i empathise with all this.
The problem is, is that i am such a cynic that i find it hard to believe that SAD exists, however each autumn I just want to hide away, find the absolute worst in people, hide behind books(well,they are better than my life)same with films and programmes. Even started watching (and crying to)the Waltons and seriously considered buying the box set. I also become incredibly paranoid (however that is occasionally justified as some of my pals turn out to be utter shits)
I just wish to hibernate and be left to my own misery. Last year i hopped (well crawled)onto the odd sunbed which did perk me up a little, but having already had moles removed feel that may not be the answer.
I need to know that if i approach my GP will he or she take me seriously? Sorry if i appear flip tis a coping strategy!
What help. if any could I find?
Thankyou for taking the time to read this

Welcome to the forum. You don't sound 'flip'.

If you have a history from a couple of years of symptomns between September - March then thats a good indicator for a GP.

Some options include, light therapy, CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) or antidepressants:
http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Seasonal-Affective-Disorder.htm

I also posted a list of a few of the 'alternatives' out there:
http://www.lumie.com/forum/sad/2010-10-08/i-am-new-i-need-support#177531

Unfortunately lightboxes aren't available free on the NHS so you'd have to save up for one. Lumie does a 30-Day Home Trial so you can get a full refund if it has no benefit.

My experience was a bit like PurpleIvy's--because I moved house and changed doctors a couple of times as my SAD was starting to affect me, the most recent one questioned whether it wasn't just "recurring incidences of depression"--I explained that it seems to me far too seasonal to be random, that in winter small problems will make me break down into tears when in summer I'll tackle much more stressful situations without batting an eyelid...

In the end he conceded that it sounded like it could be SAD, but stopped short of giving me a firm diagnosis. That was frustrating, but he was otherwise very kind and always asked how I was emotionally after that meeting, regardless of what ailment I came in to see him about, and arranged counselling for me. Sadly the NHS has such long waiting lists that the counselling ran from May to July... not really a timeframe I had any problems dealing with! I was on antidepressants once and decided I would avoid them as far as possible, but's good to have a medical professional who knows your situation so they can prescribe them if you need. My doctor also, however, supported me with information on treatments I wanted to pursue on my own--the NHS doesn't provide light therapy, 5-HTP or St John's Wort anyway. I think we both learned quite a lot from that.

So basically, I just wanted to say that even if your doctor turns out to be skeptical at first, s/he's still worth talking to. Good luck!