Newby question

Hi Shamyasus,
Welcome to the forum. I think, where SAD is involved, there is no such thing as "off-thread" since it affects every part of one's life!
Hope you find your lightbox helps. I know exactly what you mean about the switch, as I usually experience something similar. I am fortunate, however, in that my doctor does take it seriously, and was in fact the one to recommend I bought a lightbox because he thought I had SAD rather than straightforward depression (if it can ever be straightforward!)
In my experience headaches can be part and parcel of it, but not generally sinus problems. It might be worth finding out if there is some additional problem for you. Also, if your doctor doesn't take it seriously, it might be worth looking for another one who is more clued up.

I always forget in the summer how bad the SAD gets in the winter. I always think it won't happen, then it does. My normal time for 'battening down the hatches' and getting sorted out for the winter is the time of the equinox, this is when I usually start on a low dose of medication.

This medication regime was suggested by my doctor, after he had known me for a couple of years. At first he wasn't sure about the SAD, but after he'd seen me at various times over a year he realised that i was right! He found me knocking on his door sometime after late October in a bit of a mess. So he suggested that it might be better to take a low dose to avoid getting into a mess.

Generally speaking it seems to have worked, but I still feel yucky sometimes from the med. I'd rather have a sorted head and feel a bit off sometimes than be in a mess and feel physically well. Well, apart from 5 days after I start taking the tablets or up the dose

Sometimes there's a really good level of moral support on here. The last couple of years it's been much quieter, but hopefully some of the newer members will hang around the 'community' and join in.