This i supossed to be a support group.

Well, not sure it's really a support group, but it sometimes ends up that way. There are usually more people here the further into winter it gets.

I don't think unless you have experienced SAD you can know what it's like. i guess if you have had depression then you have a good idea.

THe problem is that with SAD you don't always feel up to 'giving' to people with responses, I think there are probably a lot more lurkers here than posters.

I've had a bit of a bad week, so upped my medication, hoping it works, as I'm going to be away from home a couple of times over the next month and want to feel well for that.

I was so relieved when my customer cancelled her pedicure etc last night, as I really didn't feel like engaging at all. I have someone at 11 this morning and although I need the money, kind of hope she has forgotten!

Not meaning to sound 'mean' here but not everyone is on this forum 24/7 so you shouldn't really expect an instant response to any postings. Everyone has their own life to lead 'offline'... That's the problem with modern communication methods. Everyone expects everyone else to be instantly available.

I'm assuming this 'slap on the wrist' ;o) from you is in relation to your post on Thursday entitled "Nobody Understands"...? After reading your post just now (and again I don't want to sound mean) but I think you're in the vicious circle of blaming SAD for all your woes.

I've had SAD officially diagnosed since 1993 and suffered undiagnosed for many years before that. It never stopped me from doing well at school, getting a job, a relationship or from traveling around the world...

SAD is and will always be part of my life. You just need to learn to accept it, learn how to cope with it and get on with it. Don't use it as a handy excuse for not living your life....

I know Summer isn't trying to sound mean, but I don't think SAD is often used as an excuse for not getting on with life, but I think it can be a 'reason' for not being 'able' to get on with life. We all have different measures of depression and some people are more able to cope than others. I agree that we have to accept it and deal with it, and coming to a forum like this can be a good way to find out what's worked for others. Personally, my magic combination is Citalopram and a Brightspark. The combination, I'm pretty sure, has made my life a lot happier than it otherwise would have been.

I think what Happy Girl is trying to say is that if we all, who use this site, make the effort to comment, respond to peoples postings this will help everyone. Pushing ourselves to respons to others who may well be worse off than ourselves will help us to feel good about ourselves.
I think most people visiting the site will, in some way or another, be suffering and in need of a little help even if a quick response that reminds us we are not the only ones.
I have been a SAD sufferer for apx 15 years ago - my doctor tried to tell me it was post natal depression for the first 5 years and then 10 years ago it was diagnosed correctly.
Last year was a bad year for me, I separated from my husband of 18 years 5 years ago but found it helped my SADS not having a relationship to worry about. Last year I met a new man and sadly SADS came back with a vengeance :(
Thsi year it seems to have started a little early too, but I blame this on the great British weather and lack of Summer :(
My poor partner doesnt know whether he is coming or going and I just feel extremely low and very paranoid all the time
I have started taking Kira Good Mood tablets and keeping myself disciplined with early morning light sessions before work - its tough :(
Has anyone else noticed any patterns to going from single to in a relatiionship and the earlier onset of SADS due to weather ????
Any advise would be gratefully received :)