SAD

Hi Alan,
I am sorry to hear about your wife and can understand what it's like for you both, being in the depths of it myself. Firstly I just wanted to say well done, it sounds like you are being really supportive and helpful. I'm sure a lot of members would like a partner who is so understanding!
I too have tried the holidays in the sun but I agree it doesn't help once you get back, it all seems even darker and more miserable. I guess the only thing you could do with that is to go on the longer breaks that some retired folks do at this time of year, if you are able to and can delay coming back until the time she usually feels better.
I am surprised your wife has been on Seroxat for 8 yr that seems a long time for any medication; if it is losing its effect maybe she needs to go back to the GP to try a different course. However as she would need to have a break of a couple of weeks between it may be best to do that once she is feeling ok again.
Some people on here seem to use more than one type of lightbox to cope with SAD, I am thinking of trying this myself as I currently use a blue light only, which helps the lethargy but not the depression or the antisocial bits. Maybe this might be something worth trying?
I'm interested to know what consultant you saw to get a diagnosis, I have been trying to get my GP to refer me to someone for ages but she says she doesn't need to its all in my notes. I would like to have a formal diagnosis as I think this would make employers etc take my problem more seriously rather than just thinking I'm a miserable cow!
Thanks,
Helen

Hi Alan,
Maybe take him up on it and see him again then? He sounds helpful, and in all probability can offer other ideas that will help you both cope. It's not defeatist at all to find out if there are other solutions. Can you encourage your wife to use the lightbox? I find that it's all that stands between me and two months off work in the winter, and most people find that with regular use it does help. Or maybe a change of medication might make her feel more like herself?
Wishing you all the best,
Linda

Hi Alan
I have been on (and still am) Sertraline for 10 years now and find it very very good. I regulate my dose between 50mg and 100mg depending on how I am feeling but also use a bodyclock alarm every day of the year and a light box at home and a desk lamp at work when needed. I find that with the Sertraline you need to give it at least four weeks to notice any significant difference. I have also had some cognitive therapy over the years and also found that beneficial. I am very lucky in that my GP is really good and keeps an eye on me and also support of friends and family is totally invaluable. I do hope that your wife is by now feeling much better and that Christmas and New Year were a positive time for you all. Best wishes.

So pleased to hear that she is feeling much better now - the lovely sunshine today will help too. Re hols I find that a week or two away in the sun in early Spring and then again in late Autumn is very good for the soul. Good luck.

Dear Sunshine,
My wife was on seroxat for 10 years and our GP wanted to move her to setraline which she said was similar but might be better for her now.The switch had no side effects we could notice and now she is much better.She appears to have come out of her SAD much quicker this year,almost her oldself.She reckons 8/10.Keeping my fingers crossed.

Alan,
I don't know if you are still reading this forum post but I am from the states and felt it necessary for me to move to Florida for my SAD. When I would go on vacation to get away from the gloomy winters of Wisconsin where I am from, I would start feeling better in about 3 days and after about 7 days would feel the full effects of the sunshine.

Is it possible she needs to go even further south? I could even tell the difference between how I felt in the mid to upper parts of Florida and the south Florida. As sunny as North Carolina is, a professor who wrote about Seasonal Affective Disorder told me that it was not south enough for me, which now I know he was right.

I was usually shooting for a latitude of 30 or lower from what I read in studies. You are so kind to care that much about your wife's SAD Disorder. Not all family members are that understanding. God Bless you.