SUPPORT GROUP

Hi
My name is Liza. I am 40 years of age and have suffered SADS for apx 17 years.
I would like to speak with other people who feel there would be some benefit of a Support Group/Chat Room/Blog. Somewhere that hopefully we could build a group, become friends and have somewhere we know we could turn to for advise with the hope that someone will be around to chat with, or to listen.
I do thoroughly enjoy the Lumie Forum but feel that the traffic here is a litle too delayed. For example a member on here posted how they were experiencing an extremely bad Christmas, and has received no response as yet :(
Please PM me, leave a comment, let me have your views. I have no real idea where to start or with what, but I do know that we all feel the same way and sometimes just need to vent !!
Let me know your thoughts .....

Sadly Petite this is exactly what I mean about the web-site.
56 views and only 1 reply :(

Purple Ivy

Thank you for your reply.

I do not understand your comment about needing 'specialist help'. Us SADdies (using your phrase) all feel the same way and those of us that have SADS know that there really is very little you can do other than to look after ourselves with thte use of light etc and avoid situations that make us feel worse. I dont think 'specialist help' is needed for any one of us.

My original post with regards to starting a support group is for those you mention, those that cannot be bothered to do anything, those that simply cannot cope and need advice and/or a little support in knowing how others cope, perhaps this would help them to be able to cope better?

I know from my own experience, a SADdie for many years that I am not in a position to not be bothered. I work full-time in a pretty demanding position, two teenage children, a dog, a new partner etc. I have no choice but to get up and go to work, to support my children through whatever is going on in their lives at any particular time, to walk the dog each and every day, this is as well as the housework, meals etc.

I know that I do a very good job of this, even when the anxiety ball in my stomach just will not go away, when I feel the need to cry for no reason, when I just feel in despair.

I feel that to have some support, to know how each others weeks, speicla occasions have gone etc would surely help.

We need, as a group/team to give a little to one another. If there are comments on here it will be due to another SADdie taking the time to post that comment to help others, surely a reply to someone who may be worse off than yourself at that time isnt too much to ask?

I have my fingers in a few pies, and will definitely get back to yourself and also Petite :)

I haven't been on here before but I have suffered with SAD now for as long as I can remember. Fell apart at work this morning and had to come home. Just got back from seeing the doctor who told me the same thing every doctor always says and asked me if I would go for counseling which hasn't worked in the past and will i go on a stress management course. I try to explain that in the spring and summer i am ok. One doctor says I suffer with SAD and the other talks as if SAD doesn't exist. I asked them about light therapy and they said they do not know if it works. I tried it years ago but didn't have time to sit in front of it but I am willing to try it again. I think it would be very helpful to hear from other people who are experiencing the same things.

I have just bought the Arabica which should arrive before one tomorrow. Really hoping it will help.

Thankyou for asking how the light is working. I think it is having a positive effect. I went back to work in Friday, got up at 6.30 and sat infront of it for half an hour. I think it took the edge off. It's beautiful outside today. It's frosty and bright. Makes such a huge difference. I'm trying to take everything a day at a time. How are you?

At my workplace we have ALL been issued with LUMIE style desk lights and they are also very effective. Even the people who have never experienced any type of SAD find they brighten up the office on gloomy days, having said that it is bright clear and frosty up North today and certainly has a positive effect on my feelings and general well being. I have been on and off with SAD for nearly thirty years now and certainly find my bodyclock alarm and lightbox at home to be invaluable. Have a very good GP who is totally in tune with all latest thinking on SAD and depression

Hi Neens

Geordie Girl here - I work at Leeds University - the lamps are purchased through our Stationery Supplies but we were all encouraged to have one for our desks regardless of whether we found the dark afternoons/evenings a problem - they are great I use mine quite a bit as you can imagine at this time of the year - they are even comforting on a drizzly grey summer's day! There is a website that has been set up called BLACK DOG which is to provide somewhere where people can chat in forum style about all aspects of depression - I think it is quite good - give it a try and see what you think......

Hi All
Neens
, I am interested in your ideas, it could be a blog where we all post as often or as little as required.
Purple Ivy you wouldnt have to read or post unless you felt well enough to do so
So, where to start ... Neens ??

Hi All

I asked at occupational health at my workplace if they knew of anybody else suffering from sad that might like to be put in touch with other people for some mutual support - the answer was that they did not know of anybody- any thoughts as to whether the condition is just not common, being misdiagnosed or not diagnosed or people are just not admitting to it if they do actually get diagnosed?

By the way has anybody joined the 'body' that I did find a website for - cost £12 a year supposed to provide up to date information etc - just wondered if there were any thoughts out there

Hey ladies. Petite, sorry for the very late reply!

I thought of joining SADA, but their site doesn't seem to be updated regularly - the news says coming soon and had the designer's lorum ipsom text last I looked. But it is great for the facts. :)

Nearly one in four people suffer from SAD and winter blues according to them; I think employers news to take more notice, like Geordie Girl's.

The Light Room blog is now up and running: http://www.sadlightblog.info. I'd really love your feedback on it. If you like it, maybe you'd subscribe? I'm really excited about it but wanted to get a couple of posts up before I shared it with you :)

Neens x

Hi LCHerts

Doing good thanks, hope you are too :)

Great to hear you're setting up a blog too - looking forward to seeing it.

Hi Petite

Is there a pattern to your bad days, like when the weather is a particular way, or if you didn't use your light as long?

I too was really surprised how little info is available that is accessible. I was convinced there would already be dedicated blogs before I started one, but there didn't seem to be.

Hope you continue to feel better. :)

Hi all, I have just joined the site and hope no one minds me adding a note of caution to starting a support group.This takes a lot of effort and committment and when you are not feeling 100% yourself can be very draining. I've done it myself in the past, and had to give it up. Occasional posting on a forum is one thing but 'being there' on a regular basis is quite another. Hope I am not speaking out of turn.

Hi Neens, thank you for your comments.I am not too bad at present, mornings seem worse for me though, sometimes the anxious feelings stay with me untill late afternoon and then settle a bit up to bed time.I do make myself go out(dog walking, shopping etc) even if I don't feel like it.It is a struggle sometimes though, even doing the cooking seems a daunting chore!! Hope you will have a good day today.

Hi Neens, I will stick to just answering you on this post, or I will get confused LOL.
I think you do very well to be able to go to work, I don't think I could cope, going out shopping is bad enough and I end up wanting to come home. Which is stupid because in the summer it doesn't bother me, and I can go anywhere.How can we be slaves to our own fears? x

Morning Neens. Yes I think it is fear that haunts me mostly, but I don't really know why. Some times I am fine and almost feel 'normal'and then out of the blue the fear washes over me and I start to feel panicky and light headed and just want my comfort zone.I do make myself go out and when the sun is shinning I feel quite relaxed.My husband is a big help to me too, and my son.

I hope I am not out of line. I am the wife of a SAD husband. He is everything descibed here and has been on medication (prozac) for a year now. Sleeps constantly when he's not at work and shows no emotions or physical attraction to me. I read this is normal but can any of you give me insight. I've tried everything and this is year 4. Thank you.

Thank you NEENS. Yes, it is normally winter time and he started the meds last February 2011. I thought it made him worse...we both went back to doc (physician assistant who my husband likes) and he said he could not put my husband on anything else...needless to say, I was not happy and very frustrated as well as my husband. We went to therapy and he simply just has no interest in anything...we stopped after a few months.
I think his best bet is going to be seeing our physician but getting him there will be a struggle. Thank you for understanding, no one I talk to does and our marriage is sufferering badly. Thanks again

Hi All

Anybody else any experience of 'intelligent lighting' I have no 'proof' but my thoughts are that the 'fluctuating' level of lighting does not help with sad symptoms