Diagnosing Seasonal Affective Disorder

Thank you so much for this. I have very recently self diagnosed myself with SAD, thank ful that i understand why I feel the way I do but scared to go to the doctor (I have an irrational fear).

Reading this has given me a major incentive to get to the doctor and get it sorted out properly. Thanks for making it not sound scary or embarrassing

There are not tests for Sad.

Hi there can any one tell me where to find a SAD clinic? in the UK.
diana

doctors are clueless

I am not sure what is wrong with me, but I find it extremely difficult for me to wake in the mornings. People tell me to go to bed early, but I don't get tired until midnight. I often have to sleep when I get in from work and then struggle to get up and cook dinner.

I am tired throughout the day and crave bad food, however on balance I eat relatively well and exercise regularly.

I don't get depressed though, so I think it's unlikely that its SAD, I do think though looking back that I often struggle through the winter months, January being the worst.

I have had tests for thyroid, kidney and liver - normal. Anaemia & inflamation - awaiting results.

Anyone have any ideas? I'm struggling a work now, so really need some help. If my bloods come back normal I don't think my GP will investigate further.

Thanks

Hi ?

Sounds somewhat like my SAD, but of course I could not diagnose your problem.

Most winters I would say that I don't get depressed. I would describe myself as tired, moody and frustrated from feeling hungover and lethargic all of the time. However, a depression rating scale questionnaire tells me that my symptoms mean that I'm severely depressed. Go figure.

Other than SAD I'm in perfect health and look after myself too.

I complained about tiredness and fatigue to my doctors over many years, but tests ruled out the usual suspects. My doctor and I both concluded stress was to blame - SAD causes an intolerance to stress.

It niggled me that my symptoms varied slowly and that what seemed stressful in the winter wasn’t at all stressful in the summer – but I didn’t notice the glaringly obvious seasonal pattern for ages.

Frustration with my recurring symptoms drove me to research other possible causes to my problems. Eventually I got to SAD. The seasonal pattern of SAD symptoms tied in with my symptoms and history of major ups and downs in my life, particularly in relation to stress, anxiety, and fatigue.

Past holidays abroad provided further evidence: Mediterranean trips in the summer felt awesome, however, trips to an overcast Austria in the middle of winter felt super pants.

When I discussed my life history and symptoms openly with a shrink my doctor referred me to, they agreed that SAD is the most plausible diagnosis. There is no physical test to prove it, only circumstantial evidence.

I have come to the conclusion after several years of being perpetually tired and lethargic all winter from November through to March, sleeping nine to ten hours and still being tired, that I probably have SAD. I am very familiar with symptoms of depression through work and family members suffering from this and dont feel I have depression. My symptoms clear up as soon as the weather improves and markedly so when the sun shines. So before next November i intend to invest in a light box as I am fed up with spending the winter like this.

I have baught a lumie lamp but not tried it much do you think it will work?

I have been aware of suffering the symptoms of SAD now for about 4+ years. It just hit me again this week 02.11.09 without any real warning. It was only after noticing a repeated pattern and coming across this website that I diagnosed myself as a sufferer. I am a very active person aged 35. In the summer i have tons of energy and normally a bubbly and bright spirit.
However in the Autumn i find it a real struggle to get out of bed in the mornings. I lack concentration, and find it a effort to carry out normal everyday tasks. I shy away from been around other people, have this dark cloud that follows me around, and have a head that often feels like a blur.
I find this website has been a great relief to me when i first had the symptoms, it was such a relief to find out what i was suffering from. I initially thought i must be going mad.
When i discovered my symptoms were the same or similar as described on this site, and also the repeating winter pattern, i invested in a Lumie Brightspark. This is ideal as i have it sitting on top of my computer screen. I now also have a Lumie bodyclock. I am sure these two products make a big difference.
The only trouble i find is that when it first hits me, it knocks me of my feet, and which time it takes me a few days until i realise i need to use my lights. I have started again today, and hope that i can keep this at bay now.
Each year i consider going to the doctors, but after using the lights for a week or so, start to feel better and so never bother.
Without the light i really don't know what i would do. The light combined with this website has been a massive help to me.
From my experience i would recommend anyone who thinks they might be suffering with the symptoms of SAD and have noticed a repeating pattern developing each year around Autumn to try a lightbox, and to use it as described.
Good Luck
Darren.

I'm interested as I definitely become a different person, less bubbly lack of motivation and things. However regular as clockwork I seem to get really down in March-April, every year as far back as I can remember apart from the one year I was travelling in a sunny country. I know you can't give an accurate diagnosis (not trained medicals etc) but does this sound like it could fit in with SAD or not. It seems that many people feel the onslaught a lot sooner and heavier. I'm guessing perhaps it's the "winter blues" if anything rather than full on SAD but then any reasons you can think it would be towards the last months of Winter rather than the depths?

Hi all, I wonder if someone could help point me in the right direction.

(Ok life story time).

I never really had any problems when I was younger (in school) and would go through the winter with no problem at all.

At the age of 19 I had my first Panic Attack (beginning of March just before I got married). I have since suffered from Panic Attacks on a regular basis (now 38).

As well as the panic attacks I suffered a nervous breakdown (11 years ago) which resulted from depression and anxiety starting in January.

I have noticed that most of my depression and Anxiety occurs at night and my worst time of year is between the clocks changing (UK Time) in October making the nights longer and March, making them lighter.

I find myself feeling really down in dark overcast days and can be a different person in Summer or on weekends when the weather is good.

I have been to the doctors and I have mentioned SAD but all he could say was that "it could be I suffer from SAD" and thats it. I have been on Citalipram for a number of years and have tried to come off it (with medical help), but always get worse when I start to withdraw.

A typical day is getting up at 6 (when its dark), working till 4pm and then driving home in twilight.

I can get up fine but as soon as I start driving to work I get so tired. This usually lasts until midday and then I wake up. By the time I get home at 5pm I can be really tired, but I force myself to stay awake. At 9pm I am wide awake and cannot go to sleep. I usually drop off between 11pm and 1am and start the cycle again.

At the beginning of this year I just wanted to end it all but my then wife (we have now separated) got me to the doctors and he increased my citalipram and put my on a CBT course which has really helped fight the depression.

After being like this for so long it has got to a stage where my wife could not take it any longer and she left (3 months ago). I have also noticed that there are certain dates that I look forward to and other that I do not (21st June as the days start to get shorter i do not look forward to and 21st December as the days get longer I look forward too). I have also noticed that most of my episodes are between Nov - March but I am worst affected between Jan - March. I can also get depressed in Summer but it is nowhere near as bad.

After reading the symptoms on this website, I can see that they are very similar to normal depression. How do you tell the difference?

The tablets do help slightly with the depression, but not the fatigue, lethargy, the wanting to socialise, etc...

Would bright light therapy help?

Do I suffer from SAD?

Is there a specialist that I could see who could really look into whether I have SAD or just need to be put down (thats how bad it gets)?

Sorry for moaning but it is so good to read that so many people have been getting help from the light boxes and I want to stop this cycle.

I plan on buying a lightbox and dawn simulator this year and I have an appointment with my doctor on the 7th Dec to inform him of my decission (as per this web sites advice).

Is there anything I can say to him to help diagnoisis?

I feel so stupid at times as I am a grown man and can hardly function with day to day living at times.

Thanks for any adivce and help

Jason