Seasonal Depression

[AlohaPolynesian]

I always felt anxious in the fall/winter and finally went to a Dr. about it in 2005. Luckily we figured out that I had seasonal depression/anxiety and are able to treat it when it gets to be that time of year.

In 2008 I spent some time in a sunnier part of the country for an internship and didn't have my usual issues. Sadly, last winter I had to deal with the anxiety again.

I thought I'd be okay this year but in these past few weeks I've started to feel the symptoms come back. I won't get in to the Dr. until after Christmas, and I'm sad that I'll have to spend the holiday feeling anxious.

Does anyone else have this problem? It's such a bummer!!

 

[EdiePA]

Has anyone talked to you about light therapy? You sound like a good candidate since you did better in a warmer (more sunny) area. Basically, it's a special light that you sit in front of for a prescribed amount of time each day. In the meantime, could you get outside for awhile each day? I don't know where you live -- I'm in Pittsburgh and right now, it probably wouldn't work since most of our days are pretty gloomy.

Might be worth checking into

Edie

 

[HeatherC]

Not anxiety, but the lack of sunlight definitely affects me. I now take Vitamin D all winter and have noticed a HUGE improvement. Maybe this would help you too. I know it takes a few weeks to notice a difference, but you could ask your doctor to check your levels.

Hope you are feeling better soon!

 

[Christine]

I have not ever been officially diagnosed but YES, I have problems. For me, it's just a very low-level type of anxiety that is always there starting in about mid-November. It always seems at its worst right about now but I don't know if that's the mix of the lack of light plus all the tense things that go along with the holidays. But I find myself worrying more, having health anxiety issues, and just sort of freaking out over minor things. I've noticed that there is a real pattern with this so I've just accepted it.

Light therapy is a great idea. One of my doctors had a light box and would lend it out to patients; however, due to my work hours I couldn't get the prescribed amount of therapy in and, to be honest, the light is so very strong it sort of bothered me. But they do make smaller ones now that you can keep at your desk so you might give that a try.

 

[SunFloridaDisney]

Has anyone talked to you about light therapy? You sound like a good candidate since you did better in a warmer (more sunny) area. Basically, it's a special light that you sit in front of for a prescribed amount of time each day. In the meantime, could you get outside for awhile each day?
Might be worth checking into

I totally agree. I used to get the depression/ anxiety issues every winter and mainly into spring (all the rain and gray skies). I have had my light box for several years now and that seems to help a lot. I highly recommend it. PM me if interested for further specific info.

good luck!

 

[johnsontrio]

Just wanted to add an FYI. If you have sleep issues and take Melatonin please be aware that this can exacerbate symptoms of SAD. DD has had sleep issues and was taking Melatonin for quite a while. I had no idea that there was any issue with taking that and SAD. For some reason I get antsy about February here. The days are still very short and I'm stir-crazy from the cold, crappy weather and have trouble settling down to sleep at night. I might try Vit D but I do think getting physical exercise helps me.

 

[perdidobay]

I've had SAD for 20 years, I agree with the poster who suggested taking Vitamin D, and light therapy. I also go to a tanning salon once a week or so during winter and
lay in a low power bed for 6 minutes. It is amazing how much better that makes me feel. I hope you make it through this winter ok.

 

[Denine]

This year I am trying something new; light therapy and vit D. I have been taking the vit d for a few months and have noticed a big difference in how much I sleep. I don't need nearly as much now. The jury is still out on the light box. I am doing OK right now, but my biggest problem time is January/February.

I was tired of taking antidepressants just because it is cloudy out. There had to be a better way.

Good luck!

SAD is awful!

 

[jlder72]

Yes have it. Doing light therapy. Read my paper with the light every morning.

 

[skater]

I would like to try the light box. I used to take anti depressants in the winter, but would really prefer not to do that. For the last few years I've scheduled a quick trip to Disney to help - and it really does help. I don't feel as trapped in winter knowing that I'll get a short break in February.

This year, I seem to be struggling a little more - probably because its colder than normal here and has been winter since the beginnning of this month (sort of like last year ). Its hard to get outside when its cold, cloudy and windy.

I keep wanting to check into the vitamin D thing, but I guess I should get the blood work first.

 

[AmongMadPeople]

I had this for the first time last winter. I didn't realize what it was until the spring though, when I finally felt better. I've been trying to stave it off this winter by making a deliberate effort to go outside, even if the sun isn't shining (because let's be honest, I haven't seen the sun in days). I shovel, play with my dogs, or walk. It gives me a real boost. When temps drop below 30 it's harder to be out, but I'll at least open all the blinds and curtains so the house feels lighter.

Also, I find exercise gives me a boost in general. Yes, I'll admit when all I want to do is bum on the couch it's hard to motivate myself to do anything. But I know after I've run on the treadmill, or done an exercise DVD, I'll feel better.

So, I guess what I'm saying is don't let yourself not do anything. I'm not perfect about it, but after I've spent a day or two wallowing and indulging my SAD I remember that it sucks and why I go outside and try to keep moving.

 

[TheBigBadWolf]

I've thought about buying a light therapy box to use during the winter months. Here is an article that helps decide what type box might work best for you. You might also want to read the reviews on lights they sell through Amazon. Many of the lights get great reviews.

http://www.lighttherapyproducts.com/how_to_choose_a_light_box.aspx

 

[autumnpalm]

I have a light therapy box, I take extra vitamin D supplements and I do go to a tanning salon every other week. I stay in the bed for a short period of time and put on lots of sunscreen. It honestly does help me so much.

Other things that I have found to help are getting lots of exercise and getting outside for walks with the dog.

 

[Bilberry]

I've also noticed that vitamin D, and I also use a D3 light 10 minutes a day, helped my mood greatly during the long cloudy winter. Overall, I now feel more energetic, upbeat, and warmer. I take 8000ius of D3 during winter in order to reach a testing level between 60 to 70ng/ml.

I've seen several physicians write about their patients finding relief from the winter blues by supplementing with vitamin D. A resent writing on this.

http://heartscanblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/vitamin-d-deficiency-vs-optimum-level.html

 

[FireDancer]

Not anxiety, but the lack of sunlight definitely affects me. I now take Vitamin D all winter and have noticed a HUGE improvement. Maybe this would help you too. I know it takes a few weeks to notice a difference, but you could ask your doctor to check your levels.

Hope you are feeling better soon!

I was going to mention vitamin D as well. I don't get SAD but have read a couple of articles about the subject and the recommendation to take vitamin D was a very common theme.

 

[AlohaPolynesian]

Thanks guys! I will definitely look into the vitamin D and light box. Glad to know I'm not the only one who has to deal with this!

 

[DebbieB]

I've always had a problem with January especially. It's the dead of winter, it's dark when I leave work. At least in February we start to get more daylight and the end is in sight, although last February was a mess with the weather.

 

[jenrose66]

I've dealt with this majorly my entire life. I've tried meds...they help but they help by making me empty. I'll feel like I need to cry but I can't feel anything, I'm just a shell of no feeling, no happiness, no saddness, just indifference, at least that's how I feel on zoloft. On the other spectrum I tried prozac and got manic suffered from panic attacks that would last for hours, I literally thought I would rip my skin off.

These last couple years the depression has been particularly rough because I had a baby in January of 09 and a baby this last November so I'm dealing with post partum on top of my usual seasonal issues. I'm sorry you're going thru this and I can definately sympathize.

 

[cepmom]

for those of you with a Vitamin D deficiency, did you have to ask your Dr about getting tested? I have been dealing with daytime fatigue and definitely have(always have had) a touch of seasonal depression, and over the past couple years awful mood swings during PMS. I have had blood work done and had a a sleep study done, all came back normal. I am wondering about Vit D deficiency and asked the Dr, she said fatigue is atypical with low Vit D levels I am getting more and more frustrated with this, and even more so now because I feel like my Dr is just like "all your tests are normal,so just see if it improves" ok?? As if I didn't put it off for months and months before I finally went to the Dr to seek an answer

So, did any of you have to push for the test or did your Dr suggest it?

 

[136368]

Here's what I know, from my archives:

Seasonal Affective Disorder - An extension (more serious case) of winter depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder (or, rather appropriately, S.A.D.) is an affective (mood) disorder that affects mainly people who live in changeable climates, usually 30° North or South of the equator and may affect people who are otherwise completely healthy; the condition lies dormant during long daylight hour seasons. The illness presents itself when days are shorter and therefore when daylight hours are in short supply. The condition was first described by the scholar Jordanes in the 6th century and has since been re-examined countless times. It was proposed as a psychiatric disorder in the USA in 1984 after a doctor noticed that his mood seemed to depend on the environment he was in; he subsequently experimented with artificial light and discovered a correlation with mood levels.

Treatment: The primary method of treatment is known as light therapy, where patients are exposed to full spectrum or infa-red lights; research now indicates that blue light is highly potent. Approximately 10,000 lux a day should be administered for 30 to 60 minutes per day and whilst one should not look at the light source, it seems that one's eyes must remain largely open. Alternatively, a family of antidepressants called SSRIs have proven effective, usually at low doses.

Hope that helps!