SAD

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its fall, which means another winter, and depression has started to hit pretty hard--last winter was bad, but the two winters before that were sucidal...im on meds, and im going out during the day, and saving up for a move, and all of that stuff, but it looks like its going to be bad this year, really bad...any tips

― anthony easton (anthony), Sunday, 24 September 2006 09:12 (nineteen years ago)

hang in there! i would post a picture of a kitten hanging onto a tree limb but i don't know how. and pace yourself its only september! try to move around. exercise. get lots of light and vitamin c. drink juice. try and eat good things too. do breathing exercises. write about country music. watch country music videos. take it one day at a time. this too shall pass.

― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 24 September 2006 09:38 (nineteen years ago)

i dont think country music helps depression

― anthony easton (anthony), Sunday, 24 September 2006 09:48 (nineteen years ago)

if you do the tush push or the boot scoot while listening it might.

― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 24 September 2006 10:02 (nineteen years ago)

It started for me on Tuesday and continued on Wednesday, two days when it hardly got light in Glasgow. The department's buying me a daylight lamp to sit at my workstation to complement the two I already have at home. You have my sympathy, Anthony.

― Mädchen (Madchen), Sunday, 24 September 2006 10:26 (nineteen years ago)

http://us.a2.yahoofs.com/groups/g_18726411/3718/__sr_/5f8f.jpg?grwyrFFBrXWvC3H8

― Mr Jones (Mr Jones), Sunday, 24 September 2006 12:02 (nineteen years ago)

I suffer from this and use a special lamp. According to the psychiatrist who recommended it to me, the main issue isn't daylight/full-spectrum, but how bright the light is. The sun in the peak of summer gets up to something like 30,000 lumens, and in the dead of winter can be something like 1/15th of that or less.

It's the bright light that seems to activate serotonin production. You can buy a light box or lamp - they're usually around 10,000 lumens, and then you need to sit in front of it every morning for 30-60 minutes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_disorder#Treatment

You can actually make one yourself if you're handy, as long as you have bright enough bulbs.

I also recommend exercise and moderate amounts of caffiene.

― A-ron Hubbard (Hurting), Sunday, 24 September 2006 13:04 (nineteen years ago)

get out and go for a strong walk. changing your physiology at that moment helps a great deal.

― kingfish prætor (kingfish 2.0), Sunday, 24 September 2006 13:22 (nineteen years ago)

A friend takes St. John's Wort. One of the side effects is increased photosensitivity, so maybe that is why it works for him.

I have a Sunrizer with a full spectrum bulb. You set the time for dawn, and the light gradually comes up. It's a better way to wake up, for me, and having the light pointed at my face in the morning seems to make a difference for the rest of the day. Being outside as much as possible, even if it's not sunny, also seems to make a difference for me.

― Jaq (Jaq), Sunday, 24 September 2006 13:45 (nineteen years ago)

okay, everyone is agreeing with everything i wrote EXCEPT for the country music part, anthony, so maybe you are right about that. i was always curious about getting a light when i was at my worst years ago and i saw a thing about it on t.v., but i was afraid of doctors and i never would go to one. and i suffered accordingly. so, that's my last bit of advice. ask questions. ask for help. even when you feel like you can't. talk to people. stay active and busy. good luck!

― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 24 September 2006 14:06 (nineteen years ago)

I always used to like autumn and winter (!?) But the past two Januarys and Februarys have hit me hard. But I don't get it as bad as my stepmum. She and my dad have been working in Malta this year, there's good prospects for more contracts in warm countries, and she now says that she'll never move back to England.

― Ben Dot (1977), Sunday, 24 September 2006 14:20 (nineteen years ago)

i have the lamp, the moderate excercise, the diet improved, and the country, its not fucking working

― anthony easton (anthony), Sunday, 24 September 2006 20:48 (nineteen years ago)

The lamp, as I understand it, has to be used for a significant amount of time first thing in the morning, and has to actually be super-bright and not just "full-spectrum." It can also take a few days to really kick in.

But it's possible that your depression has deeper roots than just the season, and maybe the added depression from the lack of daylight is just exacerbating it. Keep doing the exercise, lamp, good diet, avoid alcohol and pot, etc. because doing all that is at least keeping you afloat. Hang on and don't let yourself go.

You say you're on meds - are you also seeing a therapist?

― A-ron Hubbard (Hurting), Sunday, 24 September 2006 20:56 (nineteen years ago)

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0062511114.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

this puts things in persective for me sometimes. rereading anything thats meant a lot to you (as long as its not notes from the underground - i try to stay away from that) helps me.

― Login Name consigliere (consigliere), Sunday, 24 September 2006 21:04 (nineteen years ago)

er...if you know what i mean

― Login Name consigliere (consigliere), Sunday, 24 September 2006 21:10 (nineteen years ago)

I am kind of dreading the oncoming winter. It got really bad last year, when it rained almost every day for a month, and was just gloomy and overcast, dragging on for ages. Combined with wind and cold, things become miserable fast!

― ALLAH FROG (Mingus Dew), Sunday, 24 September 2006 21:39 (nineteen years ago)

I find the Dread of it makes it all even worse, but how to break that circle I'm not sure. I have a sunrise alarm like Jaq which helps me get out of bed but nothing more. That's why I have an army of three lamps now. I used to take St John's Wort but had to stop when I found out it interferes with teh pill. It didn't really make much difference, tbh. The only other thing I do is try to be around people who make me laugh like buggery and if I can't, to watch a DVD that does. But Anthony, if all the things you can do to help yourself aren't working, it's time for somebody else to help so go back to the doctor and talk about how the meds aren't working.

― Mädchen (Madchen), Monday, 25 September 2006 10:41 (nineteen years ago)

i want to move to SoCal.

― EARLY-90S MAN (Enrique), Monday, 25 September 2006 10:46 (nineteen years ago)

Of course snowy days are usually quite sunny. Some really cold days are as well. Be sure and get sun when it IS sunny out.

― Slumming it on ilx (section241), Monday, 25 September 2006 11:17 (nineteen years ago)

Ah mate, hang on in there. I had this for years before I went and bought a lamp, and now an hour in front of that each night while playing Civ4 sorts me out a treat. If it doesn't work for you I'm v.sorry. But yeh, exercise and going out generally will make it less worse, I promise.

― Johnny B Was Quizzical (Johnney B), Monday, 25 September 2006 11:20 (nineteen years ago)

I used to hate the onset of Winter but for some reason I'm looking forward to it a bit more this year. I think this comes after a succession of two lousy summers where the heat and a number of stressful situations culminated in frustration and depression. I love my town in the winter, it's pretty! I could do without the rain of course. Plus I look better in the Winter seeing as my body-shape just doesn't suit t-shirts.

― wogan lenin (dog latin), Monday, 25 September 2006 11:21 (nineteen years ago)

where can i get one of those daylight lamps? i suffer from seasonal affective disorder, too. the dread starts to sink in around this time of year.

― i've dreamt of rubies! (Mandee), Monday, 25 September 2006 12:13 (nineteen years ago)

i think i have the opposite of this

― and what (ooo), Monday, 25 September 2006 12:19 (nineteen years ago)

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1844130967.02._PE20_OU02_SCMZZZZZZZ_V50398126_.jpg
I thought this was really good.

― Ned T.Rifle (nedtrifle), Monday, 25 September 2006 14:17 (nineteen years ago)

i want to move to SoCal.

The annoying thing is it *still* gets too dark too early for me here during winter. But at least it's only a couple of months.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 25 September 2006 14:20 (nineteen years ago)

when the temp drops down to 70 it must get kinda frightening.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 25 September 2006 14:36 (nineteen years ago)

Maybe you need different/more meds Ant. I'm hoping my pysch will have something in his bag of tricks to help me out.

I always dread the winter (after halloween) but have figured it's mostly due to bad memories dredged up by the holidays. but maybe SAD has something to do with it to. my sleep/wake patterns have certainly been fucked as of late due to the late sun-rising.

I'm especially dreading things this year as Oct. 14 will be the one-year anniversary of my grandmother's passing and my family members are nowhere better off now than they were last year. Last night a brief, non-serious, phone call with my mother plunged me into depression b/c it reminded me that I have less than 3 weeks to decide/announce how I'm going to spend the 14th. My mother can be guarnteed to bring drama no matter what I do/say. fucking family.

― Sam: Screwed and Chopped (Molly Jones), Monday, 25 September 2006 14:41 (nineteen years ago)

yeah, anthony, if nothing is working go to a doctor as soon as you can.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 25 September 2006 14:43 (nineteen years ago)

when the temp drops down to 70 it must get kinda frightening.

I weep, sir.

(I do appreciate that all I really ever need is a sweater in winter. OH THE AGONY.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 25 September 2006 14:44 (nineteen years ago)

Switch your meds around, man. If you've got SAD you're totally justified in boosting your dose during the winter months.

But yeah, otherwise I recommend movin' the old body around as well.

― Eppy (Eppy), Monday, 25 September 2006 15:07 (nineteen years ago)

i went to the gym today!

― anthony easton (anthony), Monday, 25 September 2006 16:16 (nineteen years ago)

how much do light boxes usually cost? where is a good place to buy such a thing?

― t0dd swiss (immobilisme), Monday, 25 September 2006 16:47 (nineteen years ago)

The annoying thing is it *still* gets too dark too early for me here during winter.

yeah, it's only the end of september and it's been getting dark by around 7:30. not looking forward to it being dark by 5.

― any cop (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 25 September 2006 16:54 (nineteen years ago)

exercise is a good one, for sure
VITAMIN D really works too - talk to doctor(s) first, obv
(i just googled vit d, sad) -
http://www.biopsychiatry.com/dvit.htm
http://www.womentowomen.com/nutritionandweightloss/vitamind.asp

― rrrobyn, the situation (rrrobyn), Monday, 25 September 2006 16:57 (nineteen years ago)

a dark box maybe!?
http://eucharistiemisericor.free.fr/images/confessional.JPG

kia kaha

― Kiwi (Kiwi), Monday, 25 September 2006 23:17 (nineteen years ago)

i miss fall

― fauxhemian (fauxhemian), Monday, 25 September 2006 23:34 (nineteen years ago)

how much do light boxes usually cost? where is a good place to buy such a thing?

http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&maxrecordsreturned=300&frpp=50&from=R10&satitle=sad+light&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D3&sadis=200&fpos=Postcode&ga10244=10425&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search&fgtp=

― Johnny B Was Quizzical (Johnney B), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 07:25 (nineteen years ago)

four months pass...

This is killing me right now. Who do I hate more, myself or everyone else?

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Sunday, 11 February 2007 03:18 (nineteen years ago)

three years pass...

This is the first time in my life I've ever wondered if I'm strong enough to handle with what I need to handle right now. This is awful.

― one pretty obvious guy in the obvious (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 30 December 2010 14:07 (fifteen years ago)

Not to be all 'make lemonade' but sometimes you handle way more than you thought you could when the shit hits the fan. Sorry to hear that things are bad for you though. If you need to vent, you're in the right place.

― VegemiteGrrrl, Thursday, 30 December 2010 18:26 (fifteen years ago)

nine months pass...

― I just got back from a dream attack (sunny successor), Friday, 21 October 2011 18:47 (fourteen years ago)

Blondie, are you seasonally affected and depressed, or just sad, or both?

― WE DO NOT HAVE "SECRET" "MEETINGS." I DO NOT HAVE A SECOND (Laurel), Friday, 21 October 2011 19:08 (fourteen years ago)

at least there's skiing!

― mookieproof, Friday, 21 October 2011 21:34 (fourteen years ago)

You're making me sadder !

― I just got back from a dream attack (sunny successor), Wednesday, 26 October 2011 00:03 (fourteen years ago)

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