Any suggestion on dealing with SAD?

Question

My mood has deteriated since the weather has changed. I am tired more often. Loose my temper all the time. Don't want to concentrate on things that are important to me. I know that going out in the day time will help but cant bare it if i don't need to. Especially if its cold. Was wondering if any one had any suggestions on vitamins/supliments/any thing that may help me balance my mood swings. And get me out with out it being an issue

Answer 1

St John Warts can help to ease some of the symptoms equally a colour changing clock is suppose to aid the getting up in the morning you can get ones for 10 pounds but they are less effective

http://www.shop-com.co.uk/op/~COLOUR_CHANGING_SOFT_EGG_LIGHT-prod-33543519-43867842?sourceid=309

http://www.allergymatters.com/acatalog/Light_Therapy_Units.html?gclid=CJK75LSquIgCFRwUZwodSGYq2Q-

The second link has more effetcive light boxes but they are more expensive

Answer 2

Hello
i have had SAD for about 4 years now, in the summer i am fine and dandy , but come winter i am anxious , depressed , dont want to socialise, etc ,
its really annoying i know but the best thing to do is to accept it and learn how your body works,
i have been precribed sertraline for my "winter" depression which does help an awful lot , and i have a light box , BUT i cannot use it all the time as i work shifts therefore its pointless me doing it as there are a few days i cannot use it in a row.
walking outside in the country side on a really sunny day is like a battery being recharged for me although i dont think it lasts all day !
i know exactly how you are feeling and its not nice , especially if you work full time [i am off work at the mo with it] i hate being off work but the job i do you have to be 100% focused and thats not how i feel some winters !
hope this of some help to you
marky999

Answer 3

I have found that the best thing for me is to have lots of lights on in my home and to actually visit a tanning bed once a week. The warmth and "sunniness" from the tanning bed's rays always perk me right up! Also, keep up your intake of B vitamins, they are well known for mood elevation. Also, eating fruit seems to help as a natural pick me up. You can combat those winter blahs without artificial drugs. Good luck!

Answer 4

1. Take a vacation
2. Listen to your fave music
3. Talk to the ones U trust most
4. Eat a chocolate
5. Aromatheraphy
6. Do the things that you love most
7. Watch your all-time fave tv progs or movie
8. Back to the religion
9. Be positive ! This is not the END of the world...
10. Relax, take a deep breath

Answer 5

Several options:
St John's Wort (herbal remedy) but you must check if you are on meds or on contraceptive pill with doctor and can make you sensitive to light.
Geranium essential oil (a few drops on tissue)
You can get a special light box or bulb which you need to use first thing in morning. Shop for one which you can have free trial with as they can be expensive.
You need at least ten minutes in sun per day.
A good multi vit containing minerals (should have vit E in it) Holland and Barrats do a good one/ Taking single vits is not so good as you need to know what goes with what .
Self treat with reflexology
Hope this helps

Answer 6

If you can afford it, I would suggest a lightbox (see www.sad.uk.com).
However, anyone who is suffering from depression should consult a qualified health professional and SAD sufferers are not an exception. Although a self-diagnosis seems relatively easy to make, other conditions can be similar to SAD. These problems must be considered and eliminated before a SAD diagnosis is made.

Answer 7

the best thing i have found is a very bright light. I use the workings of a street lamp with a mercury 70w lamp in it .It is very bright .
if you dont have a bright light take a trip to some brightly lit shops. B and Q lighting department really cheers me up just by walking round it.

Answer 8

Bright lights...
and consider moving to a part of the world closer to the equator, where the difference between summer and winter isn't so great.

Answer 9

Light therapy?This treatment consists of sitting in front of a special bright light for a session each day. Light intensity is measured in lux. Ordinary light bulbs are not strong enough as they only give out 200-500 lux. To treat SAD you need a light source of at least 2500 lux (about 10 times that of ordinary light bulbs).
Special light boxes are made for the purpose of treating SAD. Follow the instructions that come with the box. Basically:
You start treatment in the autumn, as soon as symptoms begin.
You sit 2-3 feet away from the light box.
You face the bright light, but you do not have to look directly into it.
The length of light therapy needed each day varies. If the light source is very powerful (10,000 lux) then 30-45 minutes per day is usually sufficient. With less powerful light boxes, 2-3 hours a day are needed.
You can do things such as eating, reading, knitting, etc, whilst sitting in front of the light box. Some people with 'desk jobs' are able to get on with their work with a light box in front of them.
Some studies suggest that treatment in the morning works best, but other studies do not confirm this. So, the best time to do it is the time most convenient to yourself. However, evening sessions cause difficulty with sleeping afterwards in some people.
Some people have their light therapy session whilst having their breakfast and reading the morning paper, or get up a early to have a session before going to work.
The logic is that it 'replaces' the bright sunlight which you normally see in the summer. But, it is not clear exactly how it works. It is not simply extending the length of the daylight hours. In fact, you usually do light therapy sessions at some stage in the daytime, not when it is dark. Bright light affects the retina (back of the eye) which sends nerve signals to parts of the brain. This is thought to affect the level of certain chemicals and hormones which you make in parts of the brain which affect mood.
Most people notice an improvement in symptoms within 3-4 days. Symptoms will stay improved so long as you keep on with treatment every day until spring. In some cases it takes up to 4-6 weeks of treatment for symptoms to improve. It does not work in every case. See your doctor for other treatment options if you do not notice an improvement after 6 weeks.
It appears to be safe. There is a theoretical risk of damaging the retina (back of the eye). However, there have been no reports of harm with the specially designed light boxes. The light boxes used to treat SAD do not emit much ultraviolet (UV) light which is the main damaging part of sunlight to the skin and eyes. Side-effects occur in some people and include: headaches, difficulty sleeping after an evening session of light therapy, irritability and tiredness.
You should not use sun tan machines as a source of bright light. The light from sun-tan machines gives off a lot of ultraviolet (UV) rays, which can harm your eyes. It is best to use only the light boxes which are made especially to treat SAD.
Natural sunlight, even on an overcast day in winter, provides more 'lux' than the artificial light source in a light box. So, going for a walk outside every day for 1-2 hours during the daytime may ease symptoms. However, this may not be a realistic option for many people. For example, if you work indoors.
You cannot get a light box on prescription from the NHS. Various companies make them and they cost from about £100. The SAD association provide a list of suppliers. Some companies will allow you to 'try before you buy' to see if it works for you before you commit to buying a light box. You may like to try contacting........SAD Association (Seasonal Affective Disorder Association)
PO Box 989, Steyning, West Sussex, BN44 3HG
Tel: [phone] Web: www.sada.org.uk
A voluntary organisation which informs the public and health professions about SAD and supports and advises sufferers of the illness. It produces a newsletter thrice-yearly, and other publications, has a network of contacts, a lightbox hire scheme, and raises money for research into SAD.

Answer 10

I give this book to everyone at x-mas, the vitamin bible:
http://www.amazon.com/Earl-Mindells-Vitamin-Bible-Mindell/dp/0446361844/sr=1-4/qid=1163024863/ref=sr_1_4/103-5628665-9942218?ie=UTF8&s=books

Its like a manual for your body.
We have manuals for our cars, our electronics, etc, but not OUR BODY. This is very informative, has info on what your looking for, and more.

A 10 minute tanning salon session always picks me up.
All the best!

more reading:
http://www.amazon.com/Toxic-Psychiatry-Electroshock-Biochemical-Theories/dp/0312113668/sr=1-3/qid=1161986787/ref=sr_1_3/002-5824583-1524020?ie=UTF8&s=books