I've suspected I have had SAD since I was a child. I never tried a lite box. But I used to do tanning beds and that seemed to help. My winder blues and low energy have gotten worse every year. This year I gained 22 pounds since October. I recently started taking Vitamin D which has given me enough energy to get back to the gym which then rewards me with a better mood, and so forth. I suggest anyone with SAD or who lives in northern climates to have their VItamin D blood levels checked. Mine were quite low!
__________________ Me 30, DH 29, married since 2003.
Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Survivor
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I read this article today and had one of those 'wow, thats me' moments...
Quote:
'Symptoms are overeating, sadness, reluctance to get out of bed, being more anxious and irritable than normal, eating the wrong type of foods such as carbohydrates and sweets (therefore gaining weight), a decreased sex drive, difficulty concentrating, and feeling isolated.'
... Especially the anxious part. I'm gonna make a doctors appt and see about vitamin D. I can't afford a light thing and my walking has increased since winter started because I'm training for a half-marathon walk but I guess living so close to the south pole doesn't help regardless of how many sunshine hours I give myself!
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Diagnosed Aug 2005. Symptoms: No periods, obese, excessive hair
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Currently doing To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. + extra cardio & core work.
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Wow...it's so amazing how small the light therapy light has gotten. My mom got one when it was new, and it's a huge thing. The depressive cycle of my Schizoaffective is worse during the winter.
I have wondered for a couple of years now if I had SAD...I am an artist and I will do something creative everyday during spring to fall. During the winter I have no interest in art...I won't even go in my studio because seeing all my artwork sitting there untouched makes me even more sad. I also sleep about two -three hours more each night during the winter. I also live in Canada, and we are having a really long winter this year. I think I will look into getting one of those lamps...
I've read that tanning beds aren't as good for you as the lamps, because they're different UVA/UVB rays.....or something like that...... I have a friend who got a lamp to help her SAD and it really improved her winter mindset. For myself, last winter I took 1000 IU of vitamin D every day, in addition to my normal vitamins, fish oil, and CalMag, and I noticed a marked difference in my ability to cope. I would say to try the Vitamin D if you have a sort of mild SAD, and if it doesn't help then perhaps a lamp is a good investment.
