Seasonal Affective Disorder and Vit D

calmwaters · 02-13-2008, 01:47 AM

It's the newest thing... Vitamin D deficiency is being the proposed cause of:
autism
autoimmune illness (yup, me)
cancer
chronic pain
depression/seasonal affective disorder (yup, me)
diabetes (insulin resistance) (yup, me)
heart disease
hyperparathyroidism
hypertension (yup, me)
influenza
myopathy (neuromuscular disorders)
obesity (yup, me)
osteoporosis

DO NOT assume you have a deficiency and go take some Vit D. You can overdose on this "vitamin" and you should get your blood level of Vitamin D checked. I did and it happens to be 20, and the recommended minimum is 50. So, I will start taking Vitamin D3 2000IU daily. I am hoping it will help my seasonal affective disorder and also prevent some longer term problems like cancer, etc. Don't know about you, but I will sooner try a vitamin (that can be monitored by blood tests) than start a long term neuroleptic medication or PRN anxiolytics...

Here's some links for more info, or you could Google Vitamin D deficiency or Vitamin D and depression:

http://www.vitamindcouncil.com/depression.shtml

http://www.womentowomen.com/nutritio.../vitamind.aspx

http://www.truestarhealth.com/member...13ML3P1A8.html

SilverFinn · 02-14-2008, 03:26 AM

Thank you for posting this, I find it very interesting. I am currently taking Vit D w/Calcium supplement and fish oil trying to help my SAD. I also need to start using my Dad's 'sun light.' We are Finnish in my family, which I don't think helps things. I need to get my levels checked and decide what to do from there. Thanks again for the post!

calmwaters · 02-14-2008, 03:34 AM

Sure! I have read that if a person is deficient doses up 1000 IU to 2000 IU are needed to be of any benefit, and a max dose of 4000 IU. For example, for an average fair skinned person the body will convert 10,000 IU of Vit D naturally on its own in 20 minutes of pure mid-day no sunscreen on your skin sunlight! That is why some people feel (like me) feel so good in the sun. There are theories that those Sunlamps/SAD lights work because they cause the body to produce more Vit D.

ivetastedflight · 02-14-2008, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverFinn

I also need to start using my Dad's 'sun light.'

I just bought one today... waiting for my Amazon box! I hope it works, because I don't know where to go from here!

SilverFinn · 02-16-2008, 02:55 AM

ivetastedflight, good luck to you, I hope your 'sun light' works! My Dad thinks it helps him out and he uses it while he sips his morning coffee. I don't know if you've seen Men In Trees on ABC, but the police woman on there has one that she is just crazy about, it's kinda funny! Wishes to you for feeling better!

Miss Amarosa · 02-16-2008, 03:40 AM

Where can I find one of these Sun Lamps? I thought that was just an Urban Legend .lol Although I am of Hispanic descent i'm extremely fairskinned with freckles almost albino lol . I used to have a tanning addiction until I really got freaked out about skin cancer that and i started noticing fine lines and wrinkles when I was 24 lol . Plus I'm really doing everything I can to be the healthiest me I can be.

I currently live in Michigan where from October until almost MAY sunlight is no where to be found. It can be quite grey and gloomy for weeks at a time with a small glimpse of sun once a month or so lol. I have become more effected by this weather change more and more every year. This year I started out with bronchitis in OCT and it turned into pneumonia. I was constantly picking up EVERYTHING. The doctor I work for who is the head of Infectious Disease said that I am very sensitive to the cold. So it lowers my immune system .

WOW so he says i'm literally allergic to the cold. I went to Florida for 10 days on New Year's Eve still sick as a dog after 3 months trying every antibiotic in the book lol .... So I step out of the airport Its 75 degrees and the most beautiful sunshine you'd ever seen it was like being in heaven for me. Within a few days I dramatically felt better. But unfortunately when I came home 5 days later I caught the flu and was out another 2 weeks lol .

Now 4 months later. I'm finally done being sick but have to be extremely careful. Thank God I am moving to Southern California in August cuz I cant take this no sunshine stuff... I need sunshine atleast 85% of the time to be functional and motivated. WOW just got a sense of how beautiful and energetic I felt while in all that sunshine. LOL even though the one day my friends had time to take me I was the most pale pasty snow looking woman on the beach with tons of sunscreen lol But i didnt care I was just loving every second of it. I cried like a big baby because I knew what I would be facing when I would arrive back home in Michigan. DRAB DREADFUL GREY AND GLOOM

So where can I get this amazing this lol???