Does anybody have any experience with SAD? I've heard about light therapy, but I'm not sure what it is or how it works. I was diagnosed with depression a few years ago and have been on and off medication, but I really think it gets much worse during the winter. I'm just wondering if there's anything I can do along with taking medication that might help?

Does anybody have any experience with SAD? I've heard about light therapy, but I'm not sure what it is or how it works. I was diagnosed with depression a few years ago and have been on and off medication, but I really think it gets much worse during the winter. I'm just wondering if there's anything I can do along with taking medication that might help?

Exercise, it makes a huge difference in my mental state. I get Summertime SAD because it is so danged hot that I get angry and after a while it starts to wear on me.

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Does anybody have any experience with SAD? I've heard about light therapy, but I'm not sure what it is or how it works. I was diagnosed with depression a few years ago and have been on and off medication, but I really think it gets much worse during the winter. I'm just wondering if there's anything I can do along with taking medication that might help?

Maybe you could try tanning. :confused: I get worse in the winter also, but I seem to do better if I tan. This way makes me look good and feel good. Although, if you worry alot, this might not be for you if your nervous about disease. Alot of people worry about skin cancer and if you are one of those, then I'd advise not to do it. It works for me though! :)
Good luck!!
Melly ;)

You're totally right, tanning helps me a lot. But I figured it's probably not the best idea in the long run, you know? But I do go occasionally just to feel better. That's why I was wondering about the light therapy, I'm guessing it would work for me. Thanks!

I go for stronger meds in the winter and lots of lights. I have tons of lights in my house and they are always on. On sunny days I spent alot of time near a window or outside if its not too darn cold. But yeah. That's all I've found that works so far. Hope something helps for you.
~Mel

In my case it was suspected that I might be seasonal affective, but I have so many mental probs (including bipolar) that nobody was really sure. We tried a lightbox, but it didn't really do a whole lot for me either way. It can make bipolars manic actually, but it wasn't the case for me. It was just... eh. A better light to read by lol. However given that I'm bipolar that probably changes things so... since a lot of people have had success with these lights, you probably dont want to go by me. But just thought I would give my two cents... can't hurt right? ;)
Kristina :wave:

I to suffer from depression...excercise, fresh air, helps alot. My doc told me about light therapy, and I bought a light, a full spectrum light...and use it in the morning when I get up, for 20-30 minutes. It seems to help...living here in alaska we get zero light in the winter...and that really brings me down. Hope this helps...artichack

From Thanks giving to about now I feel tired and irritable.Not depressed mind you just blahhh.When the earth starts to make its way around the sun and days get longer I feel much less tired.There is something to this seasonal disorder stuff maybe I need to hibernate in a warmer climate for 2 or 3 months I live in the NE. Of corse if I could I would.

Don't you mean you WOULD if you COULD? :p
But yeah, you're right about that seasonal affectiveness. It seems like you might relate to that. Try some of the therapies that people have listed on this thread!
Kristina :wave:

i've also heard that depression in the winter months is exaccerbated not only because of low levels of light entering the retina, but also because store levels of vitamin D are depleted in the winter (vit D is synthethised from exposure to sunlight). vit D levels are lower in everyone in the winter but tests showed that SAD sufferers' Vit D stores were next to nothing in the winter. there has been a recent link to low levels of Vit D and depression.
so i conclude, take vit D supplements in the winter. cod liver oill is a good supplement form. one 1000mg capsule contains 100% RDA of vit D. take one in the morning, one in the evening. its good to take cod liver oil anyway as it contains the omega 3 EFA EPA, which has shown to reduce the symptoms of depression.

google in "the weston A price foundation" then click on "basic nutrition" and then "the miracle of vitamin D". the article is very interesting and talks about the role of vit D in regards to SAD, and discusses how much vit D is needed.

ratboy83, thanks so much for your reply! I'll definitely check out that article. That would be great if the answer is as simple as that. Thanks to everybody else for your helpful replies too!

Just a comment...I think my hubby has SAD...He gets so cranky and irritable this time of year, and that is very unlike him normally. I find he seems better when I feed him grapefruits and oranges for breakfast, and orange juice, and make him take a multivitamin every day. I don't know, but I'm imagining some extra Vitamin C couldn't hurt.