Seasonal Affective Disorder

I've found tanning to be somewhat helpful.....obviously getting to the gym and pushing through the depressive and annoying feeling is key.....it's never 100% effective, but if you can basically keep yourself busy and have something to strive for (goals, etc), it definitely helps \m/

The worst parts of the year for me are September and March, right around the equinoxes. I live in Arizona, so I try to get outside as much as possible to enjoy all the nice sunlight now that it's not 115 outside. I have a happy light at home and at work, and I try to exercise every day. I had a really rough time last year, so this year my doctor has me trying Sam-e, and it seems to be helping.

I had never thought of indoor tanning - going to research that a bit. :-)

I was surprised at what a difference running made in my management of SAD. Getting outside for as much sun as I can (what little there is) also helps.

I have a family member who struggles with this, and he said that while the expense at the time seemed to be a lot, the light therapy really helped and he finds it much easier to manage by using it daily throughout the winter months.

I've heard very good things about tanning too.

Generally speaking, when I was really struggling with my own generalized depression, making a point to plan out my day the night before helped to get me out of bed the next day...knowing I had things to do/people to see helped to get me out of bed. Not sure if it's applicable in your situation, but figured I'd throw it out there

And know that you have your friends on here to help too!!! :flowerforyou:

I take Vit D year round but will be increasing my dosage and starting light therapy at the end of the month. I have this Litebook http://www.amazon.com/Litebook-Elite-Hand-Held-Therapy-Device/dp/B000P0LLNU/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1382115235&sr=8-19&keywords=lite+box+therapy

I get SAD pretty bad this past decade. I'm blaming Canada (moved here 11 years ago). While I'm not really any higher latitude wise from where I lived in Michigan, I find the winters more grey, colder and longer here. Litebook, VitD, B12, exercise and as much time outside as I can have really helped the past 3-4 winters.

I had this for years but somehow it's gone away...not sure why. I was seriously looking into light therapy at a point.

those lights really work well,

I do therapy lights every morning starting in October. I generally do ok until January. Christmas is over, but 3+ more months of short winter days in Minnesota is just awful.

I also started taking a low dose antidepressant when I was first diagnosed. It helped a little with motivation and getting out of bed, but not with the carb cravings.

When I was running outside at lunchtime every day all winter, that was the most helpful. Unfortunately my schedule no longer allows running in the middle of the day. One year I rigged a light box to shine over my treadmill and that worked ok.

Even though I crave carbs like nobody's business, I don't think they make you feel any better for more than the minute they are in your mouth. I actually try to tilt my diet to more protein to avoid crashes which make the whole thing even worse.

Finally, my main weird symptom of depression (seasonal or otherwise) is a complete inability to make decisions. The smaller and less important the decision, the more paralyzing. To deal with that, I set up a pretty rigid routine in the winter to avoid being stymied by having to make a decision. I take as much decision-making as I can off my plate.

My husband struggles with this. As his wife.. what can I do to be helpful?

I continue to spend as much time outside as I do in the warmer months. It might not be as pleasant but forcing myself to do physical activities in sub freezing weather has really helped over the past couple of years.. I really think part of it has something to with feeling like a badass after cross training in snow and walking for 7 miles in 4 degree temp. I have an mfp buddy that would agree with me on that.

I only start to get really poopy around February now and that is just because winter seems to last forever in Colorado.

ETA: We get a ton of sunshine here all winter long.

Tanning helps (I usually will cover my face though so I don't look too dark in winter) and joining a gym that has a pool and or sauna helps.

I've just started taking vitamin D consistently and running this summer. It will be interesting what effect my new habits will have when time changes.

After a couple years of feeling depressed all winter I think I have SAD. I am planning on making an appointment with my doctor to discuss as it's not even Thanksgiving and I am feeling it already. In the last two weeks we've had sunny days only twice and I felt great on those days but tired , cranky and depressed on the other days. I get out daily for walks but only after dark now that the sun goes down at 4:30 now.

For those of you who have been diagnosed and use light therapy - was that something that was covered by insurance?

I don't know if I would be clinicly diagnosed with having SAD, but after reading up on it. I'm pretty sure I'm close. I'm usually good till that first week after New Years. The Holiday socializing is over and then it's dark and cold; and it seems like we're a long way from it getting any better. Almost a hopeless feeling. I start worrying about that 6-8 week stretch during the winter so much I have a hard time enjoying the fall because I know it's coming. I'm so myopic during this time of year I will time the sunset with my watch, and cheer even the slightest gain in daylight. This is inaddition to checking sunrise/sunset tables every few weeks. This lasts until late Feburary or Early March. By that time of the year there's a little daylight left when I get home from work. We get some warmer days, although, like last year; winter always has something left up her sleave until May.

Like others have said. Line-up some fitness goals and work toward them. I have a trail race I need to get ready for in Mid-Feburary, so that will take most of my energy. After that there's an adventure race in April. All this is on top of the other community, kids, and social activities we have going on.

Don't know if my case is severe enough to get the light. But I may look into some Vit D pills during this upcoming season and see if that helps more than my usuall plan for those "Dark Days"