Feeling Depressed; Seasonal Affective Disorder

[Lady of Longbourn]

I have SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) that is sort of a added on type of my Bipolar Disorder, so with "seasonal pattern'. So get depressed every fall usually lasting until Spring. I have tried medication with some help but not enough to completely help it.

It's getting to that time of year again and I am already starting to feel a bit melancholy. My therapist once told me is possible to feel depressed about being depressed and I really feel that way. After almost 6 months of reasonably good health the thought of spending the next half a year mostly depressed is scary and I hate it. I hate the thought, hate knowing.

I have been trying to get help. Seeing my therapist a bit more often and starting some fitness which does help though temporarily.

I feel a bit defeated and angry about what life is throwing at me. Mostly upset about what I know is coming becasue it's been like that since I was about 10 years old. It is helping me understand why I did so badly in school though. With half of the year spent hollow eyed with blank stares and unable to think about even getting dressed I do feel a bit of sympathy for my younger self in regards to school and life, no wonder why I did so badly! I wish I had gotten help. :( I also miss college a bit but will have to focus on my mental health and fitness until the spring were hopefully I can attend college again.

Thanks for listening. :)

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Have you tried light therapy? I have a sun lamp in my room that I'm going to start using more regularly now that fall is coming. I was lucky enough to pick it up at a thrift store for only 8 bucks!

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

Have you tried light therapy?

I have only tired a few days of light therapy. It messed up my sleep schedule a bit and put me off it. I am going to try it again this year. I need to dig it out of my closet.

Wow, 8 dollars. Mine was $70...I wish it was 8 dollars.

 

[sthrngirl]

What meds have you tried?

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

What meds have you tried?

Hello Sthrngirl,

I do take some medication for my mood disorder. A antipsychotic and a mood stabilizer, the last one showing in studies that is helps for depression. I have tried anti-depressants with not much luck becasue they make me manic even with the other drugs. I have tried about 3 or 4 anti-depressants all give me various degrees of mania or hostility. I do take vitamin D as well.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

My sleep doc told me to use the lamp only first thing in the morning because otherwise it can affect sleeping patterns. She also told me to wear sunglasses if I go outside after 6. I know the sunglasses thing is more related to sleep than SAD, but wearing sunglasses at night (cue the 80's song, lol) prevents those daytime light signals from reaching our brains that tell us to wake up. Or something like that.

Well, it's more like sunglasses in the evening, but there's no song about that lol.

 

[sthrngirl]

I take Wellbutrin, and I've read that a lot of people with SAD take that for it. It took about 2 months for me to get use to the med, but ultimately it worked for me.

 

[GrahamCracker]

Melatonin has helped me with SAD, which I get closer to the end of winter. You may want to check that it doesn't interact with anything else, but it's helped me a lot if I take it during the couple of months where I have the most depression.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

I take wellbutrin, and I've read that a lot of people with SAD take that for it.

Do you know what your SAD is associated with? SAD is not a mood disorder by itself, it is a type of sub disorder to either Major Depressive Disorder or Bipolar Disorder, both disorders have depression so SAD is like "Bipolar Disorder type 2 with Seasonal Patterns".

Wellbutrin is a atypical antidepressant and antidepressant don't 'normally' work with people who have Bipolar Disorder (though there are exceptions to everything) becasue it tends to have the opposite effect on them. While my doctor had me try Wellbutrin becasue it was less likely to make me manic, it didn't work. I become very hostile on it.

I am glad something works for you though. :)

Melatonin has helped me with SAD

I do take Melatonin to help me sleep sometimes. Thanks for the reminder, I will ask my doctor.

 

[Whitneys story]

I have replaced my light bulbs with natural lite. The push for compact/fluorescent might have been cheaper. But the light puts a strong edge on everything.

Reveal bulbs have made a huge difference. Our government is now on the reverse course of getting rid of florescent bulbs. I am still looking for a cellophane sunshine to stick in the window.

Good luck finding the right thing for you! Hugs, Whitney

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

I have been noticing my mood shifting into unstable and depressed. My therapist has been trying to prepare me for the fall and winter. His support does help and he usually has good ideas.

I hate watching myself deteriorate.

 

[DharmaGirl]

She also told me to wear sunglasses if I go outside after 6.

Good to know!