I have SAD (seasonal affective disorder) and it is very prevalent in women. Please take the time to read this and to self-diagnose (or to identify it in someone else). It is relatively easy to manage but quite devastating if not properly identified.

Symptoms tend to be like an atypical depression, but can manifest as a normal depression. Symptoms tend to appear most notably in the winter months (Dec, Jan, Feb), but functioning can be impaired as early as September and continue through April.

Low serotonin caused by light deprivation is the culprit.

Symptoms can include (perhaps not all, but some apply): fatigue, falling asleep early ("passing out" from being tired) when this is not how you are in the summer, anxiety and irritability, tearfulness, overwhelming craving for starches, weight gain, lack of interest in socializing, waning motivation (not even wanting to do things that sound fun because you're worn out), difficulty waking up in the morning, hopelessness, general lack of joy.

The treatment is simple and effective but needs to be tweaked according to your individual biology. A bright light, therapeutic at 10,000 lux (a measure of light intensity), basically resets your biological clock so you aren't out of whack. I have to use my light for an hour and 15 minutes early in the morning, and sometimes again in the evening, to resolve my symptoms.

I have chosen not to take an ssri, but I do take 250 mg. of 5-HTP every day and that has helped tremendously.

You may take a test to see if you are suffering depressive symptoms at: http://www.dialogix.org:8080/CET/servlet/Dialogix?schedule=CET/WEB-INF/schedules/AutoSIGH-rev-04-10.jar&DIRECTIVE=START

I take this once a week to make sure my symptoms are in check. Before I started my light therapy and htp I was at a 19, now I average about a 8-10, which is a HUGE improvement!

Please don't suffer if you don't have to -- I did for years and it was simply awful. My friends would joke about how I would disappear for three or four months . . . Ladies, let's take care of ourselves!!

Thanks for the information, amigrace.:)

Scattered

I've tried using a SAD lamp and it seems to make me... agitated? sleepless? (even w/ short "doses")
I'm not completely sure, but this did happen to me w/ SSRIs as well.

Anyone else have that happen?

where do i get one??

A good reputable dealer is at www.lighttherapyproducts.com, or just do a search. The cheaper ones work just as well from what I can tell.

Akabird, it is relatively common to experience some agitation and sleeplessness with an ssri or with anything, including light therapy, that causes "activation." It's kind of like your body has been woken up suddenly and you get that "ACK!! What's going on" feeling. However, this tends to be a side effect that resolves with time. I had to start very slow with the light therapy and the HTP as well, moving up in small increments. It's really worth it, though. I felt too "buzzy" for a short time every time I increased, but all of the sudden there's a calm that comes, and this is the first winter that I have been mercilessly consistent with my light and HTP, and I feel a billion times better than I usually do.

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=1><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2>This score is made up of several distinct components, which we will analyze for you below. In general, scores below 4 indicate normal, "OK" mood (or even high mood). When we talk about levels of depression as mild, moderate or severe, there are no exact score cutoffs. The dividing lines are fuzzy, and require a clinician's interpretation taking into account each person's history and symptom pattern. Scores between 4 and 10 suggest minimal symptomatology, which any individual might show occasionally. But if your score remains between 4 and 10 for several weeks, the problems merit attention. Scores above 10 suggest levels of depression that should be monitored closely if mild (11 to 15), but dealt with clinically if moderate (16 to 24) or severe (25 and above). </TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2><INPUT type=hidden name=f16_COMMENT> <INPUT type=hidden name=f16_SPECIAL> <INPUT type=hidden name=f16_HELP>Your AutoSIGH score indicates that you are experiencing clinically significant depressive symptoms.

If you have not already done so, you should talk with someone close about it and seek the guidance of clinician if this has lasted longer than a week. </TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2>You also reported thoughts of death or suicide. It is very important that you get guidance from a clinician. Try to tell someone close about it, call 1-800-784-2433 or 1-800-273-8255 for connection to local help centers in the U.S., or click here (http://www.preventsuicidenow.com/suicide-hotlines-international.html) for help in many other countires. These services are all free and confidential. Remember, the AutoSIGH was designed to help you identify problems, but you have to take the next step to solve them. </TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2>You also reported having trouble falling asleep every night. Although this kind of insomnia can accompany depression, it can be troublesome even when someone is not depressed. Sleep disorders can arise for many reasons. Hopefully this is temporary, but if the problem lasts you should report this to your doctor. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

I have my annual SAD battle at the first sign of Autumn. It typically goes away once my brain has a chance to adjust to the decrease in light. Sometimes it briefly returns in Winter. I couldn't afford a light therapy lamp so I found a much cheaper solution that seems to work well for me. Philips makes a 60 watt light bulb called Natural - it comes in a pale blue package I believe. The light it puts out mimics natural day light. I put a bulb in both of my living room lamps. One lamp is directly next to the chair I sit in, and the other lamp is vertically across the room. Sometimes I leave the lampshades on, sometimes I take them off. Between the two lamps it gives my brain enough "sunlight" to keep the SAD under control. This might not work for everybody, but it helps me and is a lot cheaper!

Anyone get this later in the season?
I dropped classes last year on account of several things but SAD was a culprit I hadn't realized until I talked to a therapist. I wonder if I just anticipate summer too much. I long for the productive days again where I can go play outside and all that junk. I live in Minnesota and it's usually frigid until middle to late March sometimes into April.

I'm an odd one when it comes to lights. Usually, like now for instance I leave all the lights on in the house. Otherwise I start getting sleepy and lose productivity. It drives my boyfriend crazy but I simply have to ignore the fact that it's dark outside and take some other cue from my surroundings as to what time it is. I'm sort of training myself to look at the time more and more often. But my problem is knowing when to actually look. I used to check the time according to the level of light and it's usually right where I think it is. That and I'm becoming more and more ritualistic. I know someone with autism and the seasons change throws them way off. Their routine revolves around TV and one of their shows starts coming on when it's dark out and it's like throwing a wrench into the whole gear train. They want their show to come on sooner because it should come on before sun goes down.

starchild, PLEASE PLEASE GO GET HELP NOW NOW NOW if you are having thoughts of hurting yourself as well as insomnia every night. Been there, darling, and it's no way to live, but medication is a much better option than killing yourself, even though that may seem very appealing when you're depressed and can't sleep. Please see a doc even if you don't have health insurance, go to the emergency room and get help. You can pay off the bill 10 bucks a month for the rest of your life, but at least you'll be alive to pay it!!! Please get help and let us know how it goes.

janesays, the higher in latitude you are (Minn. for example) the worse it can tend to be. Leaving all the lights on is a sign that your body needs more light. You see, the light hitting your retina signals your body to produce/absorb the serotonin, and without it you can go on the skids pretty quickly. My SAD has worsened with age (I'm 33) and I have to hit the bright light pretty early in order to forestall the horrible sluggishness I get. Sluggishness in mommy does not go over well with a toddler!

Hugs to all.

Thanks for the post!