So I finally went to the doctors today and had it confirmed I have SAD (seasonal affective disorder), which is when your body does not make enough seratonin in the body during the winter months. Basically, some people are more sensitive chemically, to the lack of light during the winter. Your body can not create enough seretonin to keep you energetic during the winter months. You build up more melatonin (which is what makes you sleepy) and you go into "hibernation".
I shied away from getting on drugs, as I dont want to become dependant on them, or have a backlash when it's time to go off them. However, my doctor prescribed me Zoloft, which all it does is help create more seretonin in the body. It's the mildest of the drugs out there. He gave me a few samples, and aprescription to fill if I choose. He also told me to check out Northern Light Tecnologies which has lights that help build seretonin as well.
So, does anyone else have this disorder, or may think they have it? My doctor was telling me it was a very common thing, and that many people brush off their symptoms. It has nothing to do with depression, it's just a chemical imbalance due to lack of light. Also, if you have it (or think you have it) how do you cope?
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I kind of have it, in that prolonged periods of gray skies will foul my mood. One solution is to go to a tanning salon and get some UV rays. Another answer is to do as your doc suggested and chemically alter the balance in your body, but that may have other consequences than those you've planned for. Be careful about that.
Totem
Totem
So you just feel like you could sleep all day if you wanted to?
I ask because my wife is the same way around winter months. If I left her alone she could sleep the entire weekend.
Edited, Mon Jan 31 14:44:12 2005 by Karg
I ask because my wife is the same way around winter months. If I left her alone she could sleep the entire weekend.
Edited, Mon Jan 31 14:44:12 2005 by Karg
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2654 posts
Score: Decent [2.66]
Score: Decent [2.66]
Someone doesn't like this subject. Was a nerve touched somewhere? Rating you up totem
Totem, I heard about the tanning. Have you tried it? I'd liek to know if it works.
If I can deal with this relatively without taking drugs, I'm gungho about it. I really have issues with depending on something, but if nothing else works, I'm not going to be bale to cope. No matter how much sleep I get, I still can't function until 10 am, and then I'm ready for a nap 2 hours later. It happened last year, and again this year, around November, and steadily gets worse throughout the winter. I wasn't going to even deal with the doctor, except that it's only January and I have at least 2more months of winter to deal with.
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So you just feel like you could sleep all day if you wanted to?
Easily. I just took a 2 hour nap while my son was sleeping, and I'm ready for another 3 hours. Going to the doctors, I was yawning the entire time, and let me tell you, that little rock hard bed they have in all the rooms actually looked comfortable.
Edited, Mon Jan 31 14:45:42 2005 by deadsidedemon
Thanks for the reply Deadside, I need to bring this up with my wife. She seems the same way around this time of year.
To add, she is constantly falling alseep during lovemaking and other times. ...What?
To add, she is constantly falling alseep during lovemaking and other times. ...What?
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To add, she is constantly falling alseep during lovemaking and other times. ...What?
At least if she finds out she has that, then you know its not you, it's her lack of seretonin.... at least part of it
Yeah, if she sounds like me, have her go tslk to her doctor. I didn't want to and waited this long, but I'm at my breaking end now. I'm going to check out those lights and see if I cant get one for my computer desk. I figure, I'm here often enough as it is, I might as well make it useful.
Yeah, it works, Dead. It may very well be a placebo effect, but I find that it charges me up for a few days until the sun comes back out again.
Totem
Totem
I'll look into that then. I figure it cant hurt.
Aren't there lamps out there that mimic sunlight for plants and such? Could you get a couple of those and maybe avoid the skin cancer? Sorry to hear it, DSD. Anything I can do to help?
My mother gets the same way from Thanksgiving until New Years. It's extremely difficult being around here during this time, so I try and stay away.
People don't like to be meddled with. We tell them what to do, what to think, don't run, don't walk. We're in their homes and in their heads and we haven't the right. We're meddlesome. ~River Tam
Sedao
Sedao
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Aren't there lamps out there that mimic sunlight for plants and such? Could you get a couple of those and maybe avoid the skin cancer? Sorry to hear it, DSD. Anything I can do to help?
Yup about the lights. I think I posted a link to a site my doctor recomended to me in my OP. You basically just have it shine on you while you do computer stuff, and it helps to increase the seretonin in your body. I was told combined with Zoloft, the drug I was given, it should make a very dramatic effect. I'm still wavering on Zoloft though...
And thanks for asking, but I'm good. I didn't post this to whine. I actually thought it was pretty interesting to know that some people are more sensitive to lack of light then others and why. It's nice to know what's happening and to know that a lot of people deal with this. I also thought if anyone else had symptoms like me, they may be able to find out if this is what it is.
HA! And my husband just thought I was lazy.
Princess Atomicflea wrote:
Aren't there lamps out there that mimic sunlight for plants and such? Could you get a couple of those and maybe avoid the skin cancer? Sorry to hear it, DSD. Anything I can do to help?
Yes, full spectrum lighting and sun lamps both can help with S.A.D. I'd look into the web site your MD pointed you towards. Those things can be really helpful.
I took Zoloft.
I will say that it changed me. Instead of being the quiet and comtemplative person that I was, I was a chattering fool. Also I stopped thinking with my Right Brain.
If you like yourself now, I wouldn't try it.
But who knows, you may like the person that you become.
Also keep in mind that it takes about a month for Zolft to truly kick in... so the fact taht this doctor is trying to prescribe this to you instead of the proper Vitamins and stuff that you Need simply appalls me to no end.
So typical of the racketeering that is called Pharmacuticals.
My point is that this personality altering chemical called Zoloft will Change you. Think about it.
It doesn't fix the problem; it only masks it.
I will say that it changed me. Instead of being the quiet and comtemplative person that I was, I was a chattering fool. Also I stopped thinking with my Right Brain.
If you like yourself now, I wouldn't try it.
But who knows, you may like the person that you become.
Also keep in mind that it takes about a month for Zolft to truly kick in... so the fact taht this doctor is trying to prescribe this to you instead of the proper Vitamins and stuff that you Need simply appalls me to no end.
So typical of the racketeering that is called Pharmacuticals.
My point is that this personality altering chemical called Zoloft will Change you. Think about it.
It doesn't fix the problem; it only masks it.
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. so the fact taht this doctor is trying to prescribe this to you instead of the proper Vitamins and stuff that you Need simply appalls me to no end.
So typical of the racketeering that is called Pharmacuticals.
So typical of the racketeering that is called Pharmacuticals.
Actually I thought he did his job amazingly well on this end.
He listened to my concerns about taking drugs, he told me all available options open to me, and then he gave me the full power of the choice. He gave me the website to the lights he thought would work well, and a sample and prescription to use at my own choosing, of the mildest drug he thought would work. He never told me I had to take it. He just gave me the option and let me decide. At least that way if I do decide to try the Zoloft, I dont have to call up aain for another appointment.
I may not be a fan of drugs, but I was very appreciative of him actually going over all the options I had, and what would work best for my situation. To me, that's a sign of a good doctor; one who explores all avenues.
good god, they've gotten to you already havn't they?
it's THX 1138 for you!
it's THX 1138 for you!
Ladies and gentlemen the Psychiatrists have come up with another "disorder" to feed the needs of the drug companies!
boo hiss go other team!
Go get laid!
boo hiss go other team!
Go get laid!
Quote:
Go get laid!
Believe me, that's not a problem for me
Lady deadsidedemon wrote:
Quote:
Go get laid!
Believe me, that's not a problem for me
Then you need better sex!
Start having sex in Sunlight.
maybe that's the problem with the world, everyone has sex at night, in a house under a blanket.
maybe that's the problem with the world, everyone has sex at night, in a house under a blanket.
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Then you need better sex!
Actually, I wonder if the opposite is the problem. maybe I should cut back on the sex and conserve my ebergy. I am using up quite a bit of it at nightwith my man
As for having sex in the sun, that's fine and dandy if you live in FL. When its 20 below here sex in the sun just wont cut it.
Kelvyquayo the Hand wrote:
Start having sex in Sunlight.
maybe that's the problem with the world, everyone has sex at night, in a house under a blanket.
maybe that's the problem with the world, everyone has sex at night, in a house under a blanket.
My name is Lefein, and I approve this message.
Weed is all you need!
Plant it in the spring, grow it in the summer, harvest it in the fall, smoke it in the winter! Those lights you mentioned will help the growing process.
Watching snow fall is wonderful while stoned. Late at night, hanging out the bedroom window with all the lights out, the town muffled and peaceful, shapes and sounds obscured by fluffy white accumulation. Meanwhile you're all snug and warm with a cup of tea, wrapped in a blanket with your S.O.
At least, that's how *I* like to spend the winter
Plant it in the spring, grow it in the summer, harvest it in the fall, smoke it in the winter! Those lights you mentioned will help the growing process.
Watching snow fall is wonderful while stoned. Late at night, hanging out the bedroom window with all the lights out, the town muffled and peaceful, shapes and sounds obscured by fluffy white accumulation. Meanwhile you're all snug and warm with a cup of tea, wrapped in a blanket with your S.O.
At least, that's how *I* like to spend the winter
publiusvarus wrote:
we all know liberals are well adjusted american citizens who only want what's best for society. While conservatives are evil money grubbing scum who only want to sh*t on the little man and rob the world of its resources.
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