Seasonal affective disorder

[twilightsage]

So as a background I have been struggling with seasonal depression for seven years now, it gets worse each winter and is starting earlier and ending later every year. Last night in the throes of an episode it occurred to me that I have no idea if whole body itches and feeling like crawling out of my skin is even a common symptom of SAD. It's one of the commonest for me and usually is a sign of shifting into full depressive mode. And then while I was trying to search the web to find out if others experienced that I found forums...for talking with other people.... Who have similar issues. And I was shocked. The thought had never even crossed my mind that I could do something like that. Someday when I have more money and a stabler life I will get help, I've promised myself that but for now just knowing that I'm not alone makes me feel like maybe I can make it through another winter.

[Getting Well]

The area where I live in Central New York gets...well..."no" sun would be but a slight exaggeration. Gray is the name of the game all winter here...particularly noticeable in Feb and March for me (and others). Last year I became so depressed, functioning at all was difficult. My gastroenterologist was so concerned when I showed up sobbing for a regular, routine apt., he gave me his personal cell phone number and told me to call him each morn and aft until I got an apt with my shrink. I did so... He has treated my depression and anxiety for years and commented that he had never seen me so depressed. I had been taking Lexapro 10 mg a day and doing quite well for a bunch of years. Without hesitation he wrote me a prescription for Wellbutrin (buproprion). Wish I could remember which brain chemical that targets; however that's not the point. Fact is, within a week of starting it the tear spicket turned off. He also said that even if the sun is not shining (daaah) to stick my head out and stare at the sky for about 10 min a day as some part of the brain is stimulated by the sun (even if you can't see it) As I recall, he also suggested Vit D. This year I am prepared to call him immediately after the holidays and hope to be able t o have a script on hand. I've always told my Grandson that folks put lights out during the holiday time to "make the night happy." Maybe there is some truth to that, for it is after the holidays when the lights are gone and the difference in light is often not much different in daytime or darkness. Do not give up...there is help available. You are NOT nuts. The brain chemistry IS all part of this lovely dilemma we find outselves in. LOL

[Damavandi]

Hi there:

Any doctor, with a few years of medical school, knows that the victims of SAD suffer from vitamin D3 deficiency.
A good doctor does not put the peson suffering from SAD on Wellbutrin, Lexapro, or other similar medications.
The answer to this problem is a vitamin D3 blood test (25-OH). Then the dosage of vitamin D3 supplements is adjusted to
your test result, and your consequent progress. You will be free of SAD quite soon. Be careful with your choice of a doctor. An uninformed doctor, can waste many decades of your existence, or even your entire life.

Please read my story/thread, and vitamin D at the below link. It could change your life.

http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?12695-Vitamin-D3-Cured-my-Anxiety-Depression-and-Panic-Disorder

Best wishes,
Ali