Am I SAD?

[TheMagiciansNiece]

Does anyone suffer with SAD at this time of year? It's only just occurred to me that I might have it. I feel constantly tired, and could sleep all day. I keep eating (particuarly carbs) and feel generally crap.

But the worst thing is that I feel like I can't really be bothered with anyone else, like I'm a bit numb to my feelings if that makes sense?

I hate gloomy weather generally, but in the winter it's just horrible, and I can't wait for the longer days and some sunshine.

Anyone else?

Oh God yes! Looking back I had it for years before I realised. I would love to crawl into bed and hibernate till the end of February (that's when life starts to brighten up a bit).

And - oh yes - carbs, carbs and more carbs.

However I have been on a low dose of Citalopram for years now and it gets me through the winter. I still feel the winter blues but now that I know what it is I can manage it and know that if I can just make it through January and February I'm going to feel a LOT better. More energy, just brighter in general!

The run up to Christmas keeps me occupied, because I enjoy it so much, but after that it's just a loooooong grey slog until the days start getting longer.

Yes, definitely sounds like SAD, especially at the moment where there's been low light for ages.

Have you tried a Lumie light? I'm exhausted without mine. I take Sertraline too, but do still have days where never talking to anyone again seems like the most wonderful idea...

I've found my people! Sorry to hear that you both suffer though. Will investigate the lumie light thing.

It's horrible isnt it. And actually I detest the name "SAD" as it sounds so flippant. I've suffered from it for years - probably before it was even recognised as a thing. Used to take low dose of propranolol but now take vitamin D tablets and use a light for 20 minutes every morning whilst I read the paper. My light wasnt ridiculously expensive (although most of them were at the time I bought mine) as I wasn't sure it would work, but it has definitely improved my winters. They are much more reasonably priced these days so I would definitely recommend. Good luck and I hope it makes arence!

I’ve always been like this in winter but this year I took vitamin d (4000 units for a months then down to 400) and it’s totally changed things. Apparently a lot of people in this country are deficient in the winter

I used to work in mental health, and it is a recognised psychiatric condition and the light-box is the first line treatment. I manage winters now reasonably well with the Citalopram but will investigate the Lumie light - light boxes used to be £££ so I never bothered