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Re: News: Light Therapy as Effective as Prozac for

Posted by Dave001 on October 19, 2004, at 20:43:16

In reply to Re: News: Light Therapy as Effective as Prozac for SAD » ravenstorm, posted by yznhymer on October 19, 2004, at 16:01:32

> > I have severe seasonal affective disorder. Light boxes do not help it. If I am able to get out of the midwest to the sun somewhere, I feel amazingly better within a very short period of time.
>
> That's interesting. For years I wasn't sure whether I had atypical depression or SAD. Living

I don't think that SAD and depression are mutually exclusive. There is evidence that everyone responds similarly to the seasonal changes. Most likely, those with "SAD" are just more sensitive to the changes, and/or more susceptible to depression.

in the northeast, I'd struggle through the winters and perk up May through September. But, coincidentally, the Fall was also when many of the most depressing aspects of my life would intensify, so it was hard to sort things out.
>

I am the same way. Living in the Boston area doesn't help, either. It sure *feels* like there is a lot more too it than just light, too. However, it is important to remember that not only are the daylight hours fewer during winter, but the *intensity* of the sunlight is also much weaker.

> In any case, I found no real relief with a light box or visor (meds haven't been that great a solution either) but the amount of natural

Yeah, I haven't noticed anything from light boxes either. One reason I question the efficacy of light boxes, is that the typical amount of light exposure "prescribed" probably isn't equivalent to much more than half an hour or so outside on a cloudy winter day. OK, it's probably more than that, but not a lot.

> sunlight I get continues to make a huge difference in how I feel on any given day. On cloudy days I am totally devoid of energy, never really wake up, symptoms of depression deepen and I feel like !$#~!. I'm driven to self-medicate with carbohydrates and want to do nothing but hybernate.
>
> Sunny days, however, are like a mental B-12 shot. In recent years my depression stretches

Damn. That's the first time I've seen such analogy with vitamin B-12 before. :-)

> through every month on the calendar, so I don't think SAD is my DX. Nevertheless, exposure to

One thing you have to realize is that most psychiatric diagnoses only describe symptoms, and say nothing of the etiology behind those symptoms.
The only distinction between SAD and "normal" depression is that the former occurs in a circumscribed pattern dependent upon seasonal changes. But it is entirely plausible and probably not at all uncommon for one to experience depression year-round with a worsening of symptoms during the dark and cold months.

There is some evidence showing a link between (increased) melatonin levels and SAD, so you probably should avoid supplemental melatonin.

Dave


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URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041018/msgs/404928.html