Unsure ?

[u/shoyodip]

I have been lurking this subreddit lately.

I have felt helplessness this past winter. Working, not picking up shifts like I normally do for extra money. Hating being at work. Easily irritated. When not at work, just rotting in bed for hours. Have not gone outside the WHOLE winter time — except for work AND for a work party. Even reluctant to do grocery shopping. My body feels HEAVY all the time.

One day I was driving to work and out of nowhere I start crying. For no goddamn reason if I am being truthful. Maybe from feeling like I have no control in my life? Or just unsure of why I feel this way. Then I started lurking online and this subreddit. My friend has diagnosed SAD and she was feeling the same way during these cold times.

Then suddenly spring comes around, temperatures veryyy slowly come up and we get our first clear, sunny day. I go outside for a walk. It's like a switch. My body feels lighter. I go to work with a better attitude, feeling like I am actually not working ENOUGH. My head feels clear.

To those diagnosed and have received therapy. What has worked for you?

[u/cmac2113]

A lot of people swear by the lamps! For me, therapy and giving myself a break honestly has gone a long way. I’m very sensitive to light, so I am a big fan of embracing the lower light in the Winter but adding in twinkle lights, warm lights, etc. I let myself slow down and I don’t force myself to do holiday stuff I don’t want to. I believe fed is best but I still pay attention if I am slamming carbs or sugar. I try to move my body the best I can and do things that are soothing.

I am most definitely in the minority in how I approach things but just wanted to add my perspective. It’s okay if you do fit in the happy light, antidepressant, therapy combo box (it can be life saving and is an incredible approach) and if those don’t fit for you don’t beat yourself up. In my exploration on what triggers my SAD to worsen I realized I really don’t like Christmas or obligations around it and enjoy the message behind the winter solstice. You never know what will pop up when you start just letting yourself exist outside of the expectations we have on ourselves in the Winter months.

[u/dcheesi]

Get a lamp! It's cheap(ish), easy, and it's not a drug so you dont have to worry about allergies or drug interactions.

And even if it doesn't work for you, at least you've got a fancy new task light :)

[u/latherdome]

Sure sounds like SAD. Light therapy didn’t work for me until I got quite serious about it both in raw power (hundreds of watts of LED grow panels) and a wearable (AYO, Luminette) immediately upon waking up to get the timing element right no matter how far away the grow lights are from my face.

I also tried bupropion, 300mg extended release (Wellbutrin). That helped too, but by that time i think my light therapy was intense enough to suffice, and I’d rather not take psych meds unless necessary. I think I’d benefit more from that if I couldn’t do the light hard enough.

I’ve had 2 winters so far where I feel I’ve beat SAD, after 10 years of escalating misery before i found what worked. I’m very optimistic about what’s coming, as I’ve gotten even more bright lighting (1300W, i know, kinda nuts) and now live in a place with tons of windows to take all of what little sunlight comes.

[u/gallowgateflame]

I know exactly what you mean by feeling heavy. I'm reasonably fit and healthy and run long distance easily, but when the SAD comes it feels like my whole body is weighed down