Cam,

Thanks for all the information. I wish that I could get my T to actually tell me a diagnosis. I told him last spring that I thought I had a seasonal pattern, and he seemed to agree, and didn't seem to disagree when I asked if I should get a light box. My previous diagnoses were dysthymic disorder and social anxiety, but he hadn't really seen me much in winter. First evaluation was in spring - waited a year for approval from a funding source - started therapy in spring - quit in late fall (because he cancelled on me too many times and I gave up) - a year and a half later an incident involving SI and being pretty close to suicide prompted starting therapy again - spring. He never said whether my diagnosis changed, but I'm assuming it probably did.

I also started SJW last spring, and did very well through summer and early fall, but not doing so well now. The light therapy might work better if I actually got out of bed in the morning and did it instead of not being able to get going until about 10, and then not having time for it. I've gone off the SJW a couple of times (in May and also a couple of weeks ago) and the depression came back both times. I also overdosed on SJW (usually aim for 600-900 mg per day but got up to 3000mg for about a week) (in April) and became hypomanic - the only time I have experienced that, which stopped when I went back to 600-900 mg.

Besides photosensitivity and mania, what other possible effects could overdoses of SJW have?

Last week my T suggested geting on medication. I reminded him that I was using SJW and told him I had stopped, and he said to get back on it and not stop if it was working. I don't have access to a pdoc (except for my sister but she's too far away), the GPs around here are known to do a pretty bad job when they try to deal with psychotropic meds, and I don't have time to wade through side effects and stuff like that. With SJW I don't notice anything at all unless I stop taking it.

Why is SJW not recommended for major depression? Not strong enough? It's fairly obvious why it's not recommended for bipolar disorder.

Your link for SAD worked - thanks - good information, but the links about using light and about SJW don't seem to have shown up.

Thanks!
Wendy (or Rapunzel or Rap or whatever)

p.s. I've got to get my homework finished. It's late in an hour, and it's already an hour past my bedtime, but it's pretty hard to care right now.

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Rapunzel - Here are "my" ideas about the following therapies.

1) Light Therapy - There does seem to be noticeable improvement in those with SAD (seasonal affecive disorder), but I have seen little encouraging evidence for it's use in treating other variations of the syndrome of depression.

Using Light in Treating SAD --->>><<<<---

a) Season Affective Disorder (SAD) - SAD is being recognized as a true sub-type of major depressive disorder (I think). If I had to guess, I'd say that "cabin fever" may have been loneliness exacerbated SAD (just thinking out loud).

Some Reliable Stuff About SAD --->>><<<---

2) St. John's Wort (SJW) - this drug is recommended to those with mild to moderate depression. It should not be used in major depressive disorder, nor in bipolar disorder.

Researchers (incl. government - Health Canada, NIMH, etc.) are starting to scientifically study SJW using the good old (good, but not perfect) large-scale, randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

Mild to moderate depressions usually do not require medications (ie. antidepressants). Talk therapies, with a psychologist or a counsellor (depending upon situation and needs) are very useful in mild to moderate depression.

My psychologist; who wrote her PhD thesis on grief after loss of a child. I wish that I had met here 10 years ago. She has shown me why I do what I do, and if I wasn't such a "stodgie old proot" I'd work more these areas.

A good therapist is able to get to the core of your problem, but even the best therapist cannot "make" you better; nor can just taking an anti-depressant "fix a depression". The hardest work, as usual is done by the person with the least amount of energy, those with depression.

Enough of my yapping. Here is NIMH's position on St.John's Wort (NIMH = National Institutes of Mental Health - US)

- Cam

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<font color=green>"Someone may have stolen your dream when it was young and fresh and you were innocent. Anger is natural. Grief is appropriate. Healing is mandatory. Restoration is possible." -Jane Rubietta</font color=green>