[Love&Toil]

So it's here now. I hate these dark months. They makes me feel so depressed. My pdoc lowered my anti-depressants and I can truly say they feel too low. I think I will call her office tomorrow and see if I can get an appointment. I have the green light to adjust my own meds a little bit but I'm not sure which AD to raise, the Prozac or the Wellbutrin. I need to talk to her. In a way it's good to be feeling so down as it's forcing me to exercise to feel better. That's a good thing, isn't it? I am so moody today, it's like a rollercoaster. Gawd bless my husband for being so loving and patient with me, and for supportive friends who give me encouragement through my negative thinking. I am thinking so negative about myself now, so down. I also kept feeling dizzy and lightheaded and sleepy today. SAD is ******. How do you cope with it?

[Lexi232]

has a pdoc ever prescribed a sun lamp for you? (i think thats what they are called, but not 100% certain).
a friend i had, had SAD and also had one of those lamps, and he had to sit under it for 20 mins ever so offen. and kind of served as a PRN type of thing too.


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[Love&Toil]

Originally Posted by Lexi232

has a pdoc ever prescribed a sun lamp for you? (i think thats what they are called, but not 100% certain).
a friend i had, had SAD and also had one of those lamps, and he had to sit under it for 20 mins ever so offen. and kind of served as a PRN type of thing too.


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I did have a sun lamp and used it for years, but found that it made me irritable very easily. I lent it to my sister or Mom.... should ask them which one has it now. Thanks for the reminder.

[Love&Toil]

Has anyone else tried a sun lamp and found it made them irritable? I think that's a sign that I've used it for too long. It's a fine line though as it doesn't require that long of a use before I become that way.

I definitely need to call my pdoc though and get to adjusting my meds.

[LastQuestion]

I do my best to keep my circadian rhythm in check with dark/light therapy, sleep, exercise, and I take great care with my diet. In addition, the herbs and amino acids I've been using provide enough support to keep to my routine.

I have found exercise very effective in preventing depression from progressing to the point that daily life is difficult to cope with. I also read a research article not too long ago which found that the more toned muscles were the more effective exercise was in treating depression. So regular exercise can have far more effect than 'doing it when I have to'.

[Crazy Hitch]

Loathe how my mood changes with the seasons. It's like I've come to anticipate it every year. It just happens.

Winter. Oh how I loathe thee.

Summer and spring, my two best friends.

[Love&Toil]

Just returned from a long walk with my sister in the afternoon sun. I have the sun lamp borrowed from my mother. I have a pdoc appt next Friday. I have a plan for exercise. Managing but still feel that black dog creeping by my heels. The grey cloud is not far behind. I know it will improve soon once I instill these measures regularly (exercise, good diet, adjusted meds).

Originally Posted by LastQuestion

I do my best to keep my circadian rhythm in check with dark/light therapy, sleep, exercise, and I take great care with my diet. In addition, the herbs and amino acids I've been using provide enough support to keep to my routine.

I have found exercise very effective in preventing depression from progressing to the point that daily life is difficult to cope with. I also read a research article not too long ago which found that the more toned muscles were the more effective exercise was in treating depression. So regular exercise can have far more effect than 'doing it when I have to'.

I used to use exercise to cope with my depression years ago before I had children. More recently I was working out too but changed to a different dept at work and can't workout at lunch time anymore. Major mood hit. I've had to come up with a new plan to sometimes kick my children off the TV or computer so I can do an exercise video/DVD/youtube or whatever. Up until now I haven't wanted to kick them off but what the heck, I'm important too! I am modelling healthy behaviour to my children as well by doing this.

Thanks for the reminder of being meticulous with diet for the purpose of mood moderation. I have been focusing on diet for my weight (had joined WW for a month and did great, then dropped off after that). What foods do you find really work for you? Probably fruit and veg. I see your list of supplements - did you learn about those through the book The Mood Cure by Dr. Julia Ross?

Originally Posted by Hooligan

Loathe how my mood changes with the seasons. It's like I've come to anticipate it every year. It just happens.

Winter. Oh how I loathe thee.

Summer and spring, my two best friends.

I hear ya! How do you stay afloat during this time Hooligan?

[smartbutcrazy]

Originally Posted by Hooligan

Loathe how my mood changes with the seasons. It's like I've come to anticipate it every year. It just happens.

Winter. Oh how I loathe thee.

Summer and spring, my two best friends.

I agree completely! I just got myself a lamp and gave it a try for the first time today. Just 10 minutes indirectly then I will work my way up. It seems crazy but I am ready to try anything. I feel the winter low creeping in and wish I could just "will" it away!

[Crazy Hitch]

I hear ya! How do you stay afloat during this time Hooligan?[/QUOTE]

Don't think I have the answer just yet ... I normally have to increase my ad but that's not necessarily a strategy .....

[~Christina]

When I start to feel myself slide into that damn bog , I pull out my evanesance Cd's and blast them all to hell ... It always perks me up.

I dont think I would do well with a light box , this way I have to force myself to go outside.

Just what I do

[smartbutcrazy]

I love the outdoors but I feel that if the sun is shining then it should be warm. When it's sunny but freezing cold I want to go inside lie in my bed with the covers ov er my head. I hope if I get out of this depression I will have ed nought energy to get to a gym.

I get what you s as y about blasting good music. I don't really like Amy Lee. She is beautiful and talented no doubt but not my thing. Of course people say my music sounds like someone put a bunch of stray cats in an empty metal trash can and kicked it down a hill. Love me that AC/DC!

[smartbutcrazy]

JV gnome
.CHILD mm

FF HD FXxCz z. ; ;; ; ; ;

[LastQuestion]

Originally Posted by Love&Toil

I used to use exercise to cope with my depression years ago before I had children. More recently I was working out too but changed to a different dept at work and can't workout at lunch time anymore. Major mood hit. I've had to come up with a new plan to sometimes kick my children off the TV or computer so I can do an exercise video/DVD/youtube or whatever. Up until now I haven't wanted to kick them off but what the heck, I'm important too! I am modelling healthy behaviour to my children as well by doing this.

Thanks for the reminder of being meticulous with diet for the purpose of mood moderation. I have been focusing on diet for my weight (had joined WW for a month and did great, then dropped off after that). What foods do you find really work for you? Probably fruit and veg. I see your list of supplements - did you learn about those through the book The Mood Cure by Dr. Julia Ross?

I've been taking walks in the morning as the exposure to sunlight and exercise helps me start the day in a better moid. Today I was a bit late getting out and ran across a neighbor with her three children, one in a stroller and the 4-6 yr olds on bikes. One complained of the cold to which she calmly replied, "use your muscles to keep warm." This brief encounter reminded me that while taking the time to exercise can sometimes be difficult there are a variety of ways to approach the problems which estrange us from basic self-care.

My diet is quite basic, and it's simplicity has helped when stress starts to skew apetite, or mood has made it almost impossible to make decisions of what to eat. I eat a whole foods diet consisting of brown rice, quinoa, vegatables, fruits, nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts), and sources of lean protein.

I eat basically the same thing every day as I then do not have to exert any effort finding something to eat. Specifically, breakfast is oatmeal with cinnamon, walnuts, honey, frozen berries or peaches, and protein isolates mixed in skim milk to drink. When in season I will occasionally use apple cider instead of water to cook the oatmeal. Lunch is brown rice with some soup I cook about once a week (basically whatever vegatables I feel like eating (lots of green ones) with spices, almonds, walnuts, and egg whites simmered for ~8 min). I store the cooked soup and brown rice (with cinnamon mixed in it) ready to eat in the fridge. Dish a portion, heat in microwave, and eat. Dinner is quinoa, with vegatables spiced and sautéed in coconut oil, alongside a lean protein source such as egg whites. I have some fresh fruit, nuts, or real fruit juice as snacks or with meals. I'm also fond of Greek yogurt. I occasionally eat a few squares of Lindt dark chocolate.

I started out slowly changing my diet and found something called the Zero Willpower Eating System which helped simplify what and how much to eat. Personally, I have found that after dropping processed foods, especially almost eliminating refined sugars, my apetite is easier to regulate and my preferences reflect my nutritional needs.

I have not read the book you mention. I learned about the supplements I am using through websites, forums, and research articles when trying to find a way to alleviate the withdrawal symptoms I have been experiencing throughout the year.