Posted by IsoM on January 10, 2002, at 14:51:29
In reply to Old man winter, posted by mr.scott on January 10, 2002, at 13:18:26
hi Scott. Funny you mention a bear. I always told everyone that they're sensible animals, unlike us, who know what to do about winter. It's exactly what I felt like - eat carbohydrates & hibernate -er, I mean, sleep. Very typical symptoms of SAD, seasonal affective disorder. It started in my twenties & has progressed through the years.
It's often treated with antidepressants, more likely SSRIs. Well, I do take Celexa already & need Synthroid for low thyroid function but it's not enough. A solution might be to up the dosage of ADs in winter but that would mean a horrible period of tapering off for summer, not my idea of a good solution.
I bought a light box for light therapy about four years ago but when I tried sitting in front of it first thing in the morning, I just fell asleep again. Bright light or not, I can sleep lying in full sunshine.
Dexedrine first thing in the morning before I did anything else helped, but of course, it needs dosing throughout the day to maintain the awakefulness. When I was going to university a few years ago, the adrenaline rush of running around like crazy to get to classes in time in the morning would get me going but then I'd often start to fall asleep in classes after I sat for a while. I'd force myself to get *very* involved, asking questions, etc, to keep awake. Class sizes were small so that helped - the prof could see me if I fell asleep. Soon as I got home & tried doing homework, I'd fall asleep again.
Now I'm using adrafinil (Olmifon®). Modafinil (Provigil®) is supposed to do the same. I've written about adrafinil in other posts here & it's here in Psycho-Babble where I got to read others first-hand experiences on it. I won't push it. It may not be the answer for everyone, or perhaps even for many, but for me, it's the best thing out there. The hibernating mode is gone. There are so many other benefits I've noticed & I can't praise it enough.
So all I can say is read up about adrafinil, if it does interest you. Or perhaps talk to your doctor about Provigil®. Adrafinil (Olmifon®) has to be ordered from overseas & I don't know what the regulations are for importing it if you live in the States. It's quite cheap as compared to Provigil®. Here in Canada, I have no trouble getting it from the UK. Provigil® is a prescription med in Canada & the States. It is expensive but if you have medical insurance, it would probably cover the costs.
If you want some more info on either, e-mail me or leave a message in this forum & I'll give you links on them both for you to read & decide yourself.
> Hello,
>
> I live in midwest and you might know how the weather is in Janaury...I am so tired that I can no longer listen to conversations all the time and understand what is being said. So instead I nod like I do and smile a lot. I want to sleep ALL THE TIME, but I end up not. In the mornings I awake so profoundly fatigued that I literally cannot get out of bed for an hour. I have the energy of a dead person. I can't focus well, My productivity is way down, and I am more hungry. Is it possible that I was supposed to be a bear but accidentally became a human?
>
> But seriously, this worsening of Depression in the winter, what does it mean and how is it best treated?
>
> Scott
poster:IsoM
thread:89593
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020110/msgs/89606.html