Posted by Dave001 on September 5, 2002, at 18:09:20
In reply to Relocating to Combat Depression, posted by J200 on September 5, 2002, at 11:40:11
> I am a sufferer of what one the refers to as "chronic dysthymia" rather than major depression as well as what my psychotherapist diagnoses as SAD (though the pdoc scoffs at the idea that Seasonal Affective Disorder exists - he's old school. I firmly believe he's wrong and that there is such a disorder). I live in the NE US and have wanted for many years to move to a milder and sunnier climate, preferably in the SE US. As I age (I'm 50) I find it increasingly difficult to tolerate Northern winters, especially as one who likes to be outdoors, and loves warmth and sunshine. Has anyone with similar problems/desires made the relocation move successfully, and found that it really did benefit feelings of depression that seem to be exacerbated seasonally ? My wife's feet are planted in cement and she won't move anywhere, period, but I'm looking at buying a small vacation home in the South which will give me more frequent refuges from the North. I'm interested in the experiences of others with respect to relocation as a form of therapy.
No, I have not relocated, but I experience both symptoms you elude to: dysthymia and SAD. I live in the suburbs of Boston, and I get *extremely* depressed by mid-Octobor or so. I love the summer and hate the long, cold, and dreary NE winters...
I've already bought one of those SAD lamps, which I'll be experimenting with soon enough... FWIW, I've heard that the lights work much better if you begin using them *before* your symptoms get too bad; that is, they seem to work better at preventing rather than ameliorating the symptoms of SAD.
Dave
poster:Dave001
thread:118890
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020829/msgs/118938.html