Posted by Cece on June 4, 2006, at 14:59:36
In reply to Re: Reverse SAD?, Weather, Meds - me too!, posted by Caedmon on June 4, 2006, at 13:56:02
I posted a long post on this subject 5 years ago, you can find it at: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010302/msgs/55983.html
I guess it's in the archives now.Awhile after I posted, Dr. Bob contacted me to tell me that there was a writer from The New York Times who was writing an article on Reverse SAD and who would like to interview me. He NEVER violates our privacy by giving our contact info to anyone, so he forwarded her message with her contact info to me, and left it to me as to whether or not I wanted to contact her.
I did contact her, and a bit about my experience was included in her story, which you can find at:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9C03E4DA103AF930A2575BC0A9649C8B63
I chose to remain anonymous, I am the person identified as "A designer in Northern California in her early 50's".As you'll read in her story, this is a new subject of research and of less interest to scientists than winter SAD since it affects fewer people. Her story also talks about different strategies people have used to deal with it.
And as you'll read in my post, my RSAD has improved immensely since I began finding better and better treatment for my bi-polar II disorder. Since 5 years ago, I've become pretty well stabilized and don't have the terrible and unpredictable BP mood swings. I still take a complicated combo of meds (my case was treatment resistant, took a long time, as in many years, to get under good control, and the different meds address different issues) but my primary mood stabilizer is Lamictal, 500mg/day, in the morning.
I'll be glad to lay out my whole regimen of meds if other people are interested, but as always, one size doesn't fit all!
I still don't like it when we get summer heat waves (more of them as global warming progresses- sh*t). I become somewhat enervated, I don't like the glaring sun, but I no longer become a dysfuntional basket case- hooray! Swimming helps me with my energy level- when I get around to it.
I'm glad that this thread has been picked up again. It's a reminder to me to go swimming more!
> This is often strange for people to believe, but I am the same way. My depression and anxiety hit a peak during the summer months, usually late July is my worst time. I can feel quite agitated and uncomfortable. I feel much *better* the rest of the year. Spring and Autumn being my favorite seasons.
>
> I sometimes dip a little bit in the winter too, around January or so, but it's easily alleviated with wake-and-light therapy. I haven't found anything that helps summertime blues, except to stay holed up in air-conditioned rooms with all the blinds drawn. :( I become agoraphobic. I feel like I am being held hostage for 4 months by the sun.
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> I would love suggestions for overcoming summertime SAD.
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> - Chris
>
poster:Cece
thread:55983
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060604/msgs/652814.html