SAD: Just Wondering........

allnurses Guide · May 3, 2005

I'm with ya Marla - :)

I too long to live somewhere where the sun shines most of the time. I'm not crazy about cold and rain and darkness. I'm not on an anti-depressant but I sure do have problems with scarfing down carbs at the end of a stressful and long day at work or being unmotivated.

Of course, in the end it is my choice . . . ..it just seems more difficult in the winter. :rolleyes:

All you sunny state folks - chime in here and give us good news.

steph

suzanne4, RN · May 3, 2005

Marla, I would no longer consider living or working anyplace that wasn't bright, warm, and sunny.......at least most of the time..........spent years in Arizona, then actually even in Thailand.......

Grey skies and snow are no longer in my vocabulary.........

KRVRN, BSN, RN · May 3, 2005

From San Diego...

I've never, ever known or heard of someone that has suffered from SAD around here. I suffer from depression myself and I've never had a seasonal cycle. We have year-round sun and very little rain. Sorry to here that you've been feeling so bad.

((((mjlrn97))))

prmenrs, RN · May 3, 2005

I'm better here in SD than when I had that 3 yr business trip to NJ (Nsg School), but I still tend to get down in December and January.

Can you get some of those special lights?

nurse4theplanet, RN · May 3, 2005

I have heard of this being really common in places like Alaska and Iceland where it can stay dark for nearly 20+ hrs a days. And the tx for it was the special lights (about 15min exposure to burn off the excess melatonin) that the previous user mentioned. I live in a sunny warm place in the south and I too get more gloomy & unmotivated during the winter months and after a week of gloomy, bad weather with overcast skies. However, it may be another depressive order that you suffer from and the seasonal theory only exacerbates your condition. The reason that I say this is because your med is not working efficiently. It may be a combination of the seasons, your stress about your weight gain, and hormones.

Dixielee, BSN, RN · May 3, 2005

I have know for years that I was "solar powered". We live in the Arkansas Ozarks where it is dark and dreary most of the winter. We came to Arizona this winter and I am having a hard time thinking about going back to Arkansas! I came in Aug. and will leave at the end of this month. It was the best winter EVER!

So, even if you can't move year round, there are lots of seasonal work opportunities here in Tucson. Phoenix is a much larger city, but anywhere here is better than sitting in the rain, cold and dreariness all winter.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · May 3, 2005

do people who live in sunny parts of the country have fewer problems with seasonal affective disorder than those who live in northern climes?
the reason i'm asking is, my family and i are considering moving south in a couple of years (maybe even sooner), and the biggest consideration in this whole process is my problem with winter depression. actually, it begins in the fall and lasts all the way until april or may or whenever sun and warmth finally make their return to soggy, soppy western oregon. every year it's gotten worse, and this last year was absolutely disastrous........i'd lost 40 pounds, was exercising, and felt better than i had in 15 years, then the blues hit me in september and i completely lost control. the depression itself has been fairly mild, but insidious, as i gained back every pound i'd lost, and they brought friends, 20 of them to be exact. i didn't even realize what was wrong until recently, when it all fell into place as i began to emerge from the fog..........now i know, and i've got to do something about it.
so i'm wondering if people who live where it's sunny and warm most of the time generally do better with this condition. i can't keep upping my antidepressant dose......i'm already at the outer edges of safety with the med i'm on, and i don't think pills are enough to do the whole job anyway. i need to solve this problem, because the yo-yo-ing on the weight is devastating to my health, and now that it's warmer i have no problem keeping my intake at a decent level---no more compulsion to scarf down every single carbohydrate i can find, no need to gobble sweets like there's no tomorrow. (i've lost 15 pounds without even trying hard!)
and it's not just food and weight issues. i get lazy and unmotivated at work, and when i'm home all i do is spend time on the computer instead of working in the yard, cleaning house, or spending good quality time with my family. i feel like all the life has been sucked out of me.......and then when the sun returns, i'm full of energy and fun again.
there's got to be something better than living like this, and until we do make the decision to move, there's probably another couple of winters to get through. i'm going to do more research, but i'd like some anecdotal evidence too if you can provide some.........i'm skeptical about the so-called geographical cure for anything, but i do want to hear from those of you who live, or have lived, where there's no real winter.
thanks in advance to all who may post here. :)

i too have suffered from sad. i was born in rhode island, but moved to arizona when i was only 3. the bright sunny weather is all i knew. i currently live in connecticut and can't even begin to tell you how depressed i get in the winter.

i moved here from arizona a few years ago, and within the first year i began to notice changes. my symptoms usually start in late september until the middle of may. it all began with insomnia, and overeating. i craved nothing but sweets and bread/pasta etc. i am alaways tired, lethargic and cry for no reason or any interest in sex. i constantly have thoughts about death and sad events. when it is constantly snowing just looking at the white/gray sky saddens me even more. i look around and seeing the trees without leaves and looking dead also adds to the situation. i never want to be outside or near a window where i can see the outdoors, or even want to be bothered. i constanly cry for no reason and feel as if there tomorrow will not come. the feeling to me is like having jet lag all the time. i am just a mess. i talked to the doctor and recommended i see a psychologist for an evaluation, and diagnosed with sad (winter depression). i was put on an anti-depressant (zoloft later wellbutrin), but neither worked for me. the dr. also told me about a light treatment (phototherapy) but ultimately did not recommend it, and proceeded to explain the possible side effects. i decided to stay off the medication and just follow the diet and plan given by her. it is important to avoid smoking and alcohol. walking or joggin will help as well. i also bought some books on coping with the winter blues and stories of others, that really helped me alot. i particulartly like the book "winter blues' by norman rosenthal. another but humurous book i like is "don't jump! the winter blues survival guide. please consider a good book and give it a try.

it is so difficult because my husband is the same person all year round and he cannot cope with my depression. this past christmas i went to visit my family and spent about 3 weeks in az. i kid you not, but immediately upon getting there i snapped back to my "normal" me. when it is bright and sunny i cannot sit still. i am full of motivation at home/school, eat less, energetic and the "real me". when i came back everything changed again. i feel your pain, and coming from someone who has been there can really understand what it is like.

i chose not to use medication and do the best i could with the plan the dr. gave me. there is also phsychotherapy available that might help. there is no cure for it, but you can diminish the symptoms. i believe you took the first step by identifying your condition and realizing there are many others like you in the same situation.

i wish you the best of luck, and don't feel bad. there are so many people just like us, and there is help available. :)

god bless,

jessica

i am counting the days until i finish school and migrate back to arizona.

suzanne4, RN · May 3, 2005

Marla, You can try local per diem shifts in Tucson.........they really do exist and the pay is quite good and you can be in charge of your days. If you need the name of an agency, let me know.............. :)

Or you can try a travel assignment down there for thirteen weeks and see how you like it..............all of your essential expenses would be covered.. :)

lawrencenightingale · May 3, 2005

For the last few years I've been a travel nurse. Noted an elevation in mood when assigned to sunnier regions - in the winter especially. Believe it to be geographically caused. What about experimenting with a traveling assignment down south for the winter? If not, I would definitely look into phototherapy. Much luck.

Do people who live in sunny parts of the country have fewer problems with seasonal affective disorder than those who live in northern climes?
The reason I'm asking is, my family and I are considering moving south in a couple of years (maybe even sooner), and the biggest consideration in this whole process is my problem with winter depression. Actually, it begins in the fall and lasts all the way until April or May or whenever sun and warmth finally make their return to soggy, soppy Western Oregon. Every year it's gotten worse, and this last year was absolutely disastrous........I'd lost 40 pounds, was exercising, and felt better than I had in 15 years, then the blues hit me in September and I completely lost control. The depression itself has been fairly mild, but insidious, as I gained back every pound I'd lost, and they brought friends, 20 of them to be exact. I didn't even realize what was wrong until recently, when it all fell into place as I began to emerge from the fog..........now I know, and I've got to do something about it.
So I'm wondering if people who live where it's sunny and warm most of the time generally do better with this condition. I can't keep upping my antidepressant dose......I'm already at the outer edges of safety with the med I'm on, and I don't think pills are enough to do the whole job anyway. I need to SOLVE this problem, because the yo-yo-ing on the weight is devastating to my health, and now that it's warmer I have no problem keeping my intake at a decent level---no more compulsion to scarf down every single carbohydrate I can find, no need to gobble sweets like there's no tomorrow. (I've lost 15 pounds without even trying hard!)
And it's not just food and weight issues. I get lazy and unmotivated at work, and when I'm home all I do is spend time on the computer instead of working in the yard, cleaning house, or spending good quality time with my family. I feel like all the life has been sucked out of me.......and then when the sun returns, I'm full of energy and fun again.
There's got to be something better than living like this, and until we do make the decision to move, there's probably another couple of winters to get through. I'm going to do more research, but I'd like some anecdotal evidence too if you can provide some.........I'm skeptical about the so-called geographical cure for ANYTHING, but I do want to hear from those of you who live, or have lived, where there's no real winter.
Thanks in advance to all who may post here. :)

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · May 3, 2005

Oh, wow, you guys are just GREAT!! :kiss Thanks so much for all the information and suggestions......there's a lot to try, and I'm grateful for the ideas. :)

It's so funny......I told the boys yesterday about possibly moving to AZ someday, and they both went ape---they LOVE the idea!! I felt guilty though, because it was supposed to be a secret between DH and I, and then later last night I found out HE had told our daughter and son-in-law :chuckle I swear, the man can't keep anything to himself if his life depended on it........Well, anyway, I still don't see us doing this for another year or two at least, so I need to be armed and ready for the next 'bad season' before it arrives.

I think what I'm going to do is a) look into buying a light box, and b) plan to spend a little time in the tanning booth once or twice a week on a regular basis. I know, I know, tanning is bad, but sun exposure happens to be as essential to life (for me, anyway) as food and water. I probably should also think about changing meds, although now I'm pulling out of the depression and will be fine until at least mid-September. In addition, I'm thinking about going back to casual status at work.......I can't get my old 3-11 shift back any other way, and I've looked back and pinpointed the beginning of my 'decline' as coinciding with the change to 11-7, which is terrific in theory and basically sucks in practice. Day shift is just too crazy, I rarely get my lunch on time and almost never get my breaks, and I'm tired of it.

So again, thanks everyone, and keep those ideas coming! :)

NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN · May 3, 2005

I felt guilty though, because it was supposed to be a secret between DH and I,:)

You dh and this whole board, you mean. :rotfl: I think I have it too. When the weather breaks in the spring, I feel like a new person. All I want to eat is fruit (and ice cream on occasion). I actually want to clean the apartment. I can walk away from the tv and computer. I don't see moving to a better climate as an option for a long time. Dh finally got a permenant full time job with bennies for the first time in almost five years. He's also a HUGE homebody. But, we shall see. Stranger things have happened. (Like me becoming a nurse. )