SAD - a legitimate illness?

esperanza

as there doesn't seem to be a health forum (time to start one perhaps) on the boards, i'll post here.

the topic is SAD, seasonal affective disorder, i might be just a hypochondriac but over the past few months i haven't been feeling myself, can't get up in the morning without ten alarm clocks(exaggerated a little), feeling sluggish, desire to see the sun shine...

i can't really think what else it could be... i've gotten some criticism from lecturers/bosses/friends for being lazy and having a couldn't care less attitude but that's not my style so i'm putting my behaviour down to lack of sunshine...

Is SAD a legitimate illness and should i mention to my employer that i suffer from it, or would i be putting my career and reputation in jeopardy?

g'em

SAD is absolutely a legitimate disorder, but we can't diagnose it, only your doctor can do that. Before saying anything to your employer, speak to a health professional, as a fomr of depression, its nothing to be flippant about. There's some info on it herehttp://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Booklets/Understanding/Understanding+seasonal+affective+disorder.htm

But before jumping to conclusion about suffering from SAD can you say with 100% conviction that you exercise enough and eat and sleep well, all of which directly affect your mental health status and overall well-being?

Do you eat a lot of pocessed foods? Foods high in sugar? eat erratically? eat too much/ too little? all of these things can contribute towards feelings of lethargy. Do you get 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night? Is your diet high in caffeine and other stimulants? Do you get at least 30 minutes of activity 5 times a week (absolute minimum)? Do you find time for yourself to relax and chillout at the end of the day?

Make sure your daily life-style is in good working order- change the things you know you have control over, and if things still seem a little bleak there may be something in it...

esperanza

g'em wrote:

SAD is absolutely a legitimate disorder, but we can't diagnose it, only your doctor can do that. Before saying anything to your employer, speak to a health professional, as a fomr of depression, its nothing to be flippant about. There's some info on it herehttp://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Booklets/Understanding/Understanding+seasonal+affective+disorder.htm

But before jumping to conclusion about suffering from SAD can you say with 100% conviction that you exercise enough and eat and sleep well, all of which directly affect your mental health status and overall well-being?

Do you eat a lot of pocessed foods? Foods high in sugar? eat erratically? eat too much/ too little? all of these things can contribute towards feelings of lethargy. Do you get 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night? Is your diet high in caffeine and other stimulants? Do you get at least 30 minutes of activity 5 times a week (absolute minimum)? Do you find time for yourself to relax and chillout at the end of the day?

Make sure your daily life-style is in good working order- change the things you know you have control over, and if things still seem a little bleak there may be something in it...

Thanks for your reply. I eat very healthily and sleep very well -too well, in fact. i do regular walking to and from work and on the weekends to do laundry and so on. admittedly i could do a little more exercise but in the past this has never had an effect on my bouts of depression. My diet consists of fruit and vegetable and i drink very little caffeine, my skin is in very good condition so i think i'm eating right. it's the grey, cold and bleak days that seem to be the problem.

g'em

well if that's the case, see your gp about it. Treatment ranges from increased exposure to sunlight (fairly self-explanatory ) or light boxes, and if its deemed more serious, sufferers may be prescribed anti-depressant medication.

But it really is a 'real' disorder and should be treated as such, so don't tell your employer without proper diagnsosis.

t-ha

Grab yourself some Natracalm at any pharmacy, no prescription needed - it's for helping you sleep I think but it'll have you lookin' on the brighter side of life in no time as a bonus side-effect.

esperanza

g'em wrote:

well if that's the case, see your gp about it. Treatment ranges from increased exposure to sunlight (fairly self-explanatory ) or light boxes, and if its deemed more serious, sufferers may be prescribed anti-depressant medication.

But it really is a 'real' disorder and should be treated as such, so don't tell your employer without proper diagnsosis.

i've got a better solution - return to sunnier climates, luckily my job allows me to do that. i don't believe in drugs.

t-ha

esperanza wrote:

i don't believe in drugs.

you should, they're quite real I assure you!:p

esperanza

t-ha wrote:

you should, they're quite real I assure you!:p

the natural method is always better IMO. at least there are no side effects of living in a sunnier climate!:D

t-ha

esperanza wrote:

the natural method is always better IMO. at least there are no side effects of living in a sunnier climate!:D

Fair enough, also depends on what you mean by natural though - the active ingredient of Natracalm is just passionflower. Anyways, have fun in the sun :cool:

esperanza

t-ha wrote:

Fair enough, also depends on what you mean by natural though - the active ingredient of Natracalm is just passionflower. Anyways, have fun in the sun :cool:

Lactose, microcrystalline cellulose, stearic acid, vegetable magnesium stearate, hypromellose, purified talc, titanium dioxide (E171), polyethylene glycol.

also contains one of those nasty E things!:p