seasonal affected disorder (SAD)

[rodric_85]

What is SAD?

SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is a type depression, affecting people every winter (September to April), and worse from December through to February.

It is caused by chemical imbalance (lack of serotonin) in the hypothalamus due to a lack of sunlight in winter.

SAD in some cases is seriously disabling, preventing the person from working normally without ongoing medical treatment. Where as mild cases may cause distress but not severe suffering. We call this subsyndromal SAD or 'winter blues'.

Introducing myself: My name is Rodric Ellis. I am a student at the University of the West of England, studying creative product design (final year).

Why I am interested in SAD: For my dissertation project I am addressing the issue of SAD in university students. I am presently in the research phase, and would like to increase my knowledge about SAD from university students in the UK in particular, but all are welcome and encouraged to talk about their issues. I would very much like to hear what kind of personality you are, and what your living and working environments are like (concerning light). Also what may be helpful is to know what your daily/weekly routine may be.

Thank you, Rodric Ellis

[tedhutchinson]

My depression was always worse in the Winter and I bought some SADLIGHTS which I used to use first thing in the morning.

However last year I got into finding out more about vitamin d and spent the summer making sure I got lots of sunshine and a good tan, then as soon as it got too cold for sunbathing at midday (when the ratio of UVBUVA is at is best for vitamin d production) I started taking 5000iu vitamin d3 Cholecalciferol capsules from the link at The Vitamin D council I'll continue at this level until the end of March when it should be OK for regular sunbathing at midday again.

I've still got the SADLIGHTS and they are still in the attic. I'll have to start feeling depressed before I get them down but at the moment there's no need for them. It's much better NOT being depressed than being depressed and just treating the symptoms.

Vitamin d and Depression has links to some of the research linking Vitamin d to SAD.

Randomized comparison of the effects of the vitamin D3 adequate intake versus 100 mcg (4000 IU) per day on biochemical responses and the wellbeing of patients.

Can vitamin D supplementation prevent winter-time blues? A randomised trial among older women. the conclusion of this trial was that 800iu of vitamin d didn't help elderly women but then if they used ergocalciferol (the type of vitamin d not absorbed by elderly people) it wouldn't do much good. The case against ergocalciferol as a supplement also for elderly women 800iu is not sufficient to make any difference. You actually use around 4000iu a day and a sunny 20mins in the summer will generate around 12,000 so you can see that the amount those elderly ladies were getting wasn't sufficient to counter and deficiency. This Australian study used the same amount but you have to realise that Australia is a lot nearer the equator than Yorkshire and young Aussie men are more likely to be on the beach than elderly Yorkshire ladies.

Neuropsychological function in relation to serum parathyroid hormone and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels : The Tromso study. again shows low vit d levels in the depressed.

It's certainly worth giving the Vitamin D Cholecalciferol capsules a try. You would need to take one 5000iu capsule a day for about 90 days to make up for your current low levels. If you wanted to speed the process up you could take 10 on the first day, then one a day for a week then another 10 then one a day for a week and carry on that pattern for 8 weeks, it would be a quicker way of correcting any insufficiency. These suggestions are only for the Northern hemisphere above latitude 40. The sun shines brighter in the southern hemisphere and there's plenty of free sunshine at the moment there.

I should also mention that I also take plenty of omega 3 and it may be that maintaining a high omega 3 status also is contributing to my lack of depression. Some people may also find that improving their MAGNESIUM status improves their ability to sleep and calms any aggressive tendencies. It's worth having a bag of Magnesium Chloride about as it's also good for melting the sun/ice from the drive and it doesn't damage the plants. I bung a jugful in the bathwater and soak in Dead Sea Salts for 20mins. If you haven't a bath then you could dissolve half a jugful in a bowl and bath your feet in it. The magnesium will go through your skin and you'll miss the rather bitter salty taste. If you want to consume it Magnesium foodsources shows you what to eat. As it's water soluble it's worth steaming your veg rather than boiling them, or you could make sure you use the boiling liquor in the gravy/sauce.

You could also dissolve 50g of magnesium chloride in 150ml water and take 4 teaspoons a day but you'll need to put it in fruit juice or mix in food as it tastes foul.