Seasonal Affective Disorder

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  • Seasonal Affective Disorder Resources?

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    May 18, 2017

    I've struggled with depression on and off for most of my life, with the worst bouts always happening in the winter. I've been on a low dose of medication for more than a decade, and am quite stable, successful, and happy most of the time. The last few winters, though, have been exceedingly difficult, and I feel I have to spend the first few months of spring 'rebuilding' from the setbacks I suffer in winter. It's gotten to the point that I have started to dread winter all year, and am fantasizing about how I might be able to spend winters somewhere sunny - not very realistic for a working mom with small children. I've tried light therapy lamps without success and feel there must be some new options for treating SAD out there. Would love any resources, recommendations, etc. Thanks in advance!!

    May 18, 2017

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Archived Q&A and Reviews

Questions

Light Box for Seasonal Affective Disorder

Feb 2016

I really suffer when the weather is dark for days at a time. I've been doing research into light boxes to treat SAD, but they all tell you to get your doctor's advice. My doctor doesn't know what to recommend, either, and there are dozens. Please, please, if you know of a light box that is medically legitimate and has helped you or someone you know, do let me know what product it is! I'd be very grateful. Under the Weather

The University of British Columbia appears to have reliable info on SAD and light boxes http://www.ubcsad.ca Also coping with depression ------------------------------------------- I used to get depressed toward the end of October every year and didn't start feeling better until March. It never occurred to me that it was seasonal affective disorder because it's so sunny here compared to where I grew up (Seattle, endless rain-induced darkness). But a psychiatrist friend told me that for a lot of people even the darkness that comes just from the shorter days of winter can cause SAD.

I tried a lightbox 4 years ago and it was truly miraculous. I felt happy again all winter long, even kind of giddy. And full of energy as if I had just had an extra cup of coffee. So weird that just light can do that. I usually put it away in the closet every year in the Spring and then forget all about it until I notice somewhere in October I'm getting depressed and have no idea why and then... oh yeah, the lightbox. I start using it and am amazed all over again at the change.

Anyway, I didn't know what kind to get either. I read hundreds of reviews on Amazon and debates on SAD sites about blue light vs. white light 10,000 lux vs. 7,500 lux, etc. I ended up buying a thing called Lightporia by Sphere Gadget Technologies. It was on Amazon. I like that it's small and portable so if I have to go out of town in the winter it's easy to pack and take with me. Also it was only around $50 as opposed to some of the big ones that were over $200. So not much of a financial loss if it turns out not to work for you.

Good luck!! No Longer SAD

Seasonal Affective Disorder and Kaiser

Feb 2015

Hi all! I'm a Kaiser member and was diagnosed a few years ago with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). I have since educated myself heavily about it, use a light box in the winter, etc. However, I need more help than I'm getting from my Kaiser clinicians, who say ''oh yes, I've treated people with SAD'' but who clearly have no practical experience, know almost nothing about light therapy other than ''go use a light box, you'll feel better,'' and don't have the time or expertise to create a regimen tailored to my symptoms or to stay in touch as it needs adjusting during the season.

I'm doing my best to develop my own regimen but as winter deepens I get more depressed, and it's hard to design my own health care plan under these conditions. January was bleak. The book Winter Blues by Rosenthal is a great resource, as is cet.org, but what I need is someone more together than me for guidance. I just can't be my own doctor on this.

Anyone have any ideas or better yet, personal experience? I tried Member Services at Kaiser and they can't see any of the info on mental health clinicians so they can't even tell me who has expertise in SAD. They said to call individual facilities and ask the psych department if anyone does. The member website has nothing but some general articles. I've spent hours on the phone with Kaiser, researching online, etc. I'm getting nowhere.

I'm up for requesting an out-of-plan referral but I'm not finding any NorCal clinicians that way either. Best I've found is a great-sounding but expensive place in NY that requires an in-person visit to start, and then follows you for the winter, adjusting your regimen as needed.

Your ideas welcome. If you also have SAD and just want to commiserate, ask for my email from the moderator. We can cry together via email. SAD

I have no idea if this will be of any help, but my daughter experience SAD when she was attending graduate school at UW in Seattle, and it turns out that SAD is so prevalent in Seattle that the university has what they call a ''Light Clinic'' that deals specifically with SAD. So I'm thinking that it might at least be worth a call to try to talk to someone at the Clinic who might be able to give you a referral to someone here in the Bay Area, or perhaps point you in the direction of additional information/resources. And - as I'm sure you already know - take 4000 iu a day of Vitamin D!! john c

This is not specific to SAD, but I've had specific issues with my health that I couldn't seem to find the right ''expert'' in who really knew how to help me. The way I got a good answer was basically finding a good primary care doctor. I really like who I have now (she's been my gyn since I started at Kaiser, and recently had openings for primary care-- yay!), and when I explained to her what was going on and that I couldn't find the right person her response was basically ''I don't have the answer for you, I'm not an expert in that. However, I can help coordinate your care, and I will ask around and call people until I get you the name of the best person for you to see.'' And bam- that was it! So ask your PCP, and if it's not working with him/her, get a recommendation for a good one! K

I didn't find any specific help from Kaiser. They're just not great at psychiatric care. I tried three different psychiatrists, including the one everyone recommended as being the best, and they're really more about access to medication than anything else.

I'd try to find specialists on your own, including a good therapist (probably cognitive-behavioral, but you could try other kinds, too), and do as much self-care as you can do (spectrum lights, vitamin D, getting the right amount of sleep, exercising, and eating well).

I wish I had better help for you, but I thought it might also help to hear that you might want to turn your efforts elsewhere instead. - Anonymous

Which lightbox for myself and 9-year-old with SAD?

Oct 2013

I have mild seasonal affectiveness disorder that was diagnosed when I was 19. October is always rough, but then I kind of go dormant and I get through the winter okay.

I'm a little slow on the uptake, but after 3 years of my (now) 9-year-old sliding into the blues every October, I realize he has it too. This brings some urgency to questions I've had on my own behalf for years. Can anyone share experience?

I want to get some full-spectrum lights, which I've heard are super helpful. But Kaiser won't recommend a brand. I don't want to get a scammy set of lights that don't work... can anyone recommend a brand with integrity that really delivers full spectrum natural light?

Any other tips on SAD in kids... nutrition, etc.?

Thanks in advance! SAD mom

I haven't recently done a thorough investigation of what options are out there, but I can tell you that Philips carries full spectrum and blue-light lightboxes that may help you:

http://www.usa.philips.com/c/light-therapy/11625/cat/ and http://www.usa.philips.com/c/energylight/27718/cat/en/#filterState0=ENERGYLIGHT_SU_US_CONSUMER%3Dtrue

I have an older lightbox of theirs that I use every fall. I would caution against using too much too fast (i.e., starting out with more than 15 min/morning) -- I made that mistake initially and found myself bouncing off the walls.

I have no knowledge of SAD in kids, (and actually don't use my box when my kids are around, since I don't know what effects it might have), so I can't speak to that part of your question, I fear.

Best of luck! also SAD

My Kaiser doc diagnosed me with seasonal affective disorder earlier this year and said just find a light box that you can afford. I spent $80 on a SunTouchPlus and it seems fine. I set it up next to my desk and use it each morning while working (I work at home, so that's easy).

You could get something similar and have it on at the breakfast table in the morning.

I think light is the big key, not nutrition. I started using mine on September 1st this fall to get ahead of the curve. When I found myself getting anxious and depressed, I increased my time to 2 hours and the symptoms seemed to recede in a couple of days feeling much better

Okay, I wasn't going to reply because my lightbox info is a little out of date, and because... it is winter :} But here goes!

First off, get the book Winter Blues by Norman Rosenthal. It is *the* main book on SAD, and he is the major doctor/researcher in SAD. It is also very readable.

In terms of lightboxes - I bought mine probably 15-20 years ago... At the time, Northern Light Technologies and Apollo Light Systems were the main brands. Northern Light Technologies is still in business, and I think Apollo is now owned by Philips (the light bulb manufacturer). They both make really good lights. There may be newer brands that are as good- I don't know however. I really like my Apollo ''Brite Light'' 10,000 lux light- and it is beautifully made in oak (versus white metal), so it doesn't look terrible sitting on the table! And it is wonderfully bright. I am not sure if that model is still available (maybe under a different brand?), but try searching with ''oak'' in the search... Both these brand's lights do tend to be pricey lights ($200-300?). They are reliable and proven though.

For the light- it is the brightness that matters. Just random plant lights aren't strong enough- these are high-output power-compact full spectrum flourescent fixtures. There was new discovery recently that blue spectrum helps, so you might see that. Mine are full spectrum, without uv. I would recommend the 10,000 lux version, since it is so much brighter. There are ones that are less bright, that are more portable, that you need to sit under/ in front of longer. Which might be an issue with a child! Also, you might consider the visor version, which is small and goes on the head, but is closer to the eyes- so kids can run around/get ready while wearing it. And maybe for yourself, since you are a mom, and probably don't have much time for sitting still either! :} The visors are also unfortunately just as pricey ($200+) though.

I have heard of people using the ''Happy Light'' light. I think it is a cheaper intro light, but might be worth a try if the price for the others is too steep.

Keep in mind that brightness-wise, these are nothing compared to being outside in the light, even on an overcast day. So consciously trying to be outside for even a half hour really helps.

Alarms that raise the light as it gets close to waking time help when trying to get out of bed in the cold dark winter- but just putting a regular bedside light on a timer (or even the lightbox) helps!

Supposedly it is best to do the lightbox first thing in the morning.

Vitamin D helps. Although there is controversy both up and down now about how much is too little/too much. The supplement 5-htp helped me, but just for adults. For me, moving from Boston to CA helped a lot! (But fall/winter still does take me out, just not as bad) And honestly, I'm about to try anti-depressants- but I've also been dealing with this for a long time. Hope that helps!

I thought of you when I saw the most recent Costco mailer. http://www.costco.com/.product.11485608.html? http://www.costco.com/Philips-Wake-up-Light-with-Colored-Sunrise-Simulation.product.100003727.html I could have used that second one when I was living in a windowless bedroom in Brooklyn!