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SAD

(26 Posts)
threexnanny Wed 04-Mar-20 10:28:17

Is this seasonal condition lasting longer this year, or is it just me? Normally the lighter evenings and Spring flowers are enough to make things better, but this year I'm struggling. Endless rain and grey skies, plus unlimited gloom on the news aren't helping, but is this a condition that gets worse with age?

CherryCezzy Sat 07-Mar-20 04:53:02

I don't know whether the condition gets worse with age threexnanny but I know it's keeping me awake! This is the first time it has ever happened to me. I don't think the type of weather ☹️ we are experiencing in the UK is helpful, not much vitamin D! I'm a newbie so I don't know your back history to understand if other events in your life are adding fuel to how you are feeling. Personally I have gone through a lot of trials and tribulations since the Spring of last year and have also had two very recent shocks and that combination probably made this Winter particularly hard for me. It is not just you, you are not alone. Brightness will return, the sun will inevitably shine. Keep your candle burning, the light may be weakened but it will get stronger in the end. [Flowers]

CherryCezzy Sat 07-Mar-20 04:57:29

oops! Those flowers were a bit dusty. I hope these ones flowers are better. sunshine

May7 Sat 07-Mar-20 05:33:34

I dont know whether it gets worse with age but last year I started to take Vit D supplements (initially to help with bone pain) but I also have found that it has helped with SAD
Maybe worth giving it a go?

Juliet27 Sat 07-Mar-20 06:17:24

I agree with May7. Taking VitD this winter has definitely stopped me waking in the mornings with the awful desolate feeling I used to get

May7 Sat 07-Mar-20 12:51:19

I'm so pleased it has helped you juliet27 that feeling is truly terrible isnt it. Once you put your feet to the floor does that feeling ease? I know this vit D supplement has helped me.
I took it for bone pain which incidentally it hasn't helped with, but SAD most definitely

Dec46 Sat 07-Mar-20 13:03:42

I don't think SAD gets worse with age but do think the awful weather,plus Coronavirus News,has made it much worse for me this Winter.
My friend died suddenly at Christmas and I then had cough virus which lasted 6 weeks which hasn't helped either. I'm just longing for sunnier weather which will help us all feel brighter and happier.I must remember to take Vit D as it should help us in the UK with gloomy winters.
Take care everyone,Spring is coming x

Purplepixie Sat 07-Mar-20 13:10:25

I certainly think it gets worse with age as it has for me. Since I retired from a very stressful job I thought I would be SAD free but no. I normally feel on the up by now but I'm having to force myself out of bed and keep busy during the day. I cry every day. I'm taking Vitamin C in the form of a Haliborange tablet. I know what you're going through. X

Namsnanny Sat 07-Mar-20 13:31:05

purplelixie same here. flowers

juliet27 may7 ...what does did you take?

Threexnanny so sorry you too are feeling this way.
Turn the news off or over. Let the tears fall.
I'm so glad you posted now I dont feel so isolated.
So sorry to hear about your friend Dec46.
CherryCezzy... hoping your trials are coming to an end flowers

Anniebach Sat 07-Mar-20 14:03:01

I had blood tests results yesterday, have to phone GP Monday
seems a vitamin D problem.

Explains perhaps muscle weakness, falling asleep every afternoon, and a ‘couldn’t care less’ attitude about what I wear etc ? I have only left my bungalow once in over two years and
that was for an x Ray.

CherryCezzy Sat 07-Mar-20 14:06:07

Thank you for your very kind message [Namsnanny]. Sadly I think I may have a quite a way to go yet. One shock, just a few days ago has hit me particularly hard but I'm not ready to reveal what that is yet. I've also had treatment for early stage cancer this past year, so far so good how - currently clear smile. My wonderful neighbour and friend of 18 years has herself had a diagnosis of cancer and I weep for her as her diagnosis is terminal sad

Purplepixie Sat 07-Mar-20 14:17:17

CherryCezzy I'm sending you love and hugs. X

Juliet27 Sat 07-Mar-20 14:22:34

namsnanny I take two 400iu D3 pills each morning now but I took four for a while at first.

AGAA4 Sat 07-Mar-20 15:19:18

Wishing better days to all of you who are feeling low and sad.

Lots of love and sunshine

CherryCezzy Sat 07-Mar-20 15:31:11

Thank you Purplepixie. Be kind to yourself too. hugs and flowers

threexnanny Sat 07-Mar-20 15:38:55

Many thanks for all the replies. Nothing especially bad has happened to me, or mine, recently which is why I was wondering if it was just a gloomy Spring or age.
I take Vit. D in a combined tablet with calcium but perhaps that is not enough. I will check the contents.
Glad to hear it's not just me, but also sorry for everyone else too.

Sark Sat 07-Mar-20 15:43:53

CherryCezzyflowers thinking of you.
I think I will go and get some vitamin D tablets as reading this thread I think it might help me too

Granny23 Sat 07-Mar-20 15:57:08

I too am subject to SAD but this year it has been particularly bad - perhaps because I live alone now, perhaps because of the traumas of the past year. I take vitamin D and try to get outdoors every day, sawing logs or working in the garden. This has been difficult as every day seems to have brought rain, hail or snow. Normally I would be feeling better by March, but not this year, all I want to do is hide away, sleep and consume forbidden food cupcake cupcake cupcake

CherryCezzy Sat 07-Mar-20 16:19:55

threexnanny in 2018 I spoke to my GP he told me that if I felt the same next year (this Winter) only then could he diagnose how I was feeling as SAD.
Sark thank you. I think I need to start taking vitamin D flowers

threexnanny Sat 07-Mar-20 16:38:03

I haven't been diagnosed by GP as having SAD - just drawn my own conclusions. It usually hits around the time the clocks go back and the first six weeks of any new year as the worst, but by this time of the year I'm generally back to normal.

May7 Sat 07-Mar-20 17:02:39

Bio Vitamin D 3 5000 one tablet daily. I also have not been diagnosed with SAD but always feel rubbish in winter and have that horrible feeling when I wake up. Then my friend suggested I Take Vit D supplement to help with bone pain in the summer and consequently discovered that this winter feeling has not happened this year. It may be a coincidence?who knows? but it's worked for me. You can buy them from any health food shop but think you need more than what's in a combined multivitamin

Juliet27 Sun 08-Mar-20 07:26:00

I started with a large dose May7 and reduced it to a much lower level than yours which has certainly stopped the SAD early morning feeling but I could still do with a lot more energy during the day so maybe increasing my dose may help that. Did it ease your bone pain?

Franbern Sun 08-Mar-20 09:22:20

Has anyone here ever tried to use one of those SAD sunshine machines? If so, do they work?
I often thought of getting one of these, but then have read how long you need to use it each day, and do wonder how much of it is purely psychological?
I have always found that I can usually manage to get through to the end of each year with only mild SAD symptons - January and February have always been the reall bad months for me - usually running well into March.
Having moved towards the end of last year, I have had a much busier few months than normal, getting things done in my new flat. Also taken away from me concerns about effect of weather on my property - I have had one of the best years (with regard to SAD) that I can remember.
Do notice the incredible difference it makes, still, when I open the curtains in my bedroom and see the sun instead of the incessant rain.

May7 Sun 08-Mar-20 10:11:51

juliet27 no it hasn't helped with bone pain but it probably helps with bone strength

threexnanny Sun 08-Mar-20 11:50:27

FRANBERN I used a daylight lamp at one time but didn't notice any benefit. It was just on at breakfast so may not have been long enough to make a difference.