I think that both light boxes and anti-depressants are used to treat this have you been diagnosed with SAD, or do you just suspect that you have SAD?
6,000mg of Vitamin D per day, as three 2,000mg doses four hours apart starting as soon as you arise in the morning might be all you need. OTOH, you'll probably need to supplement with magnesium, too. That's a bit trickier because the most effective dose of supplemental magnesium in market form will be that which gets you right next to loose bowels. So try just the D and 400mg of magnesium supplement daily, and if that gets you going but not quite right check back again and I'll explain how you can make a super duper magnesium supplement of your own that's exceptionally bioavailable and not likely to cause loose bowels. If you post back here wanting the recipe for magnesium acetate and I don't respond within a day or so, feel free to PM me.
Diagnosed lived with it for two decades. I do both light box and anti depressant but neither seems to be a cure? Would be nice if there was a cure, but there is not. Looking for tips to deal with it rather than medications that will alleviate it.
try reading the book "Curing Depression Naturally with Chinese Medicine" by Bob Flaws you could also go to an acupuncturist or chinese herbal medicine doctor, but that can be expensive general recommendations for depression should be applicable. try getting at least a 1/2 per day of gentle aerobic activity, like a brisk walk. try to eat a good diet. I recommend eating fresh, lightly cooked whole foods served warm and avoiding processed and chemicalized foods.
I here the best treatment developed is light box when you wake up followed by melatonin injections at mid day. Melatonin regulates our circadian rhythms and it also breaks down to form seratonin, hence why people recommend Vit D since it is synthesised by the skin when exposed to sunlight and also seems to have an effect on mood. Sadly though the chance of the NHS funding such expensive treatments over SSRIs is negligible.
it would be much to your cost to ignore the merits of traditional chinese medicine. it's been endorsed by the world health organization to treat a range of ailments. there's plenty of clinical evidence to support its efficacy, but there has been a lot of resistance in the medical community. in any case, I hope that you are able to get better
Well I'm not anti complementary medicine but these treatments have shown the best results in clinical trials, I'm not sure you could say the same of traditional Chinese medicine as it pertains to SAD.
One thing that helps me in the winter months is to try to find ways to actually enjoy the wintertime outdoors. I bundle up and take long walks and try to appreciate the beauty of the landscape in wintertime.
