Stress Center Peer Support

I'm wondering if there is someone out there that can shed some light on this for me...I thought I was doing well, I finally understand that I am the one that has the power to stop my anxiety symptoms when they start. It was like a light bulb finally went off and I got it. So, I went off my medication in late September. Lately, however, my anxiety seems to be returning with some depressive symptoms along with it. I might wake up ok, but as the day gets closer to nightfall, I start getting anxious and cannot relax and I feel like I need to be out doing something since I do not want to be alone or be in my house. Even when I am with my boyfriend, I have this restlessness. The past few days, I have been a crying mess and cannot seem to control my emotions. I have been able to keep from a full blown anxiety attack, but I have that helpless, uneasy feeling that I know will eventually go away...but when you are in the midst of feeling it, it feels like it will NEVER go away. Anyway, my first reaction would have normally been to go back on my meds since that is what I have always done since this whole condition started 6 years ago. I really want to try to get through it without meds, though. From the beginning, I was put on them and so never learned to deal with this condition properly (these tapes do help,though!). Anyway, i saw my therapist yesterday and she suggested that i might have seasonal affective disorder. I had this exact same problem this same time last year and the year before. Do any of you guys have SAD? If so, have you had any luck with light box therapy? I really want to get through this without meds (however, i will go back on them if i have to)...just looking for some guidance since it seems like my symptoms don't sound exactly like the descriptions that i found online (instead of laying around all day and not wanting to leave the house, i get panicky if i do not). Any words of wisdom (or encouragement) would be really appreciated. Thanks!!

Hi, I can relate to what you are saying. I tend to get anxiety when the days get shorter--less sun. I do notice when I am exercising I do not experience the SAD. For two years I had been consistently exercising througout the fall and winter months not so much for dep -- more for weightloss. This Fall I have not been exercising much, maybe once a week and my anxiety is extremely flared up. I am going to start a walking program tomorrow. I know in the past this has helped me tremendously. Walking 20/30 minutes 4 to 5 times a week really helps.

I would also suggest you talk to your doctor about the meds. Sometimes when you go off meds you experience withdrawals which are similar to anxiety symptoms. This might be the case with you. Take really good care to eat healthfully, exercise and rest as much as possible. Meditation is great for calming your mind and body. I've been doing the systematic muscle tightening, then releasing meditation and these helps a little too.

All my best to you on your journey toward healing.

HOPE4PEACE

Do I have Seasonal Affective Disorder?
While you should not try and diagnose any illness yourself by reading books or articles, here are some pointers which might indicate SAD which you should then check out with your doctor.


DO YOU SUFFER FROM SAD?

Are you aware of changes in your mood as winter approaches?
Do your energy levels drop in winter and you find yourself doing less and less?
Do you feel the cold and shun the great outdoors in the winter months?
Do you long to spend your time in bed or huddled by the fire in winter?
Do you fall asleep early in the evening or wake up later in the morning only in the winter months?
Do you have problems getting out of bed on winter mornings?
Do you feel tired or drowsy all day in winter even though you're doing less?
Do you eat more (a lot more) starchy food in winter?
Do you find you're just not satisfied by the salads and lean proteins you're happy with in summer?
Do you binge more on bread, pasta, cookies and cakes in winter?
Do you always weigh more in winter?
Do you hate going to work on winter mornings even though you don't mind your job?
Do you avoid social contact in winter?
Do you find it hard to concentrate on anything in winter?
Do you neglect your chores when the weather turns colder because you can't be bothered to do anything?
Do you find the normal stresses of everyday living are much harder to cope with in winter?
Does your mood lift in spring?
Do you regain enthusiasm for your family, your home, your social life and your career as the days become brighter?
Do you lose weight every spring?



The more questions you answer "yes" to the more likely it is that you have seasonal affective disorder. If you think that you have SAD, you should always visit your doctor because:

You may have a more serious illness with similar symptoms.
You may be suffering from another illness as well as SAD which also needs treatment
Only medical professionals have access to the full range of tests and treatment which may be required
Only those with access to your full medical history know which treatments may be suitable or unsuitable for you.


I have SAD and I find light therapy to be very beneficial. I found the above on the internet after googling SAD. I forget which web-site now, but thought I would post for SAD sufferers to read.

Take care

Beth (GirlWisdom)

That's an eye opener! I never occurred to me why I get like this every November! Ironically I had just shared with a friend that I was going to buddle up every sunny day and set the timer to 20 minutes and collect as much sun as I can. Lucky for me I have farm critters so I have lots of fleece lined pants and coats. Best of luck in all you decide.

I also have known for years that as the days get shorter and darker that my energy drops till I get blue spells starting in December. Exercise has really helped me. I try to get as much light as possible and my doctor checked my blood and found I was very low on Vitamin D. I take a supplement now and will for a few more months till my level is appropriate. I can already tell that I'm not blue on gray days like I'd been before. A vitamin D check might be helpful for you too.

Thanks for the feedback! You raised an interesting point about this being "withdrawal" from my medication. I never thought that the onset of withdrawal symptoms could start 3 weeks-1 month after weaning off the med, but the more I read about it, the more it seems to make sense. Whether that's the case or not, it definitely is something to be aware of! Thank God for this forum, not only do you get a lot of support, but you really educate each other

I deffinately suffer from SAD as does my husband. That was a great list of the symptoms and thankyou so much for posting it!!!!

Sheils,

I stopped my meds about 5 months ago and had withdrawel symptoms for more close to 3 months. They lessened as time went on but took that long to completely stop.

It sounds like you have SAD also being as you have had the same symptoms over a few years. I have heard great things about even using the daylight bulbs and in fact use them in a few areas of my house. It's a much whiter, cleaner light. I also use aquarium flourecent lights in my cooking area...that gives off light that supports living plant life. Also seems helpfull for me.

Hope you get feeling better.

Thanks, Monty'smom! Do you remember how soon after you stopped taking the med that the withdrawal symptoms kicked in? I'll check out the daylight bulbs and I ordered a light box online that should be coming shortly...I am feeling better this week, by the way. Thanks

Hi Sheils,

If I remember correctly it started after a couple of weeks with strange feelings in my head, anxiety, restlessness, chills and sweats and then those syptoms stopped but the weird head feelings stayed around and the reslessness kept it company.LOL

Good Luck, I hope and pray you get relief from the lights.

Glad you are feeling better and just take it one day at a time. You will be just fine!!

<span class="ev_code_BROWN">I get unhappy feelings every winter. I have been told that it is lack of sunshine (which is Vitamin K). I try to get outside once every day just to walk in the sunshine. Or like was said in pther posts I have some lightbulbs that simulate sunshine so I sit in the light of them when it is grey outside. </span>