ScaredToBreathe
Well-known member
I live in Canada and get severe seasonal affective disorder in the Winter. I have been feeling very down lately because of this. I don't feeling like going out anywhere or getting anything done (but I know I should, and I want to!). I have very little energy and am often fatigued. I feel depressed, have a severe lack of motivation, and find it hard to concentrate and remember things. My body feels lethargic and just heavy and weak no matter what I do. I succumb to distractions easily and cannot seem to get done what I would like to do. I have a loss of interest in things, have low sex drive, and worst of all, when I go outside and feel how cold it is and see the sky and everything is grey and dark I just feel awful. I can't even describe it...it's just the lowest of low feelings, like I'd rather die, I just want to run back inside where it's at least warm and not lacking colours. In the summer this all goes away (except for my separate depression/anxiety).
Just wondering if anyone has any advice on how to deal with SAD and feel better. I already take buproprion (wellbutrin), which is prescribed for seasonal disorders. I also take duloxetine for depression and anxiety. This drug combo works great for me in the summer but does nothing when SAD comes in the Winter. I do not respond to SSRI meds, and duloxetine is the only SNRI that hasn't had bad side effects, so other meds are kind of out of the picture. I also have and use a light therapy light specifically for SAD treatment, though I don't find it works well enough for me. I try to eat healthy and get exercise (I work 2 jobs on my feet, nearly every day), and dress warmly. So far those are the things I've heard are suppose to help, I've tried everything and nothing works! I am planning to move to a warmer country when I am done university and save enough money, but until then what else can I do??
Just wondering if anyone has any advice on how to deal with SAD and feel better. I already take buproprion (wellbutrin), which is prescribed for seasonal disorders. I also take duloxetine for depression and anxiety. This drug combo works great for me in the summer but does nothing when SAD comes in the Winter. I do not respond to SSRI meds, and duloxetine is the only SNRI that hasn't had bad side effects, so other meds are kind of out of the picture. I also have and use a light therapy light specifically for SAD treatment, though I don't find it works well enough for me. I try to eat healthy and get exercise (I work 2 jobs on my feet, nearly every day), and dress warmly. So far those are the things I've heard are suppose to help, I've tried everything and nothing works! I am planning to move to a warmer country when I am done university and save enough money, but until then what else can I do??