I thought SAD was a myth

[pctec]

I have been hearing about SAD for a few years now and I honestly thought some people would make up any excuse to get time off work or even have a reason to be snotty all the time.

But I have to tell you that I am a believer now because this past winter was just miserable around here. On Saturday at midnight we set our clocks ahead an hour to adjust for daylight savings time and I must say that extra hour of sunlight is really feeling mighty good already.

So tell me... do any of you now or in the past had a case of SAD? Maybe it comes with age... or maybe I'm just cantankerous !!!

[StrongInTheArm]

I don't suffer from SAD, but I do get a bit down during winter. Spring puts a bounce in my step again though.

I suspect it has something to do with not getting enough sun light which affects the amount of vitamin D your body produces. But am I a biologist, NO!

[pctec]

Speaking of sunshine...

You know what I find most interesting is the fact that everything that is good for you is also bad for you.

For example... you get vitamin D from the sun but the sun will also give you skin cancer... oxygen is good for you if you want to live longer than 5 minutes but its oxygen that will eventually do you in and that is why some people take antioxidants each day.

The list is endless!

Sometimes you just can't win no matter what you do right...

[StrongInTheArm]

It is all about balancing the good and the bad in the end. It's like French fries I guess

[Zap]

Originally Posted by pctec

I have been hearing about SAD for a few years now and I honestly thought some people would make up any excuse to get time off work or even have a reason to be snotty all the time.

You're in Canada, dude. You should know better. It's a real disorder.
I think we're more hardened against it because we've grown up here, but you probably know a few people who suffer from it more than most.

I, personally, like the winters, even the harsh ones, though I like the milder ones more. But, when spring rolls around, I must admit, most years, I've pretty much had my fill of winter and am glad to see the longer days.

[pctec]

Well in all fairness I have never experienced it until this winter...
I'm going to prepare for it next year however with lots of vitamin D and bright lights.

[P.O.S.]

SAD? I never though such condition exist. We do not have winter in my country so I guess that's why I've never heard of it before. But I do get snotty sometimes during the summer, it's so hot here!

[Jenie0109]

Does it only occur during winter? If it occurs on summer, I could say I am experiencing SAD all year round. LOL

[zeruel]

No I don't suffer from this SAD thing. I'm glad I don't.

And I'm a little afraid if I would. Hope I could prevent it when it come.

[StrongInTheArm]

Originally Posted by Jenie0109

Does it only occur during winter? If it occurs on summer, I could say I am experiencing SAD all year round. LOL

Away from the equatorial regions of the planet, we have less sunlight during winter than summer, the sun is also less strong. The speculation is that this decrease in exposure to sunlight is part of the problem, that is why Light boxes work for two thirds of people that suffer from SAD.

[jabo]

The US National Library of Medicine notes that "some people experience a serious mood change when the seasons change. They may sleep too much, have little energy, and crave sweets and starchy foods. They may also feel depressed.

well, there is no winter in my country and summer can give one a cranky mood or something here cause of the heat, but, I don't think that that would be enough to call it SAD, even though some people I know sleep too much, lol... I do know some people with MAD (ok I just made that up.lol) though, monthly affective disorder-cause of some serious mood changes... something to do with Eve's curse or something maybe...