Cyclothmia/HPD dual diagnosis

They have super powerful light bulbs for artists that I've used before for my art work. They're supposed to replicate sunlight, so I wonder if they'd work for SAD? They sell them in art shops. They're expensive but cheaper than a light box.

In the US, if we need some sort of medical supply and we have insurance, sometimes if our doc writes a script for a piece of medical equipment, insurance will buy it for us (ie- I got a medical-grade TENS unit for chronic back spasms that way... they're outrageously priced here). Dunno how socialized medical care works, but maybe if you are able to rent one and find that it works, you could look into whether or not it could be paid for by the govt or your medical system if a doc said it was medically necessary for you???

just a thought

hugs,
K

masquerade wrote:They have super powerful light bulbs for artists that I've used before for my art work. They're supposed to replicate sunlight, so I wonder if they'd work for SAD? They sell them in art shops. They're expensive but cheaper than a light box.

I dont think that it is just the brightness that matters - I think it is the wavelength emitted too.

Hugs

Cracked

I think I will definitely invest in one next year, and go back on the anti depressants if it really kicks in this year. It starts with a kind of lethargy and then hits a peak in late December.

I would have a low threshold for happy pills if your Dr is happy with that. But jsut watch they dont trigger a high.

Hugs

Cracked

Happy pills are a last resort for me. I don't like the side effects, loss of sex drive, the weird dizzy feeling if I forget to take a dose, and they give me a sort of nonchalant feeling, which stops me from facing up to normal day to day stress and being proactive. If the depression gets really severe, though, they're very effective. There's a difference between my winter lethargy, which I think is common in many people, and the hopeless depressions I've had in the past. I can tell when they're about to begin because I start to feel disconnected and dissociated and dream like. If I'm outside I get panic attacks in crowded places, noises seem a lot louder, and I feel as if everything is far away. That hasn't happened yet so I'll take the pills only as a last resort. I will keep taking the Epillim, though, as it's very effective and keeps me on an even keel. I've noticed that when the cyclothmic symptoms kick in, they definitely exacerbate the HPD and this in turn affects way I react to events. If I'm on a downer, and the HPD kicks in I'll argue, manipulate, and act out with emotional outbursts. I become extremely sensitive and can't handle any kind of rejection or criticism. If I'm on a high and the HPD kicks in I'll act like a stereo typical HPD and become very hedonistic and self centred. When I'm level I can keep the HPD in check, and react to events like a healthy person, with lots of empathy and realism, but don't have the same judgement if I'm on a high or a low. My husband can always tell when things aren't right and I trust his judgement.

Sounds like the sodium valproate helps you. glad both you and your husband are on the ball. I hope that you dont need the happy pills this year hon.

Hugs

Cracked

Fingers crossed!