Doreen's story

I am 53-year-old school teacher who enjoys keeping physically fit and consider myself a "morning person"… most of the time!

I have suffered with clinical depression from 1980 to 1987 with mild recurrences since '87. Treatment for this was mild anti-depressants. I feel that these episodes possibly left me with a predisposition to suffer with Seasonal Affective Disorder.

November to March are usually the worst months for me and my symptoms include an extreme reluctance to get up in the morning, anxiety attacks, tiredness, depressed mood, lack of energy and irritability.

In order to combat SAD, I found St John's Wort herbal remedy to be helpful and usually took it from November to March/April. However, after being put on blood pressure medication I had to stop the St John's Wort as it was contra-indicated. I also take part in a lot of physical activity, running and swimming 4 or 5 times weekly, which I find helps battle the depression.

However, I would unreservedly recommend light therapy to combat SAD. I have used Lumie Bodyclock to help me get up in the morning and then Pharos light box for 30 to 40 mins each week night in winter. In fact, this last winter I didn't need to take any herbal remedies and had no return of the SAD/low mood/anxiety attacks! It was easier to get up in the dark mornings and I felt generally cheerier most of the time (apart from 'bad hair days' such as we all have !).

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