Is it time to talk to my doctor about SAD

I’m going on my 4th year of severe seasonal depression. I work on managing it and have definitely reduced symptoms, but this year I’ve done all the work, I’m outside walking around (between classes and I use public transportation), I take vitamin D supplements, I exercise, I quit smoking and reduced drinking to the weekends. I’m acing all my classes and paying all my bills, all of my relationships are loving and respectful, and I still feel so worthless, I feel completely numb to anything good in my life, I feel like a shell of myself. I still fight with the negative narrative in my head about how I know these things aren’t true but understanding they aren’t real and actually feeling like they aren’t are different. I guess my question would be is it time I talk to a healthcare professional about using antidepressants?

Hello wednesdayharley: Thank you for bringing your concern here to PC. I see this is your first post. So... welcome to Psych Central. Since you're considering taking antidepressants the Psychiatric Medications forum, here on PC, may be one you'll want to take a look at. Here's a link:

https://psychcentralforums.com/psychiatric-medications/

You asked if it's time to talk to a healthcare professional about using antidepressants. Most of us here on PC aren't mental health professionals and we can't offer mental health treatment recommendations. However, just from a personal-opinion perspective, what I would suggest is that it may be time to talk over what you're experiencing with a mental health therapist, or perhaps a psychologist. But, personally, I would not jump to antidepressants the first thing.

Peoples' responses to various antidepressants (as well as other psych med's) are very individual. What works for one person won't help someone else. It can take some time, & a number of trials, to find an antidepressant that will work for you. Also antidepressants have side effects... some more tolerable than others. And, once you've been on them for a while, they can be difficult to get off of. If a person needs them, they need them. But, personally, I feel like before a person would begin taking antidepressants, the first thing to do might be to talk over what's been going on with a therapist or psychologist. There are also such things as meditation & yoga that can help. Some people find light therapy to be helpful for SAD.

You could, if you wanted to, consult a psychiatrist. (I think most people feel that if you're considering taking psychiatric medications, it's best to see a psychiatrist rather than a general practice doctor.) At least where I live, though, all psychiatrists do is prescribe & monitor psych med's. And they don't spend much time talking with patients about concerns. When I was seeing a psychiatrist I was typically in-&-out of his office in about 10 minutes.

Here are links to 6 articles, from Psych Central's archives, that (hopefully) may be of interest:

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Self-Help Strategies for Seasonal Affective Disorder

Are You SAD This Winter? Coping with Seasonal Affective Disorder

Are You Struggling with Seasonal Affective Disorder?

https://psychcentral.com/blog/6-kind...dium=popular17

https://psychcentral.com/blog/when-y...elf-regularly/

I hope you find PC to be of benefit.

Personally, having lived with severe bipolar depression for much of my life, please go talk to a good psychiatrist and see what some options might be. What months of the year do you experience these feelings?

I am very sorry you are struggling. Please don't think you have to suffer silently. You don't.

Talking to your doc sounds like a good idea.

In the mean time have you tried using a lamp that mimics natural sunlight? I joke that I'm solar powered. I struggling with being down in the winter with the shorter days. With my doc's approval I tried one of the lamps. It helps me.