Thank you all for the warm words of comfort and reassurance. It helps more than you can know. I do in fact suffer from SAD, but I had forgotten about it until a few of you mentioned depression. And that started me thinking. I've been feeling the symptoms for some time, but failed to put a finger on what it was. And you are right, it's not just the snakes. I've lost interest in my favorite tv shows, in cooking, I don't even read the way I usually do. All the things I love have slowly lost meaning to me, and yes I feel sad and helpless a lot of the time now. I had just forgotten how bad my seasonal depression can get, last year is was very mild, so going so long without a real episode made me forget just how bad it can be.
But now it's like a lightbulb went on in my head, and I can't believe I didn't recognize it for what it was. It came on so gradually, I just didn't put two and two together. So now the question I face is, is it finally time to admit the SAD is more than I can handle on my own and seek treatment? I've put if off for many years now, mostly I think because up until a few years ago, no one even knew it existed. But my son is Bi-polar, and I know his medication helps him live a normal life, maybe it's time I ask for help to battle my own demons.
Do any of you suffer from SAD ? Have you sought treatment for it ? Does treatment help ?
Any words of advise you can offer me are welcome. In the meantime, I'm going to take the suggestion of putting up notes to myself and at least try and make sure my animals are well cared for, until I decide where to go from here.
Thank you all again. Sometimes it's hard to believe people I've never met not only care about me, but I care about them as well.
Gale
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