I'm bipolar and also deal with SAD every winter. It is a drag! The thing I've found that really helps me is hard exercise, anything that really gets my heart rate up. Last winter I started a fairly intense exercise routine and for the first time since I can remember, I didn't fall into a major wintertime depression. I have high hopes that this winter will be similarly better.

I believe the theory the author was putting forth is that SAD causes a deficiency in serotonin, and hence the presence of tryptophan can help naturally regulate back to a normal level.

Again, didnt see that backed up by research but the theory was interesting.

I take a Ribose supplement too...it seems to help a lil with energy.

As always I'm the oddball here. I get so sick of all the sun here in CA, I long for this time of year and am thrilled we're starting to have a few rainy days. Maybe it's from growing up in Detroit, but I long for clouds and rain.

I think getting more exercise might give you some more pep.

Well I dug out all my supplements this morning and have started back today on my multi vits with iron, echinacea, glucosamine and B6 for a while to see if they help. The weather is also dry here today for the first time in days, although very cold and still a bit dull. So I managed to walk DD to school this morning for the first time this week and really enjoyed the fresh air and daylight.
Have kept myself busy so far and going to the gym for step class soon, so hopefully today will be a more productive day.

Thank you for this thread, it's really interesting to see everyone's take. I've already started seeing myself revert to hibernation mode, and 5 months is too much time to waste feeling like just cooping up in the house and waiting till spring. I'm going to look into the vitamin thing!