/sci/ - Science & Math

>>10221251
vitamin D deficiency is correlated with lower sunlight exposure, and in turn lower sunlight exposure is correlated with seasonal affective disorder. also, anecdotally, being out in the sun (and maybe getting a quick burst of vitamin D) has euphoric effects, so, yeah, i'd say there is a correlation (but maybe not direct causality)

>Depression
>>>/x/

>>10221263
I've read about this too, but as there is no research on wether or not vitamin D defiency can cause depression, I want to hear some ideas or anecdotes.

I've had depression twice and both times were triggered during the winter. The first one lasted about a year and the second one I'm currently experiencing and have been for about a year. I already take 1200 UI and have been for about three months but I got tested a few days ago and turns out I'm deficient. I can only speculate on how deficient I was last winter when I didn't take vitamin D.

I'm really desperate honestly. The lethargy is extreme and I've barely attended any classes this semester. Sorry for the long post.

>>10221264
Depression is the result of an overactive lateral habenula. I can send you the study if you want. The proof is of extremely high quality when keeping the context in mind.

>>10221251
It's more likely that the social isolation of staying inside constantly causes depression.

>>10221282
well taking supplements for vitamin D is known to not really be very effective. you need to be exposed to sunlight to get a dose that really absorbs. (and obviously, it needs to shine directly on your skin, not just seeing it or being in sunlight with a hat and long sleeves on. though for most white people just getting it on your face and forearms for 10-20 minutes a day is sufficient. it depends on your complexion).

vitamin D supplements don't absorb very well, but sunlight does the trick. plus, being outside and active has a huge effect on your mood even if you're not getting sun. so just get out more and don't be afraid of getting a little tan. (but don't overdo it; skin cancer is a danger. in the winter, even a pale pasty white dude is OK for 30ish minutes in direct sunlight, but in the summer, be more cautious, and if you sunbathe in bright sun, always wear SPF 15+ unless you have darker skin than your average white dude)

>>10221294
I've thought of this and I'm my thoughts are kind of split. Your input is highly appreciated.

During the beginning of my depression my sleep was fucked and I felt an empty feeling of loneliness in my chest. This was before I got lethargic. After a couple of months of chronically feeling this empty feeling it stopped and my lethargy and anhedonia kicked in in full force. Just like if depression was the bodies response to loneliness.

On the other hand, my depression started when I was at the peak of my life. I had never been as social as I was at that time so perhaps the empty feeling in chest was an early symptom of depression rather than the cause? I mean wouldn't it make more sense for me to get depression when a few years ago when I was much more lonely?

Why I'm contemplating vitamin D is because I'm deficient and both times I've gotten depression they've been initiated during winter.

>>10221251
I've got some vitamin D for you right here sweetheart.

>>10221303
I'm brown... and live in Scandinavia...

Regarding supplements, can you compensate their bioavailability by simply taking much larger doses? I planned on taking 5000 UI everyday as this seems to be safe and I want to get better asap as I don't want to fuck up my grade average.

I'm sorry for being so ignorant but can I replace the sun by buying a UV light or is that insufficient?

Again I really appreciate your help.

>>10221315
>I'm brown... and live in Scandinavia...
well there's an obvious piece of evidence! how are you supposed to get enough vitamin D when you need much more sunlight exposure than would even be possible during scandinavian winters?
>Regarding supplements, can you compensate their bioavailability by simply taking much larger doses?
no, that really doesn't work. your body simply just craps out absorbing vitamin D from food/drinks after a while; bigger doses don't help, as is evidenced by you being deficient after taking supplements

>I'm sorry for being so ignorant but can I replace the sun by buying a UV light or is that insufficient?
yeah, a UV light, or better yet, a "sunlamp" would be good. but they are much weaker than natural sunlight. i'm sure you can google search about this, i'm sure other brown folk in scandinavia have figured out good ways to get in their (artificial) sunlight quota

>>10221282
depression isn’t linked to just one neurological dysfunction, you demonstrate low competence at basic induction and shouldn’t presume you know what you’re talking about with regards to complex mental illnesses where a confluence of many confounding factors and comorbid disorders could be obscuring the actual cause.

>>10221333
Thank you, will make sure to go out more and see if I can find a sunlamp!

>>10221338
I'm not sure if you're misinterpreting me or if I'm misinterpreting you but it's pretty clear that most if not all depressive symptoms are caused by an overactive lateral habenula. Why it's overactive is a different, more complex question although we aren't completely ignorant about it.

Are you claiming that the lateral habenula is not single handedly manifesting depressive symptoms? If so do you have any evidence on that or are you talking out of your as?

>>10221264
spbp

>>10221369
>>10221338
>>10221264

https://www.nature.com/articles/nature25509

Use sci-hub to open it.

>brown people die if theyre in low sunlight

>>10221251
If you're suffering from depression, the book 'Feeling Good' by MD David Burns can help. It's about cognitive-behavioral therapy, a successful treatment for depression.
Link to PDF:
https://www.sendspace.com/file/p4j962

You can also try some St. John's Wort (it's a plant) tea for immediate relief (I mix mine with Melissa for the calming effect), see if it works for you. I'm currently trying it out myself, no opinion yet.

It might also be nice to learn to meditate, as it can relieve your mind of negative thoughts. nperov.com has some learning materials.

>>10222121
Is this a bot spamming?

>>10221360
>will make sure to go out more and see if I can find a sunlamp!
Just remember if you have a sunlamp don't use it as your primary light, and avoid using it a few hours before bed because its going you trick your brain into thinking you're trying to go to sleep in the middle of the day.
But they're generally a good solution to seasonal affective disorder (the name for the depressed shitty low energy funk that accompanies shorter days in the winter).