S. A. D.

[McKenna]

Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD)

Have it? Know someone who does? How do you/they deal with it? Have you tried lightbox therapy?

I'm looking into one of these gizmos: Apollo GoLite. I used one once and remember it made me a bit hyper. Certainly seemed to have an immediate affect. Now I'm wondering if it's worth the cost? Maybe it's one of those things I can't afford not to buy. It seems a rather non-invasive way to deal with SAD. I like that thought.

Any of you have experience with SAD and its treatment?

 

[Vermilion]

Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD)

Have it? Know someone who does? How do you/they deal with it? Have you tried lightbox therapy?

I'm looking into one of these gizmos: Apollo GoLite. I used one once and remember it made me a bit hyper. Certainly seemed to have an immediate affect. Now I'm wondering if it's worth the cost? Maybe it's one of those things I can't afford not to buy. It seems a rather non-invasive way to deal with SAD. I like that thought.

Any of you have experience with SAD and its treatment?

Half an hour outside every day, come rain or shine.
You need daylight to hit the back of your retina to regulate moods and sleep patterns.
It helps me, anyway... when I do it

I have also heard it called Seasonal Alcohol Deprivation... the post-party period of cold turkey, as it were

x
V

 

[carrie-on]

My Hubby made me one that he calls my "Happy Light". He used gro-lite bulbs in it. I hook it up every winter and sit by it reading on the mornings before work. Sure helps since i live in a place that is dark when i leave for work and dark when i get home. (Except for summertime when it's the opposite.

 

[neonlyte]

Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD)

Have it? Know someone who does? How do you/they deal with it? Have you tried lightbox therapy?

I'm looking into one of these gizmos: Apollo GoLite. I used one once and remember it made me a bit hyper. Certainly seemed to have an immediate affect. Now I'm wondering if it's worth the cost? Maybe it's one of those things I can't afford not to buy. It seems a rather non-invasive way to deal with SAD. I like that thought.

Any of you have experience with SAD and its treatment?

Tried vitamin supplements, D I believe.

I usually try to stay drunk til' Spring. Vitamins are cheaper.

 

[ms.read]

Here is a thought that is much cheaper on the wallet. Get FULL Spectrum Lightbulbs and put them in your regular every day lightbulb areas. They mimic the the light the sun gives off because they put out both uva and uvb stuff which helps to create the vit. d in your skin and also can give you a spirit boosts. It's used for tropical birds too. you can find them in pet stores and major home depot type stores.

 

[jomar]

Omega-3 fish oil has been shown to be beneficial to folks suffering from depression.

 

[john-the-author]

Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD)

Have it? Know someone who does? How do you/they deal with it? Have you tried lightbox therapy?

I'm looking into one of these gizmos: Apollo GoLite. I used one once and remember it made me a bit hyper. Certainly seemed to have an immediate affect. Now I'm wondering if it's worth the cost? Maybe it's one of those things I can't afford not to buy. It seems a rather non-invasive way to deal with SAD. I like that thought.

Any of you have experience with SAD and its treatment?

One of my writers years ago had problems with this and used Chromalux light bulbs in her office. The light was very noticeably different from the normal fluorescent bulbs (you can, or could, buy Chromalux bulbs that fit a standard fluorescent fixture) and I, who prefer dark, gray weather, even found it quite refreshing.

 

[kimbernee]

Outside exercise. Walk at lunch time, get out on the weekends. You can get out in any kind of weather if you wear the right clothes and for me moving around outside has much more effect than any light, even if it's not very nice outside.

 

[OhMissScarlett]

I suffered from it for years, until I changed my diet. I cut out added sugar, caffeine and bad carbs and upped my intake of fresh fruits and veg. Also, I take a multi-vitamin, a B complex and try to get plenty of Omega 3's. It helps to stay in a routine, to go to bed and get up at the same times, even if you don't have to. Good cardio exercise helps too, it's easy to forget it's winter when you're sweating.

If I feel myself getting sucked back into SAD, I have a few last resort tricks I do:
-get a haircut or highlights
-go to a tanning bed
-watch a movie about summer
-turn up the music and dance
-go someplace that's just silly fun, like a bowling alley, party supply store or Chuck E Cheese's

 

[snowy ciara]

My Hubby made me one that he calls my "Happy Light". He used gro-lite bulbs in it. I hook it up every winter and sit by it reading on the mornings before work. Sure helps since i live in a place that is dark when i leave for work and dark when i get home. (Except for summertime when it's the opposite.

I have Gro Lites in my desk lamp both at home and at work. I had to discontinue the vitamin D supps - actually ALL vitamin supps- due to problems with other health issues I have going on. I try to do an hour of natural light a day too, but I live in an area where the annual snowfall is taller than me! Some days it seems like the sun doesn't even bother to get out of bed.

I also do the "brain candy" fixes too, where you try to lift your spirits and emotions. Don't laugh too hard, but I have GIANT posters of Mexico and Hawaii at home and work, and for some reason, Jimmy Buffet works for me too. I admit it. I am a parrot head.

 

[Nirvanadragones]

It affects me greatly. Very much so. Here's what I've learnt:

Replace all your light bulbs in your house with white lights. This is not enough light during the "darker" months, but it does make a difference to the way the rooms and your environment looks. In addition to this I use light therapy in the form of a desk lamp. It's very bright, but you get used to it after a while. I spend at least an hour with it every day. More, when I'm going through a really bad time. You don't have to stare directly into the light. The light has to meet your eyes, even at an angle. It's best to do light therapy every day at roughly the same time.

Eat well, and healthy. I cut down on high carbs. Eat lots of protein, esp fish and nuts. And get regular exercise. Apart from the endorphin rush, your lack of energy will get the boost it needs.

I force myself to not only use black and dark colours in whatever I do, - clothes, arts and crafts, etc.

I try to avoid things that I know will take me down - sad music, specific places or fragrances that I associate with sadness and depression. I can deal better with those in summer.

I commit to activities that I know will take me out of the house at a certain time every day - taking the kids to school, or yoga class, etc. This forces me to get out of bed and moving and keeps me in a regular routine.

Omega 3's and lots of them.

Get as much sun as you can. When it's out, be in it. When you're inside, try to sit near a window, if the sun is out.

Indulge in what's good for you. I spend a fortune each few weeks in winter at "Lush" - my favourite body and bath store. And I don't keep it for special occasions. I use it every day - or whenever I want to.

I plan things that I can look forward to. Travel often, etc.

Most importantly, to me, is honesty. I acknowledge when I'm feeling depressed. I remind myself that it's a disorder. It will pass. I need to deal with it. I can change it. Even though at times I feel helpless. I ask for help and support when I need it from my friends.

 

[starrkers]

Move to Australia
Seriously though, I know nothing of this disorder - can some one fill me in a tad?

 

[Nirvanadragones]

Move to Australia
Seriously though, I know nothing of this disorder - can some one fill me in a tad?

Neither did I, when I lived in South Africa

S.A.D.: Seasonal Affective Disorder. It's kind of like depression, but more specifically during the months of the year that are "dark"/ winter. Symptoms include restlessness, sleeping problems, lack of energy, weight gain, feelings of hopelessness and ofcourse, depression.

It is related to an imbalance in the body's natural circadian rhythms

 

[starrkers]

Crap.
I have enough depressive things going on without the weather chiming in too.
Hugs and warm sunny thoughts to all that need 'em.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

All good advice. I'll add: Especially if you work at home (where you have the choice -do it at employer's workplace too if possible) set up your work-station in the place most exposed to outside light, right in front of the window. Mine is in a kitchen alcove with windows in front an on the side, both inches away. (When there's snow on the ground I have to lower the blind after noon because it's too bright!)

Also, I put up colored Christmas lights in my living room a week or so after Halloween, and one string is still up and will stay up until Feb. sometime. (Actualy, they're laying on top of a credenza-thingie and stuffed in crystal vase. It's the string in the picture below, but all the other Christmas stuff is gone now.) When that gloomy dusk comes around way-too early, I flick a switch and - Behold! - pretty colored lights bring cheer and happiness!

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f224/spitfiregriffin/IM001790.jpg
​

 

[Katyusha]

Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD)

Have it? Know someone who does? How do you/they deal with it? Have you tried lightbox therapy?

I'm looking into one of these gizmos: Apollo GoLite. I used one once and remember it made me a bit hyper. Certainly seemed to have an immediate affect. Now I'm wondering if it's worth the cost? Maybe it's one of those things I can't afford not to buy. It seems a rather non-invasive way to deal with SAD. I like that thought.

Any of you have experience with SAD and its treatment?

I have a sun lamp that I sit by at night, and on cloudy days. It helps somewhat. Exercise helps me too.

If one of those things makes you hyper maybe it would help me better than my sun lamp. I don't like the idea of taking meds for SAD either.

 

[Weird Harold]

I'm looking into one of these gizmos: Apollo GoLite. I used one once and remember it made me a bit hyper. Certainly seemed to have an immediate affect. Now I'm wondering if it's worth the cost?

I've got an 18" 15W version of this [urel=http://genet.gelighting.com/LightProducts/Dispatcher?REQUEST=CONSUMERSPECPAGE&PRODUCTCODE=13968&BreadCrumbValues=Fluorescent_Standard_,0&ModelSelectionFilter=FT0010:Fluorescent_Standard]GE Sunshine Fluorescent[/url] on the wall behind me and a 50W halogen desklamp above my monitor.

Those are enough for my "winter blahs" -- although I actually don't bother with the "Sunshine" light unless it's really gloomy.

I mention it because it sounds like you are one of the people who can get enough of the kind of light you need to keep you energized without spending big bucks by simply replacing existing bulbs with "Full Spectrum" or "Grow" bulbs. (Grow Bulbs tend to be a bit bluer than the full spectrum which bothers some people.)

Changing to or adding Full spectrum fluorescent lighting is an energy and cost efficient way of getting the minimal light-therapy that most SAD sufferers need. I think it's a very rare case that really needs the expensive light boxes and/or tanning bed light levels to treat SAD. You can can cover an entire ceiling with cheap fluroesent fixtures and full-spectrum tubes for what some of the light boxes cost.

 

[cheerful_deviant]

Wait, aren't you the uber outdoorsey granola chick?

GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY IN THE SNOW!!!

http://www.outdooreyes.com/images/snowshoes.jpg

*ahem* Moving on... I've never tried the light.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Wait, aren't you the uber outdoorsey granola chick?

GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY IN THE SNOW!!!

http://www.outdooreyes.com/images/snowshoes.jpg

*ahem* Moving on... I've never tried the light.

I feel sorry for our UK friends whose days are even shorter and can only go outside and play in the rain and fog.

(Oh, that's probably not helping the SAD, is it? )

 

[TE999]

I suffered from SAD when I lived in Atlanta--gloomy damn winters really bummed me out.

I put together a box with a bank of Gro-Lights in it and sat near it for an hour or so every time I felt blue.. It helped a great deal.

Exercise and keeping busy works as well--if you focus on it too much it'll really come up and bite you.

Neighbors prolly thot I was growin' merryjawana.

 

[McKenna]

Half an hour outside every day, come rain or shine.
You need daylight to hit the back of your retina to regulate moods and sleep patterns.
It helps me, anyway... when I do it

Seems like it's hard to get that 1/2 hour in when we work from sun-up to sun-down come winter.

I have also heard it called Seasonal Alcohol Deprivation... the post-party period of cold turkey, as it were

x
V

 

[McKenna]

My Hubby made me one that he calls my "Happy Light". He used gro-lite bulbs in it. I hook it up every winter and sit by it reading on the mornings before work. Sure helps since i live in a place that is dark when i leave for work and dark when i get home. (Except for summertime when it's the opposite.

"Happy Light." I like that!

 

[McKenna]

Tried vitamin supplements, D I believe.

I usually try to stay drunk til' Spring. Vitamins are cheaper.

I take a multi-vitamin; I'll have to check and see how much (if any) Vitamin D is included.

I heard once that even ten minutes of sunlight on your arm will produce enough vitamin D to meet your daily requirement. I haven't substantiated this yet, but the thought is nice.

 

[McKenna]

Here is a thought that is much cheaper on the wallet. Get FULL Spectrum Lightbulbs and put them in your regular every day lightbulb areas. They mimic the the light the sun gives off because they put out both uva and uvb stuff which helps to create the vit. d in your skin and also can give you a spirit boosts. It's used for tropical birds too. you can find them in pet stores and major home depot type stores.

Heh. This might just be a viable --and less expensive-- alternative! Thanks!

 

[McKenna]

Omega-3 fish oil has been shown to be beneficial to folks suffering from depression.

Thanks, J. I'll keep that in mind.

One of my writers years ago had problems with this and used Chromalux light bulbs in her office. The light was very noticeably different from the normal fluorescent bulbs (you can, or could, buy Chromalux bulbs that fit a standard fluorescent fixture) and I, who prefer dark, gray weather, even found it quite refreshing.

Chromalux, thanks! I'll look into this!

Outside exercise. Walk at lunch time, get out on the weekends. You can get out in any kind of weather if you wear the right clothes and for me moving around outside has much more effect than any light, even if it's not very nice outside.

Seems like I've been hibernating since the holidays. Definitely time to get outside and enjoy some outdoor activities, even if it's only on the weekends. I do like the idea of a quick stroll at lunch time.