SAD anyone?

[Anne Mills]

Anyone want to commiserate about SAD (which is starting for me already)? There doesn’t seem to be a forum for it on here.

 

[Cuchculan]

Was something I once thought I might have had. That was many years ago now. I actually still have one of those light boxes. Mood lights. That mimic the sun. They are made for sufferers of SAD. Even comes with 10 relaxing sounds. Not used that one in years. Is it the shorter, darker days that effect you? Let us be honest it can be a dull time of the year. Especially here in Ireland. Add all the rain to the dark days. Then they chuck in Christmas which I hate. All pressure. Give me Summer all year round. Long bright days.

 

[Anne Mills]

I’m actually sitting in front of my light box just now. Starting with 20 minutes. I didn’t want to surrender to using it so early in the season, but I started to feel down and heavy, and antisocial already. So here we go. Yes I am affected by the shorter days even if they are sunny it’s the length of the day that gets to me from August to March approximately. I will just Have to hope that starting my lamp will do me some good.

 

[Cuchculan]

I hope you can find some sort of answer. I do hate the Winter months. They are dull and just seem to drag on and on. I began the whole jigsaw thing a few years back. Just something to do. You are using that jigsaw site. Just that something to do. Try and keep yourself busy. I can recall spending many the Winter months doing nothing at all. Just made things worse. Made it even seem longer. Have me curious to see if my light box is still working. Might dig it out later and plug it in. With the hope it doesn't blow up on me.

 

[Otherside]

Not diagnosed SAD but winter months can be a pretty bad trigger for my depression. Winter months not started here yet. But I'm dreading it.

Hear lightboxes can help a bit. Thinking I may buy one for this year.

 

[Anne Mills]

2nd day light box, seem to feel a bit better. Then made plans to meet up/walk with someone later on to haul my ass out into the sunshine (can be soooo hard to motivate myself solo). Am managing to get a few chores done, so this is positive.

 

[Cuchculan]

I remember the first time I turned the light box on. I sat and just looked at it. Like it was a TV or something. That is what you are not meant to do. They see simply read a book and just have the light box on next to you. Maybe I should have read the instructions first. Me seriously thinking you looked at it and that was how it done its thing.

 

[Camden]

SAD is a very real thing with scientific literature and extensive research among psychologists and even lighting designers. Light has a tremendous influence on your well being. It's totally normal to feel more tired and even depressed in the shorter days of winter, especially in northern locations.

I use Smart LED light bulbs in my room that I can tune to daylight color to simulate natural sunlight. They make a difference on dark winter mornings when it's really hard to get out of bed. The bulbs also tune to gold and soft pink in the evenings to help me relax and get ready to sleep. Light color and brightness from natural sunlight and lighting indoors makes a huge difference with sleep quality, energy levels, and mental well being. I definitely recommend looking into LED smart light bulbs that are color tunable to reduce the severity of SAD symptoms.

 

[Doug97]

Yes I hate the winter months and dread the nights drawing in. I've often thought about trying a light box but never got round to it. Sounds like you're doing the right thing by tackling the problem head-on.

 

[Lanchparty7]

It is starting for me…I don’t like fall, Halloween, the holidays or anything assoicated with them. Plus, my area unfortunately is known for its very harsh winters. We don’t just get some snow…we get a lot, and I mean a lot of it. Snow is piled everyhwere in parking lots and those piles don’t melt for months and are a constant reminder of how miserable this place is.

 

[Sweet T]

Can you plan a trip mid winter to someplace sunny? Just thinking about a trip to the beach can help me.

 

[cheer_mom]

I wanted to get a light box, but I didn't know if they actually worked. Glad to hear they do.

 

[Jonathan123]

There is no real substitute for actual sunlight, but vitamin D can help. I never found the light boxes did a lot for me. I have outgrown SAD, but I can understand how many suffer from it. I doubt anyone in the Northern hemisphere does not feel a bit down as the year winds down. We are all human and our lives are so influenced by the weather and sunlight.

 

[LotusTree]

Can you plan a trip mid winter to someplace sunny? Just thinking about a trip to the beach can help me.

Not in my small budget unfortunately. Plus I’ve heard that some people can crash harder upon their return.

I wanted to get a light box, but I didn't know if they actually worked. Glad to hear they do.

Get one with a 30 day money back guarantee -> they don’t necessarily work for everyone. Takes about two weeks to really evaluate its effect.