SADD that time of the year

[Kalidurga]

There was no "but wouldn't it be nice to just go home after work and snuggle with my cats."

But how do you find the willpower to fight that urge? That's been my problem. I also don't get depressed as in dejected or sad, but I do feel physically and mentally pressed down, like there's something making me lethargic and unmotivated. Sometimes, no amount of internal pep talks or yelling at myself to "just do it!" works. How do you convince yourself to get the heck up and get moving?

[Crankin]

The trick is to just get outside. You don't have to ride, just get outside and walk, hike, snow shoe.
My friend uses the lights and they are successful, but she doesn't exercise.

[Kalidurga]

The trick is to just get outside.

I've considered trying the lights just to get me energized and motivated enough to even make it that far. For me, it's not just the shorter winter days, it's also any day that's grey and overcast. I look out the window and don't have any urge to even open the front door.

Thanks for starting this thread, TahoeDirtGirl. I've thought of asking this question, too, so I appreciate you taking the plunge.

[michelem]

TahoeDirtGirl,

I HEAR YOU!!! I have the same problem. Last year my doc recommended light therapy. I bogged myself down with researching and never bought anything (they are EXPENSIVE). However, this year I am going to do it. This is what she prescribed: "High intensity (10,000 lux), broad spectrum lights 30 min. exposure to your pupils at dawn and dusk (as a minimum) or visor most of the time."

A tanning bed is not going to do it, besides the fact that it raises your risk of skin cancer. Also, 30 minutes outdoors isn't going to do it either here in Northern California . . . especially during rainy/foggy season. The sun just isn't intense enough during winter months if you have diagnosable SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).

Good luck to you! I'm hoping that my flexible spending account will reimburse me since it is prescribed by my doc, but I've heard it is VERY difficult to get the lights covered by insurance or FSA's.

[SlowButSteady]

Tanning beds have always helped me. I only get in for a few minutes several times a week. I can tell a difference after I go about twice.

[Mr. Bloom]

Since moving from the Tennessee to Indiana, I have seriously bad SADD. The lights do help. You can also get Full Spectrum bulbs in your normal lights to help as well, but they can be harsh and not very 'warm'. You have to get the high intensity lights on your face for them to work well.

I also have a south facing window in my office that makes ALL the difference in the world. When my office window was north facing for four years, I was borderline suicidal around January/February.

The tanning beds do genuinely help, but you need a lot of it...and I'm not a big fan of winter-time false tans...(or burns)...so focus on safer alternatives.

A winter vacation to the Caribbean might help as well.

[NbyNW]

+1 to getting outside as much as possible.

I grew up on the east coast and now live in Seattle. Short days in winter are hard anywhere, but at least on the east coast you get an occasional sun break, even if the temperature is low. Take advantage of those days.

I got one of those little LCD lights from Costco last winter, and I feel like it's better than coffee for helping me get up in the morning. Trouble with it is, the feature that would have it turn on automatically only works when it is plugged in, and it makes a high-pitched electrical hissing noise when it's in sleep mode. And I can't listen to that when I'm trying to sleep. So I charge it in another room, and I still have to drag myself out of bed in order to get, say, 15 minutes of exposure to it. After that, I'm good to go.