SADD that time of the year

[michelem]

Still waiting for my lamp . . . these rainy, dark days are really wearing on me. Plus, I'm thinking that some of it is post-marathon let-down as well . . .

[sundial]

Can you get outside for 30 minutes or so?

[michelem]

sundial,

I have no desire to go outside when it is dark and rainy! :Yesterday, the sun was out for a portion of the day so I went out to my car during lunch as a way to get some sunlight through the car windows, but protect myself from the cold wind. Pretty much every day for the past two weeks has been either foggy or rainy . . . not much sunlight whatsoever. My lamp is supposed to arrive tomorrow!

[salsabike]

Three more days...

[Kalidurga]

I have no desire to go outside when it is dark and rainy! :Yesterday, the sun was out for a portion of the day so I went out to my car during lunch as a way to get some sunlight through the car windows, but protect myself from the cold wind. Pretty much every day for the past two weeks has been either foggy or rainy . . . not much sunlight whatsoever.

That's it exactly. It's very easy to recommend that someone with SADD just go spend some time outside, but if the weather's crappy that ain't gonna do much good 'cause the crappy weather is a contributing factor. I can't tell you how many days off I've had when it's been grey, drizzly and/or cold, then the clouds break and the sun comes out on the day I go back to work. I could go out and ride or hike on those grey, drizzly days, but the weather conditions end up affecting my mood and leave me feeling as gloomy as the sky looks.

I'm very interested in hearing what results you get from your lamp, michelem.

[Selkie]

Kali - I got a Verilux happy light this year, and I use it every morning when I arrive at work. I also started taking Vitamin D. Both have helped. I've actually thought about getting a happy light for home, too.

The weather here has been so dreary and not at all conducive to being outside, which has not helped at all. Raining again today and predicted for Sunday, Christmas Eve, etc. Take it easy on yourself. Do something sinful, like bake cookies and eat a few of them. T

[Kalidurga]

Raining again today and predicted for Sunday, Christmas Eve, etc.

Yeah, mickchick, I've been avoiding looking at the forecast since I saw those predictions, since those are, of course, my only days off in the coming week.

One thing I have been doing that I think might be helping is meditation. I recently began meditating in the mornings for other reasons than SADD. Since then, I've had several crappy weather days off. I've still had zero motivation to do any kind of exercise on those days (which makes sinful cookies a bad idea!), but I have noticed that I've been less morose. This doesn't surprise me as meditation is known to improve mood, so I'm going to keep track of how this progresses.

Still considering one of those "happy lamps" too, though, just in case.

[sundial]

It's very easy to recommend that someone with SADD just go spend some time outside....

I've got it too. I wasn't trying to be flippant about it.

[Kalidurga]

I've got it too. I wasn't trying to be flippant about it.

No, no, I didn't think you were. It's totally natural for people to make suggestions of possible remedies, so I do think that every recommendation in this thread has been made with thoughtful and caring intentions. It's doubly natural for someone who's had similar experiences and found something that works for them to then pass that info on. But there are so many different degrees of severity and variations in symptom to these things. I was just making the point (less diplomatically than I should have, I guess) that, for some of us, the hardest thing is finding the will to force ourselves to do any sort of activity, whether the weather sucks or not.

[Kalidurga]

Yay for the solstice...

[MerryKate39]

That's it exactly. It's very easy to recommend that someone with SADD just go spend some time outside

I'm also a SADD sufferer, and I've read up a lot on the problem. It may seem like a simple answer, but being outside on a gloomy/rainy day actually nets you more lumens than being indoors by a lamp. An overcast day is about 1,000 lumens; the average lamp is about 100. Even 10 minutes of outdoor light can improve your mood. This does seem to be a particularly bad year, tho, because it's been so cold!

I personally use a Verilux light, especially on overcast days. I found a 10,000 lumen light on Amazon for only $130 (with a sale); they also have 5,000 lumen lights for less than $100. The difference is the amount of time it takes to get the benefit. With a 5,000 lumen light you might need to spend several hours using it; with a 10,000 lumen light 30 to 90 minutes will do the trick. Contrary to what you see on tv, you don't sit staring into it or (worse still) sit in front of it with your eyes closed. You can read, do your makeup, eat breakfast, etc. The only limit is that you don't want to use it too late at night because it will throw off your circadian rhythms and you'll wind up with insomnia. I like to use it in my bathroom while I get ready for work in the morning, because the light bouncing off the mirrors amplifies the effect.

I've found a combination of vitamins and calcium helps a lot, too, especially D3, B-50 and folic acid. (All of which you'll find in a good multivitamin.) Hope this helps.

[lph]

Hi folks - I've just been reading up on this thread and one thing really impresses me. Many of you know what this is, can see it coming, and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. That is really inspiring. I don't feel as bad every winter, but I don't like Christmas or the holidays much for a multitude of reasons, the main ones being that all the things that keep me sane and happy are taken away for two weeks at a time - regular routine, regular exercise, healthy food, my friends, interacting with normal upbeat adults all day long. I know I "should" just enjoy my family and the time off, but I enjoy doing things outdoors and going places with my close family, not running around shopping frantically and then eating vast amounts of food and sweets with my extended family, and staying indoors for hours and hours and HOURS. Going outdoors doesn't help much, because Oslo in December is usually dark, very dark, wet or icy. We have maybe 4 or 5 hours of daylight.

Sorry for the rant , cause I'm back at work and much better, but anyway: the stress of the holidays can really get to me and did this year, plunging me into a pathetic, black, selfpitying, morose mood for several days. And I just can't see it coming in time to kick myself up and go get a lamp, or go away for Christmas or something. This time I've vowed not to be home on Christmas at all next year, and I really hope I can keep that.

[michelem]

Right now I am sitting in front of my new broad-spectrum lamp for 30 minutes befor leaving for work. I'll sit in front of it for at least another 30 minutes when I get home. I've been doing this for 10 days now and it is nothing short of a miracle. I really didn't think it would provide such instant relief. The lamp was very pricey (over $200). I can't say whether I would have gotten FSA reimbursement for it (with drs. prescription), as I'd already maxed out that money for 2008. I just couldn't hold off 'til 2009 to purchase it as my SAD symptoms were causing me to rapidly deteriorate. I feel like a new person!

[sundial]

sundial,

I have no desire to go outside when it is dark and rainy!

I assumed you lived in an area that didn't get much rain.

[michelem]

I assumed you lived in an area that didn't get much rain.

I'm learning that this is a common misperception of people who aren't familiar with Northern California. They think it is all sunshine and beaches out here -- HAH!!!