How do you deal with seasonal affective disorder?

[mscaprine]

Wondering if any of you out there suffer from affective seasonal disorder, ie, the "winter blues"? I don't ever look forward to winter, it's so dark, and sunless, and cold. I'd prefer to feel like I do in the summer, with lots of energy, initiative, and more motivation than I know what to do with. Winter comes and I go right into "blah" mode til spring.

 

I've tried hordes of vitamin cocktails, including vitamin D, and have been thinking of going to the suntanning booth, they say that helps some. There's also the option of buying a sunlamp, for a mere $300, but I suspect it would sit in a corner unused for the most part, and I can't expect to carry it around with me. I don't tend to sit in one place long, so not sure it's at all practical.

 

Your tips? What really works?

[kymberann]

Well I am tanning for these reasons. Only 6 minutes right now, every other day and it has helped. Some I am sure is psychological, but that is the point!

[mscaprine]

Hmmm, good point, since I used to tan. And come to think it it, once I quit tanning in the early winter that would coincide with feeling blah. Perhaps I'll get back into tanning then. God, I hate winter. Looks like 10 feet of snow outside, and it snows almost every day. Depressing. Can spring really only be a month or so away? Not soon enough. I could happily live the rest of my life without snow.

[Kasan]

I have one of those lights that simulate natural daylight that I sit under during overcast days.

 

I think that it cost $20--and it really does help.

[kymberann]

Well I am up to 15 minutes every other day except weekends and it really helps!

Snow here too! We had a warmer weekend but the storms are back! Arrgh!!

[whichwayisup]

B12 shots, yoga, buy a SAD light to help, daily exercise and eat well. On those days you feel crappy, try to accomplish afew things, even small tasks, just so you don't let yourself go on a downslide. It's very easy to feel like those yucky feelings will never end.

 

TALKING about it helps, post here, call a friend and get it out of your system.

 

I hope you're feeling better.

[mscaprine]

wwiu, well, I'm not actually depressed. Just feeling blah, you know, sit around the house and procrastinate.....til spring! They have those SAD lights here, run about $200 for a little one. Guess it would have to be planted right at the computer for me to sit still long enough to get some benefit out of it.

[mscaprine]

Well, my first tanning session is today. Let's just hope I don't get burnt to a crisp, I always get a little pink after that first session. Looking forward to that nice, warm tanning bed.

[Gold Pile]

I don't have SAD. I always thought tanning booths were too fem for a guy.

In the interest of hitting on a certain tanning salon operator (I'll spare you that story) I signed up.

Upto 18 minutes twice a week. What a great mood lifter, you'll like it.

 

I've noticed the other customers are mostly female, mostly attractive, and always in a good mood. They make me feel witty and charming.

 

I may get a home unit just to lure tanning women in.

[mscaprine]

Not to forget that one can get to feeling pretty darned sexy laying naked and spread-eagled in a tanning bed. Kinda makes you wonder if anyone takes that feeling a little further. Best to wipe down the bed before use just in case. Don't trust the staff to do a thorough job of it.

 

Well, most people tan naked anyhow. I can't see the point of paying to tan ($7 a pop, 2-3 times a week) and still have tan lines.

 

GoldPile, great idea, but scrap any thoughts of drilling a peephole, huh! Staff where I go have said that people have literally torn the mirrors off the walls to make sure there's no spy-cams. Personally, I don't care, if you're that desperate to have a peek that you'll watch my sorry old butt tanning, then more power to ya! So long as I don't see it on YouTube.

 

Oh, and tanning went well. Back to the "starter bed".....still got pink in the usual places. Felt very good when coming out though!

[Gold Pile]

.... feeling pretty darned sexy laying naked and spread-eagled in a tanning bed. Kinda makes you wonder if anyone takes that feeling a little further. ;.....

 

...GoldPile, great idea, but scrap any thoughts of drilling a peephole, huh!

:lmao: You're right I considered taking that feeling further.

 

A peep hole wouldn't be big enough for the gift I'd like to slip the tanner (tanee?)

[Ssheena]

I have a light that is made by Nature Bright that I can set to start getting lighter before I wake up. It wasn't that expensive and in the long run has paid for itself in how I feel.

It was only $160 (on sale). It's called a Per3.

 

It has an alarm clock too and wakes me with a very fake bird chirp.

 

Otherwise, I'd go to the tanning booth as well. I could never live in the New England area again after suffering through the grey winters there.

[LOVE DAISIES]

I just started using Wellbutrin XL....it is an anti depressant, but I am on it

for a low libido.In low dosages it does not have the same side effects as

other AD's. In addition.....in Canada it was recently approved AS a SAD

medication. I think it is the first and only drug approved for that

problem. For me...I have been on it for about a week, and it is REALLY good.No side effects for me, and it makes me feel extremely mellow.

[whichwayisup]

run about $200 for a little one.

 

Don't buy one of those, you can get a bulb to put in your lamp, they cost less than 20 dollars. Spectrum bulbs.

[mscaprine]

WWIU, hmmmm, I'll look into that!

A peep hole wouldn't be big enough for the gift I'd like to slip the tanner (tanee?)

hehehe Porky's Revisited. You know what happened to that guy, right?

I just started using Wellbutrin XL....it is an anti depressant, but I am on it for a low libido.In low dosages it does not have the same side effects as other AD's. In addition.....in Canada it was recently approved AS a SAD medication. I think it is the first and only drug approved for that

problem. For me...I have been on it for about a week, and it is REALLY good.No side effects for me, and it makes me feel extremely mellow.

If it works for you, that's great, I would never begrudge anyone the use of medication to help themselves get better. However, I'm the type that would not even consider taking pills for just "feeling blah" in winter.

 

I was once diagnosed with panic attacks. Doc prescribed me an anti-anxiety drug. Sure, it took away the anxiety....and "cushioned" most other emotions with it. I just cannot live like that. For me, feeling numb inside is not an acceptable treatment. It doesn't resolve the underlying issues. I find as I get older, though, I care less and less about superficial things (and have attained a very low tolerance for other peoples' BS), and that definitely eases stress. No more anxiety attacks.