Daylight Savings Time ended last weekend and it's dark early now. Like at about 5 p.m. Plus, it's cloudy or raining many of the daylight hours.
Nothing new for us in the Pacific Northwest. What is new is that, for some reason, it's not bothering me much this year.
Maybe it's because I'm sitting in front of a 10,000-lumen light box for 25 minutes each morning when I wake up, and I'm taking 4,000 units of vitamin D3.
Maybe it's because I'm walking two to three miles on the mornings when I don't go to a water aerobics class.
Maybe it's because I'm thinking ahead to December 23, when we leave for Arizona via Oregon and California.
Maybe it's because we bought a wall-mounted TV this year and we can now have the gas fireplace turned on when we're watching. In previous years we watched an old TV on a rolling cart, which sat right in front of the gas fireplace. Thank goodness it finally fell off the cart and broke!
Maybe it's because we have new windows and the house is warmer, with no drafts.
Or maybe it's the medication I'm finally taking. In spite of its getting-up-to-speed side effects.
Whatever! So far, so good.
Mary's desk
4 hours ago
11 comments:
So glad to hear it, Linda. I don't suffer from SAD myself, and I'm always glad to see a sun break or two during the day, like we have the last few. :-)
I'd say with all of that, more than one thing must be working!
Vitamin D is supposed to be good for you -- see http://sightingsat60.blogspot.com/2013/11/vitamin-d-may-help-stop-cancer.html -- but be careful not to take TOO much b/c that's not good either. But anyway, it sounds like you're rocking on all cylinders!
Living better through chemistry! Good for you. And exercise and light- all good. Glad you found things that work for you and thanks for sharing because others are struggling and can find some answers for themselves. As a retired psych nurse- thanks!
So glad to hear this, Linda.
I have suffered from depression in the past. I finally had to go with medication. I found it quite terrifying when I could feel myself coming out of that thick, heavy cocoon of darkness. I was leaving my way of being--painful, yet perversely comfortable at the same time.
Later in life, I thought my health insurance should pay for a week in the Bahamas--preventative medicine. The insurance company refused to see it my way--soulless bureaucrats.
Growing up in Boston, the day of the year I hated the most was the day that the clocks were turned back. In that part of the country it starts to get dark at 4:15 during the dead of winter.
If I had known about (or they were even available) I would have benefited greatly from a light box. I must have sunshine!
All of the above! Yes, we need to look forward to a change of pace, or else we get cabin fever and suffer worse than ever.
Glad your anti-winter precautions are working, Linda. I don't suffer from SAD, but 2 of my sisters do, and I know how it affects them.
I love cloudy days myself but know what you suffer is real and life effecting. So happy you are whipping ole nasty SAD. Sounds like all of the above are working great.
I love how upbeat this post is, Linda! Whatever it is, it's working! Probably a combination of everything. Exercise is definitely an energy booster for me! Now if I'd just get out there more often!! Glad you are making time for yourself.
So glad you're in this amazing place. I hope you're proud of yourself for all you've done to get yourself here.
Post a Comment