Monday, February 25, 2008
I was feeling depressed this morning. I didn't want to eat. I didn't want to do ANYTHING. Out of desperation, I thought I'd give the old sunlamp a try. I've had it 3-4 years and used it as a reading lamp, so I didn't think it worked. Pdoc gave me directions to set it up: the light must be the right height to shine into your retinas. From the retinas, the light travels to your brain and gives it a boost. Do this for 20 minutes. My therapist suggested exposing as much skin as possible so your skin can absorb the light also. So I turned it on, pretended I was on the beach somewhere warm and watched tv for 20 minutes. Totally painless. And I have to say that now I feel chipper, have more energy, and generally feel better. I almost can't believe the difference in mood from this morning! I wonder how long it will last? Who cares, right? It feels good now.
Hi Stardust!
I have had SAD (Seasonal adjustment disorder) for as long as I can remember. My nickname is Sunshine because I crave it. I use UV lamps quite often, in fact i had to get a prescription to get my office to install the bulbs for me. It's bad enough when the winter comes and the days are short, but then many days go by when the sun never comes out at all! A little sunshine is very beneficial for everyone!
Here is some information I found about the benefits of Vitamin D. It's not just from milk anymore!
Sue Bergeson, President of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), wrote a very good sharepost about the fall and winter and the effects of SAD. You can read the whole post here. She also has a link to a good article on Wikipedia about SAD and how it can affect almost anyone. There is also a reverse form of SAD called RSAD when people get depressed in the summer including anxiety attacks.
Bob Brandt gives this account of how he manages his health including plenty of sunlight.
Most of all the wonderful thing about the internet is that you can meet people from all walks of life all experiencing the same or similar issues as you and together we can support one another and get through it.
Here is a posting by someone who just recently joined Health Central. Mel shares her experiences here.
I hope you find this information helpful. Stay in touch and let us know how you are doing!
Vicki M