SAD Winterblues

[beacon]

Does the artificial lamp work/ light box work? what about st john's wort or SAMe ? Here these are herbs so you don't need a prescription

[bakon]

right royal hump sounds like a good thing. you people cant talk or use words correctly

[Still winning]

It worked for me.  The combination of Vit D3 and all the B's and making sure I went outside to 'sun' my face and hands.  

Even on cloudy days, you will still get the UV's.

This may be crazy.  Might not be crazy.  

I, at least, felt I was doing something to help myself and not wallow in the sad gunk.

Pineal Gland

Sorry I wasn't clear, I wondered how you felt it influenced your pineal gland?  Always nice to hear something that's worked for someone else. 

 

 

right royal hump sounds like a good thing. you people cant talk or use words correctly

Give you a perfectly good language..... haha.

[Tink]

Does the artificial lamp work/ light box work? what about st john's wort or SAMe ? Here these are herbs so you don't need a prescription

Yes th lamp works my trouble is I cannot sit still lon g enough but I used to use it in the kitchen whilst cooking, but if you work at a desk it's perfect, I take st John's wart for not and energy levels they are good I also try and get outside as much as possible whatever the wether it blows out the cobwebs.

 

The lamp I have is big and can be hinge on the wall so you could use it as the only light but I am sure nowadays there at modern and practical ones I have had mine for years and the bulbs are still going, I also have a salt lamp.

[babs609]

yes...i suffered for years...until i started to embrace the changing seasons instead of resisting.  I focused on one day at a time and the positive side of winter.  Like....all things must die off to prepare for the upcoming spring.....

 

what really helped me get thru it was on December 21st...which is only 1 month away. (a month flies by)....on that day it's the shortest day of the year..the winter solstice.  It doesn't get any darker than that.  After that..each day we gain a minute of sunlight and my mood lifts.  At work I started a countdown to spring in previous years on that day.   People would laugh at me as they walked by my office but guess what....it really really helped AND they too would start to look forward to my countdown.  It helps...like the countdown for you and Rez.  :) 

 

Plus the sunlight and Vit D help too  :)   and exercise!!  I can't stress the importance there

[Humbled]

This is one of the greatest times of year - Holidays, Crazy Families getting together etc..  (everyone has crazy in their family) kids full of wonder and awe over Christmas and Santa Claus etc.. People are generally happier - at least the ones I run into - this is the time of year when I feel like a kid again - I'm sorry if the dark or the cold brings some people down - I get up at 5:15 in the morning and yes it is dark last night I got home from work at 9:00 and yes it was dark but I get over it.

This is my favorite Holiday Season so I choose to be happy just like I choose to NOPE everyday.  For anyone that feels like they have the winter blues - I say go visit a soup kitchen and help out those who are truly hungry and cold  - go to a few holiday festivals or local venues - put on your favorite holiday movie whether it is an old charlie brown Christmas movie or Miracle on 34th Street - if that doesn't help then watch Babes in Toy Land or Mighty Joe Young -either way we are all blessed to have a roof over our heads and family and or friends to share our lives with.  This will be my first Christmas as a single parent and I plan on making it the best Christmas my kids ever had  - I know they will be sad when mommy isn't there on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning but they will see her later Christmas Day -they have a reason to have the blues this season and yet they have been amazing and I could not be more proud - if they are able to be happy anyone can be - so I say Choose to Fight Winter Blues and Enjoy The Spirit of the Holidays!

[babs609]

agree humbled....i have volunteered at the soup kitchen a few times and i can't tell you how gratifying and humbling that is.

 

When you wake up...make a mental note of 10 things you are grateful for. By the time you get to the 10th thing...you will be smiling and content. :)

[SueBeDoo]

(((Tracey)))

[Tink]

It's not about being ungrateful or being bar humbug, it's hormonal inbalance if I could find it in some soup I would buy a ferking cauldron of it and give it away myself! In my humble opinion

[Kristin]

SAD is more than winter blues, it really can't be corrected with positive thoughts. Focusing on positive things helps but it takes more than that to feel happy. I live in Oregon and the dreary long gray winter is awful!

I take an SSRI, snuggle up inside with blankets, warm drinks and good books/movies. It took me a long time to find a way to get through the winter halfway sane.Vitamin D is something a lot of people here do, along with the simulated sunlight lamps. I also keep lots of regular lights on in the house, and just pay for the electricity.

[babs609]

So...maybe this is why, for the last few years....I have been so much better in the winter.  I meditate daily. 

I do believe the mind is the most important tool we have and as we know as ex-smokers...we can train our minds for anything.  Even things that are physiological in nature.

Positive attitude does play a role...it's not the only thing of course...but it's one of the things that helps.  Goes along with the sunlight, vitamin D, exercise, avoiding alcohol..and if necessary..medication.  But first..try meditation.

 

Can meditation help Seasonal Affective Disorder? According to research conducted by Dr. Norman Rosenthal, the man that gave Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) its name, the answer is yes. His research has demonstrated that a portion of the brain called the pineal gland is involved in SAD. The pineal gland is involved with our sleep/wake functions and the production of melatonin. As reported on BrainwaveResearchInstitute.com, Dr. Rosenthal has shown that meditation can stimulate the pineal gland and reduce the symptoms of SAD.