Does anyone here have S.A.D?

fwan

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I was talking to one of my colleagues yesterday and he out of nowhere told me i needed to get a bright light because I looked dull and seemed like somoene who has the symptoms S.A.D believe me he didnt mean it in any offensive way! So i was done with work and decided not to leave so i went to the caffeteria and talked to my colleagues (i love them by the way... these are the teachers not staff members) and noticed that alot of us have the same thing! He mentioned all symptoms and i just realised that i am alot different in summer time and alot better! He told me that i should get one of those Light things to improve my self!

Was just wondering how many of us on here have the same thing? I guess its going to be common as most of us dont live in 30 degree weather all year round!
 

Moz

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That sounds like me, lazy and tired all day. But then again I don't feel like going for a run outside in -32*C while it's blizzarding.
 

lunasmom

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Yes, I've heard of it, don't know if I get it or not.

I remember seeing an article several years ago about some city in Russia (towards the Arctic Circle) that 90% of its population suffered from depression and alcoholism. This was due to the fact that the city (or area) got very little light most of the year. Psychologists began to experiment with UV lights and peoples health began to improve.

Try going to a tanning salon and see if that helps you. If it doesn't, people will still ask if you went someplace warm!
 
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fwan

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Originally Posted by lunasmom

Yes, I've heard of it, don't know if I get it or not.

I remember seeing an article several years ago about some city in Russia (towards the Arctic Circle) that 90% of its population suffered from depression and alcoholism. This was due to the fact that the city (or area) got very little light most of the year. Psychologists began to experiment with UV lights and peoples health began to improve.

Try going to a tanning salon and see if that helps you. If it doesn't, people will still ask if you went someplace warm!
ANd look orange!!

You need to look at the sunlight every day though! and im not going to the solarium every day! i even think its illegal!
 

gailc

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I know you need a very specific lightbulb-a full spectrum bulb. But if you can spend some time outside everyday it helps. Its real common in the colder climates!!
 

hilda>^..^<

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Hmmm, I guess I must be the only one here who has no idea what you're talking about. What is SAD?

Hilda >^..^<
 

MoochNNoodles

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January and March are deffinatley always hard months for me. I hate the gray days and I hate that there is practically no natural light in my office. I had a counselor once suggest thoes lights but I havn't gotten them.
 

kaylacat

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Hmmm I don't really know what S.A.D is either? I have S.A.D but I dont think its the same you are talking about.
 

jenny82

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I think it affects me a little. I definitely seem to be happier in the summer months. I never want to go outside in the winter because I hate being cold, so I hardly ever get sunlight. It's not so bad that I've gotten those special lightbulbs though.
 

godiva

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Seasonal Affective Disorder.


Longer days and lack of sunlight can cause some people to go into a mild depression that is a true depression, not just feeling glum or lethargic due to bad/cold weather. UV light bulbs and similar treatments are supposed to help immensely (cure it even)! It supposedly affects most people who live waaaay up north, but those of us that experience four seasons can be more susceptible too. I'm not sure if I have it or not, I've been treated for major depression for the last five years anyway, but it does get a little worse in the winter.

Now about your sun comment, fwan, what do you mean, look at the sun?? My father's parents were from Finland and they all had this belief that it was "good for you" to look directly at the sun. I thought it was supposed to damage your eyes. :shrug: I do know we need UV light to metabolize Vitamin D, though... at least 20 minutes of indirect sunlight day is ideal.

Anyway, try the treatments out, fwan... maybe you'll feel better. *hugs* You've had such an awful time lately.
 

swampwitch

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Originally Posted by Godiva

Seasonal Affective Disorder.
...My father's parents were from Finland and they all had this belief that it was "good for you" to look directly at the sun. I thought it was supposed to damage your eyes. :shrug:...
OMG, don't ever look directly at the sun! It damages the rods and cones in the eye and can lead to loss of vision. Look at the sun with binoculars or a telescope and you will literally burn your eyes! Looking through film negatives or sunglasses offers no protection, BTW.

Back to SAD... I replaced all the bulbs in our house with spectrum bulbs two years ago, and my husband has noticed a huge difference in the winter. The kitties gravitate to those light bulbs, too (as do insects in the summer). I didn't notice anything but I'm happy in the dark winter.

Cheers, from
SwampWitch
 

godiva

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Originally Posted by SwampWitch

OMG, don't ever look directly at the sun! It damages the rods and cones in the eye and can lead to loss of vision. Look at the sun with binoculars or a telescope and you will literally burn your eyes! Looking through film negatives or sunglasses offers no protection, BTW.

Cheers, from
SwampWitch
I know, I know!! I used to scold my dad for it all the time... but he was a self-proclaim sun-worshipper, with Finnish parents and growing up partly in California.
Anyway, that's why I mentioned it and was wondering why she thought it was good to look at the sun once a day. I didn't know if she meant get sunlight once a day, or literally look AT the sun.... I was wondering if it was a Scandinavian/Finnish/Norwegian or northern cultural thing. Where are you from, fwan?
 

cheylink

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I totally have S.A.D.! Winter is very depressing for me. I enjoy the first snow but I am a spring, growth, flowers person.
 

starryeyedtiger

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I don't have it- but i have heard that the artificial lights do help with that disorder
 

pat locani

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I'm not using any full-spectrum bulbs right now but the cats told me there's something to it.
I first read about the full-spectrum bulbs about four years ago and bought some. They're expensive. I put one in the desk lamp and all the cats wanted to bask under it. To see if they had a preference, I set up two lamps just alike on the desk and put a regular bulb in one. They all wanted the full-spectrum bulb.
 
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fwan

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Originally Posted by Godiva

I know, I know!! I used to scold my dad for it all the time... but he was a self-proclaim sun-worshipper, with Finnish parents and growing up partly in California.
Anyway, that's why I mentioned it and was wondering why she thought it was good to look at the sun once a day. I didn't know if she meant get sunlight once a day, or literally look AT the sun.... I was wondering if it was a Scandinavian/Finnish/Norwegian or northern cultural thing. Where are you from, fwan?
I was born in england, but grew up in Italy and Australia where it was always warm, Germany has pulled me down like... im not the same as i was in Australia? I am alot happier in Summer time though!
 

hilda>^..^<

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Well being that I naturally LOVE gray, rainy, cloudy, stormy weather...like what we've been having here lately
...I suppose I don't suffer from SAD. Being a Texan though doesn't make things easy on me. Dang-it...I can't stand our hot-as-you-know-where summers! Too much heat and too much sunshine



Hilda >^..^<
 
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