Does anyone have suggestions for dealing with S.A.D. or the "winter blues"?

Question

I live in the south and it isn't that cold or gloomy most of the time but when it is I am horribly affected by the lack of sunshine. I get so depressed and grumpy, too. I refuse to microwave myself in a tanning bed. What else can I do?

Answer 1

I have a similar problem.
It doesn't completely cure the problem but I find that listening to music in the morning really helps. I dance first thing in the morning and it puts me onto a dfferent level. Over the years I have learnt to accommodate winter in this way.
Maybe this will work for you.

Answer 2

I live in the north-east, so I know how it can be. Try to get outside during your lunch break and take a walk. Look around you when you're outside - up at the trees and the sky.

At night, some people say that doing things like lighting candles helps. We have holidays in winter in the northern latitudes because of all the gloomy darkness - and those holidays all have to do with fire and the sun originally.

Alternately, some fancier spas have light therapy. It's not a tanning bed, but a balanced kind of light. (In Sweden, they have whole spas devoted to this!) You can also buy light boxes rated for this. Both of these options are more expensive than walking around outside, but they're there.

Answer 3

You can take vitamin D.

That is the vitamin you get from sunlight that lifts your mood.

Drink more milk that is fortified with vitamin D or choose a supplement.

Light therapy also helps...just have your face in bright light for 20 minutes.

I am also against tanning beds etc. Good for you.

Answer 4

Get a sunlight lamp. They're lights that simulate natural sunlight wjile indoors. They run around 50-100 dollars. I also have S.A.D. and I've looking into getting on for myself.

Answer 5

If you have a hard time going to the gym, try getting a personal trainer. Than you'll be committed to go to the gym regularly to train with your personal trainer. After a work-out with my personal trainer I'm proud of myself for working so hard. I would never go to the gym regularly and know about my body the way I do if I did not have a personal trainer.

Answer 6

Don't take medication... (Jesus is that the answer to everyone's everything?) *thinks to herself... "You people are brainwashed!"

Change your lighting!

They make indoor light bulbs that are fluorescent, special and mimic sunlight for people that live in places like London or Seattle that suffer from this condition.

I do not know why living "In the south" would make you suffer... we have too much sun!

Answer 7

I've heard about people taking seratonin reuptake inhibitors for it, otherwise, try to get as much natural light as possible, even if it is overcast.

Tanning beds don't work anyway, check the link

Answer 8

All the big magazines are saying skin toners. Lotion that adds a glow to your skin and over a period of time your skin turns darker. All the big actress's are doing it. Look at Lynsey Lohan. She does and even tells the reporters that she lives by it.

Answer 9

Hi.
S.A.D. sufferers are usually helped by daily use of a lightbox. These are quite expensive to initially buy, but are said to be well worth it by users. (My Sister included)
See these at:

http://www.sad.uk.com/home.php
http://www.sadbox.co.uk/
http://www.outsidein.co.uk/index.htm

The following are info sites for S.A.D. sufferers:

http://www.sada.org.uk/
http://www.ncpamd.com/seasonal.htm

Hope you find these useful.. Good luck.
Paul.

Answer 10

start simple try exercise and extra vitamin c on gloomy days
it usually works for me