+- MacResource (https://forums.macresource.com)
+-- Forum: My Category (https://forums.macresource.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=1)
+--- Forum: Tips and Deals (https://forums.macresource.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Thread: S.A.D. and artificial light (/showthread.php?tid=66907)
Re: S.A.D. and artificial light - MacGurl - 11-25-2008
I use natural daylight blubs/CFL's for doing my paint work here (I'm an airbrush artist), and paint under them 4 days a week. I'm sure it helps keep me sane during the winter months. Plus, I do get out every morning, for an hour at least, walking and training our pup, sun or no sun. :wink:
Kathy
Re: S.A.D. and artificial light - karsen - 11-25-2008
dmann wrote:
karsen,
I am not speaking for kanesa, but you should realize that during the winter months here in the Midwest, you can literally go days without real sunlight.
Most days are very gray and cloudy whether it snows or not. This problem is compounded by the fact that due to the move back to Standard vs. Daylight Savings time, most people go to work while it is still dark outside and come back home once it is dark again. I am in Chicago and it was dark at 4:40 this afternoon.
Enjoying a few hours of sunlight on the weekends is not enough for many people.
DM
I realize that. I hmm, 16 years in Michigan and Illinois. I also realize there's a condition and a pill for everything that ails people these days.
I still think S.A.D. is a humorous name and I wish Carlin was alive to give his take on it.
A couple of interesting tidbits from Wikipedia:
The condition in the summer is often referred to as Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder, and can also include heightened anxiety.[3]
Happy pills for the winter, sad pills for the summer. Have to stay balanced.
Winter depression is a common slump in the mood of some inhabitants of most of the Nordic countries. It was first described by the 6th century Goth scholar Jordanes in his Getica wherein he described the inhabitants of Scandza (Scandinavia).[20] Iceland, however, seems to be an exception. A study of more than 2000 people there found the prevalence of seasonal affective disorder and seasonal changes in anxiety and depression to be unexpectedly low in both sexes.[21] The study's authors suggested that propensity for SAD may differ due to some genetic factor within the Icelandic population. A study of Canadians of wholly Icelandic descent also showed low levels of SAD.[22] It has more recently been suggested that this may be attributed to the large amount of fish traditionally eaten by Icelandic people, 225 lb per person per year as opposed to about 50 in the US and Canada, rather than to genetics.
Cha-Ching! Bottle some Icelandic blood as a cure for S.A.D.
Re: S.A.D. and artificial light - Racer X - 11-25-2008
and she does good work too!
Re: S.A.D. and artificial light - dmann - 11-25-2008
Sorry, I'm in a grouchy mood and since we recently lost a forum member to depression/mental illness, I just can't find humor in the situation. Entirely my problem, not yours.
kanesa asked a valid question and I think she deserves an answer, not ridicule.
I think I'll sign off for the night-
DM
Re: S.A.D. and artificial light - Racer X - 11-25-2008
yes, and I have been bedridden for 5 weeks, with the exception of 2 trips to the doctor, and in constant pain for 2 months, so I'm not getting any sunlight at all. I spent my birthday in bed, alone and in pain last week. I was able to drag a bag of bagels and a bottle of water to my bed so I could eat that day. That same day, a very good friend of mine was in the hospital having a huge chunk of her colon cut out from cancer. Sucky for a 37 yo woman. Lots to dwell on. And unless I get back to work in the next few weeks, my house is at risk. Humor helps you know. Its about the only thing that does right now.
Don't get all preachy unless you know the facts.
Re: S.A.D. and artificial light - katkramer - 11-25-2008
I've stumbled across something else that's interesting...
I don't tolerate fluorescent lights very well, and have problems with repetitive noises and certain smells.
I found information on the web about something called "Sensory Processing Disorder." Google that. It says something about people processing certain stimuli differently than "normal" people. There's a book called "Too loud, too bright, too fast, too bright." It says something about "carefully orchestrating your environment to avoid irritation."
My neighbor's dog drives me crazy, and the smell of Starbucks coffee makes me seriously ill.
Check it out...
Re: S.A.D. and artificial light - Speedy - 11-25-2008
I used to get SAD (Minnesota.) I find that ice fishing outside instead of in a fish house took care of it. Now if I can only find a good way to keep from getting frostbitten.
Re: S.A.D. and artificial light - Racer X - 11-25-2008
sounds like a job for hookers and booze! or hookers with booze, and you being the hooker, seeing as you are fishing and all ;-)
SAD does exist. of that i have no doubt. i know several people who suffer from it every winter here in Seattle. here, it can be a 6 month season with all the cloud cover we get, even when it isn't raining. We don't tan, we rust.
Re: S.A.D. and artificial light - kanesa - 11-25-2008
Thanks for all your responses. I went to bed after posting. I was looking for some anecdotal stories about light boxes, whether they helped during long these long winter nights. It appears these light boxes cost about $100 or more and I wanted to know if they helped anyone before spending that kind of money.
karsen, don't worry, it does sound like a made up condition that George Carlin would have a field day with. I wish I could go snow boarding but with 2 artificial hips that would be hard. Then again, I hate the cold and try not to stay outside too long. I should live in Florida.
I am just looking for a way to better my mood this winter.
Blurb wrote:
Take a vitamin D supplement every day during the winter and that may help as well. Even though they've done studies to prove the existence of SAD and that it does indeed respond to light exposure, there's alot of thought that the real culprit is deficiency of vitamin D, since sunlight exposure to the skin causes us to produce vitamin D. Obviously, especially in the northern climes, people don't get much sunlight to skin time, and in some areas may go weeks or months without significant sun exposure at all. Unfortunately they've only recently started to do studies to prove/disprove the vitamin D link.
So, here's the winter PSA: Everyone needs at least 800 units of it a day, and many of us are not getting that.
I am a huge advocate of Vit D and already take 4000 units a day since my levels run on the low side of normal. I am trying to prevent breast cancer and the cardiologist said it helps with blood pressure. (God, I sound like an old person with numerous ailments.) Here's a great site about D
http://vitamindcouncil.org/
Racer X I hope your health improves soon. Sorry to hear of your troubles.
Re: S.A.D. and artificial light - OWC Jamie - 11-25-2008
I have several relatives in Seattle and they've all been found to be quite deficient of Vitamin D.
If you don't like the term S.A.D., stick to the ancient melancholy or cabin fever or winter blahs and many other Winter descriptors of the variable malady.
Some of us take more concern with what makes our friends tick rather than constantly aspire for a place to stick the wick.