Light
Posted: January 11, 2013 Filed under: All's Well That Ends Well 11 CommentsI was talking to Jarom recently about how “meh” I’ve been feeling. The meh-ness has been here a lot longer than usual, and in the midst of our conversation I realized that I feel this way whenever the weather is overcast and grey for a prolonged period of time.
Jarom suggested, as others have, that I get a light therapy box. Or whatever they’re called. Of course, I did nothing about it except agree that it was a good idea.
Until yesterday!
I finally ordered a light box on Amazon and, why not, paid an extra $4 so I could get it today. It started snowing around 5pm yesterday and has only stopped once or twice, so hopefully this is a good chance to test the new gadget.
Have you ever tried anything like this? Or do you get through the winter with no problems? I’m jealous!
Jarom
Mika
hilleries 
Remember when Ammon Hepworth came to school in Utah and totally got seasonal affective disorder? He totally complained all the time about not seeing the sun enough. I’d be interested to see if the light box helps :) Plus, you need to feel better and we need to hang out sometime soon!
I don’t remember that about Ammon! I was probably just preoccupied with my own dramatic life. I’ve been trying to get the house clean(er) so you guys can come have dinner with us!
Totally happens to me too. Ah, Portland in the winter. I think my vitamin d supplements helps, but just a little. Let me know how light box works!
Do you take vitamin D daily? I have a multivitamin but I rarely look to see what’s in it.
I think if I lived anywhere but Santa Barbara, this would be a problem. If the light box doesn’t work, my solution is to come visit Santa Barbara.
Your suggestion has been duly noted :)
I agree, Florida is lovely. You should both come visit. It’s going to be 75 today.
I don’t know that I’ve ever heard of a light box. I’ve lived in Utah my whole life though, so I guess the weather is typical of the past 25 years. Can’t say that I ever really felt that it affected me. Having someone sick at home usually makes me feel depressed though.
I wonder if it would make a difference whether you grew up in an area with snowy, overcast winters. I don’t remember having this problem before I came out to Utah for college, and always did worse in school during winter semester. I thought it was just lack of motivation, but I’ve wondered since then. Anyway, where I grew up, the winter was rainy but very, very green.
No matter how much I consciously like grey and rainy weather in fall and winter, overcast and shorter days really worsen my depression. I’ve tried full spectrum lights in the past but it’s been long enough that I don’t really remember if it worked. I hope your light helps you beat the “mehs.”
I guess I’m going to have to keep using the light for a while to see if it really helps! But I sure hope it does. Otherwise the kids and I will have to take a vacation somewhere warmer :)