Depression thread

[davy]

I'm interested in such things this year because L has recently expressed an interest in doing something to combat her SAD symptoms. But I don't really understand what the light is supposed to do, or how you're supposed to use it. The description on the Amazon page says it can enhance your mood in as little as 15 minutes a day. Does that mean you just turn it on and sit in front of it for 15 minutes. Maybe read a book while you wait? I guess I'm pretty skeptical about that having any significant effect on one's overall mood.

[Babar]

If a SAD light makes one happy, does a HAPPY light make one sad?

[coldforge]

davy, the idea is that certain hormones, like melatonin and seratonin, are controlled according exposure to light. So if the season changes and the subject is exposed to less sunlight, their hormone levels can become unbalanced; exposure to bright, full-spectrum light is supposed to realign and reregulate the production of all them mood chemicals.

[monkeypants]

I'm interested in such things this year because L has recently expressed an interest in doing something to combat her SAD symptoms. But I don't really understand what the light is supposed to do, or how you're supposed to use it. The description on the Amazon page says it can enhance your mood in as little as 15 minutes a day. Does that mean you just turn it on and sit in front of it for 15 minutes. Maybe read a book while you wait? I guess I'm pretty skeptical about that having any significant effect on one's overall mood.

I have a friend who uses one and as I understand it yes, that's pretty much it.  She told me she uses it first thing in the morning for half an hour or so while she sits at the computer, writes or whatever, and claims it helps. 

[Chet]

personally, i find that a illuminated portrait of babar greatly improves my mood, all year 'round.

[peacocks]

Yeah but ya'll should move to florida! Plenty of sun and cheap empty houses for everyone! No jobs though, sry.

seriously though that light is a great idea for people who suffer from that. If I ever move up north or to the pacnw I will probably buy one before loading up my car. I get sad if it is cloudy for more than 3 days. Hell, it was a bit dark outside the other day and I was all "my life is a darkroom" listening to bauhaus all day. How do you do it for months at a time?

[jebreject]

Em! I am really happy to hear that! Well, not the unable to sweat bits, but everything else!

[G.C.R]

Yeah, totally awesome, Em!

[clare]

Em, that's awesome news!

SAD lights are a good thing. I also get really down when I don't get enough sunlight. Fortunately, that's not usually a problem here.

[Mike24]

turns out that finding one of these things is excruciatingly difficult. i can't order it from amazon because i don't have a credit card. 

so i called philips and they gave me a list of retailers who supposedly stock it, but said retailers are like huge departments stores and wal-mart.i just spent half an hour explaining to switchboard operators what a "philips golite blu" is and "what it does", getting shuffled around to various salespeople all of whom have no idea what the fuck i'm asking for. the best one was when one of them heard the word "light" and immediately connected me to housewares.

[Chet]

ebay? (paypal)

[cold before sunrise]

w o w (how depressing).

[fishjim]

w o w (how depressing).

no doubt. and now the fuckers are attacking our keystone XL pipeline victory, too.

[cold before sunrise]

can't we make arrangements to pay off the hosts at fancy restaurants in nyc to find out when and where the presidents of these companies are eating, to send in a lynch mob so we can drag them into the streets and do terrible things? something like the 'days of lead,' in italy.

[Black Amnesia of Heaven]

whoa, is it the time of the season or did everything get shitty and magnified

cried in my kitchen for no discernible reason while microwaving pizza, keeping it real

[jebreject]

It's that time of the year

[Ashley]

oh god i had no idea i'd be talking about my dead father so much at this age

[jebreject]

 

[hannah]

Self-loathing up the wazoo, compounded by insomnia. Oh boy!

[jebreject]

Hannah, you are the fucking best, don't forget it.

[peacocks]

Hannah, you are the fucking best, don't forget it.

[Little Sixes Little Nines]

you really are.

i feel bad saying it, but this thread always seems to make me feel happier. just knowing all you amazing people have the same slumps as me. thanks so much guys 

[peacocks]

that's what it's here for right? 

[Bernard]

Hannah, you are the fucking best, don't forget it.

[G.C.R]

Agreed. Those pictures you've been posting on the FB are evidence you've been awesome for quite a long time now too. An awesome refined and improved upon by many years of hard work.