rachelk Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 Having spent most of the first three months of this year away from work with crippling depression, I'm dreading this winter already. The days are getting shorter and the weather hasn't been up to much, and in the last week I have felt dreadful - just no energy at all, and a horrible black feeling hanging over me. My husband forced me outside yesterday afternoon, and having spent most of today out in the sunshine I feel a bit brighter, though no its already dark (8.30pm) and raining again with a grim forecast, I can feel my mood slipping. Has anyone any experience of SAD lamps? Are they worth buying, and are the cheaper ones just as effective. Theres one on the Argos website which has very good reviews - please can anyone offer any advice, as I can't bear the thought of another episode of sadness and depression. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 I understand how you feel, I suffer from depression and although on medication am beginning to feel a bit panicky about the winter. I can't help with the lamp but I have started making lists of things to do when winter comes - jobs in the garden - pruning, edging and reseeding my lawn, planting lots of bulbs. I am also looking forward to getting some ex-batts nearer Christmas and my Mum and I are buying a sewing machine together. I know these things are not for everyone but can you think of things you have always wanted to try and maybe plan to do some of them ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 I don't suffer from SAD but I do use a Lumie alarm as I don't like to wake in the dark through winter months. I love it, it gently increases the light as in a full sunrise. I bought a cheaper one for my son and tested it first and it was nowhere near as good as the Lumie. I have this one - worth every penny...... http://www.lumie.com/shop/products/bodyclock-advanced-200 There are a lot of light boxes available as well - have a Google and see what reviews they have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 You are not alone!!!! I am bi-bolar and have been feeling really jittery over the past couple of weeks at the thought of the up coming winter. I control the ups much better than the lows and like you have had long lengths of time off work with depression. I have almost the same clock as Lesie http://www.lumie.com/shop/products/bodyclock-sunray-100 I generally start to use it as soon as Sept starts. it wakes me up, and then I sit on the side of the bed and have a good stare at the light for 10 mins before I start my day. It really helped me through the darkest days of last winter. Big hugs to you, my friends on the Omlet forum kept me smiling through the dark times, and my chooks made me go outside and do things last winter when nothing else would have. xxxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Wow, this is an interesting post. I remember last year feeling pretty hideous and wondering (eventually) if a SAD lamp would help, but got put off by the range of choice and costs. I can't really help on what to choose, but would be very interested to hear of other people's experiences ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrensWorld Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Thanks for the link Lesley, I rather fancy this one http://www.lumie.com/shop/products/factory-refurbished-bodyclock-elite-300 like the idea of waking up to the sound of waves....... The Black Dog has already started to bite. We've only had two days without rain this August, so September looks like it's going to be a lot more of the same.................. Though I'm for an Indian summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydia Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 I also don't suffer from SAD but do have a Lumie lamp and echo the sentiments here. I have this version. They are pricey but are worth it in my opinion especially on dark Monday mornings! Mine gives out a surprising amount of light and I particularly like the sunset setting which is great for getting me to sleep. I set that to 90 minutes. The sunrise is great for dark mornings and that is on the 30 minute setting at the moment although I will change that as the mornings become darker. I also like the way you can choose to have the alarm on or not and the 'weekend setting' where it doesn't come on. It also has a security setting to make the light go on and off over a fixed period which was useful when we were away. Customer service is good if you do encounter a problem too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 I have had a Lumie alarm clock and a lamp for the past two winters and think they are great. The alarm clock is a gentle wake up - it slowly gets brighter over a period of half an hour but I'm usually waking up after 15 mins or so, much nicer than an audible alarm and the sudden shock that comes with it. The Lumie lamp I have at work as I arrive there at 7am, still dark in the winter. It's on my desk and I switch it on when I arrive and leave it on for about an hour. I'm not a depressed person but I do get that horrible miserable feeling when it's a dark morning, having this on for that hour does lift my mood and I feel a lot more refreshed for the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Big hugs to everyone (especially Mostin )I think the lumie sounds a great idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 I have just ordered a Lumie bodyclock, it was not light this morning when I got up, and it has not been a great summer for a whole range of reasons (not least the weather in August). I definitely get the winter blues and anything that might help me to feel less like hibernating for 6 months has got to be a good thing. A friend of mine used to work in a room with no natural light and her employer bought her a lumie lightbox ans she rates them highly. I ordered it off there website and you get a 30 day trial and can return it if you don't get on with it, which I think is a really good idea. I will let you know how I get on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Slightly off topic, but I am a big fan of Winter and the long dark evenings, I have a couple of rituals to ease me into winter which I hope you don't mind me sharing. In October I always start to read 'The Hogfather' followed by the 'Wintersmith' trilogy by Terry Pratchett. I read a lot during winter and every Autumn I plan a new thing I want to learn about, this winter I'm going to read and discover about Scandinavian mythology. These things won't necessarily be your cup of tea but I think it might help to set up a positive plan to ease you through Winter. I write a little list which I always have in a pocket with me. As regards the weather I have a cosy Craghoppers coat with long sleeves and a deep hood, teamed up with DMs, the weather can do what it likes and you can get all that fresh air you need. Buy as many candles as you can, I burn candles all day long, especially at the kitchen window. I could write loads about why I like Winter but you'd get bored and think I was silly, so just try to see the positives and try not to dread it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 I think your ideas are great - I read a lot too and have lists I have pre-ordered 3 new hardacks from Amazon from authors I love - they will come Sept/Oct/Nov and are all big reads I have just registered for my ex-batts so have them to look forward to and need to start planning what I can make with the sewing machine. I am also going on Eurostar for my 50th with my mum, 2 aunts and 3 cousins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Another Lumie fan here, I have this one bought after advice from this Forum! I don't suffer SAD but I do find it hard to get up in the mornings and this helped immensely in the early spring. I got mine from Boots, and was able to use some of my loyalty points towards it. It makes waking up so much easier, I still have the radio alarm but I'm usually awake before it comes on. Just a thought - one of the reasons I sometimes struggle with mornings is because of an underactive thyroid, I take replacement thyroid hormone but when the prescription needs increasing I feel extremely tired, lacking in energy and I lose interest in things that I usually enjoy. Might be worth getting this checked if you haven't already excluded it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 Another Lumie fan here, I have this one bought after advice from this Forum! I don't suffer SAD but I do find it hard to get up in the mornings and this helped immensely in the early spring. I got mine from Boots, and was able to use some of my loyalty points towards it. It makes waking up so much easier, I still have the radio alarm but I'm usually awake before it comes on. Just a thought - one of the reasons I sometimes struggle with mornings is because of an underactive thyroid, I take replacement thyroid hormone but when the prescription needs increasing I feel extremely tired, lacking in energy and I lose interest in things that I usually enjoy. Might be worth getting this checked if you haven't already excluded it. Very interesting point Olly. My mum has underactive thyroid and they keep checking my TSH levels. They are high, so are obviously having to work hard to keep my thyroid going at normal levels, but still always just within the normal range . I really do like crisp winter days and bonfires and log fires and all of that...............i just wish someone would tell my body first thing on a morning . Big hugs to everyone (especially Mostin )I think the lumie sounds a great idea Thanks scarlett, big hugs back to you too..........you have had a hell of a year, but just keep thinking how strong you are now, and what a wonderful person you are Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 Well I ordered it yesterday and it arrived today. I got the radio alarm type one and it is all set up now. I am looking forward to giving it a test run tonight and hopefully it will make getting up easier as the mornings get darker!! I will let you all know how I get on. Also it is the Lumie sale at the moment and there are lots of reconditioned lights etc at reduced prices so well worth having a look at. I am making a cake at the mo to cheer up a blustery and grey afternoon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the bradley bunch Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 and my chooks made me go outside and do things last winter when nothing else would have. (mostin) i have the opposite dread of summer when my health problems where at their peak i for some reason developed a phobia of going outside during the summer. it's completely irrational and apparently is caused by the fact that i was very poorly over one summer so my brain has made the 'summer = bad association'. it's a very big part of the reason why we got the chooks, to try and coax me out into the garden! as with mostin i haven't been able to resist my chookies and now, although i still get some butterflies in my chest whilst actually thinking about going outside, once i'm out there and being given the run around by the girls all my anxiety dissapears! i hope you're lumie works for you rachel and chickenlickin for general anxiety, especially at night time, i'd recommend one of these: http://www.firebox.com/product/1323/Mood-Beams my friend bought me one to calm me when i was struggling in hospital and the 'heart beat' setting has a very effective calming effect as it pulsates between blue & purple colours...i don't know what i would have done without mine it's also got a timer function so it's especially good at helping get off to sleep good luck & hugs to all x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 Are you up yet??? - I hope it worked well for you. I didn't need mine at all this morning as I had another bad night with night terrors I had all the lights on from 4am and then got up at 5.30 as it was disturbing Carl's sleep I just need a clock that will help me get a decent nights sleep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 Good morning Chicken Licken How was the lamp? Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrensWorld Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 I've just ordered mine, can't wait for it to arrive....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the bradley bunch Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 Lesley - what causes your night terrors (if you don't mind me asking ) i've always had terrible nightmares since childhood but my worsening health and chronic pain has caused them to evolve into night terrors. i found the mood beam helps with getting back to sleep and not having another terror, although often like you described i just give in on sleep and get up. is there anything that helps you & your husband cope? i can't work because of my health but my husband is now also on the verge of giving up his job because of the 'shared' sleep deprivation and stress of my illness. he can't sleep in a different room because i need him with me during the night for various medical reasons, so it's such a difficult situation to be in how does the clock help with the night terrors? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 I used the sunset setting as I went to sleep and then woke to the sunrise this morning at 6am. It felt really good to go to sleep to and I slept through the night. I will try again tonight, but good so far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachelk Posted August 25, 2010 Author Share Posted August 25, 2010 Spoke to my GP today, who said there is a lot of medical evidence that these lights work. My husband has just bought me one, it might be here on Friday so here's hoping........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 I've been promising myself one of these for a couple of years now, but this year I am definitely going to indulge. I don't suffer from SAD although I can be a bit winter blues-ish at times. I got particularly low on a few occasions last winter when the garden was like a quagmire and cleaning the girls out meant standing in the pouring rain with the wind blowing wood shavings into my eyes. Clearly I don't expect the lamp to work magic with the weather (although if they could invent one that does, that would be great) but I don't find it at all easy to get up in the mornings and if the lamp could help me start the day in the right frame of mind, it would make a huge difference. For those of you who use the sunset function, how does it work if your OH goes to bed later than you? Hubby often comes to bed an hour or so after me and I find it difficult to get to sleep if he's not there, simply because I can hear him moving around in the house and I know I will get woken up when he comes up to bed. Do you think it would help me sleep sufficiently well to not get properly woken up when he comes up to bed (and starts stamping round like an elephant)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 Lesley - what causes your night terrors (if you don't mind me asking ) i've always had terrible nightmares since childhood but my worsening health and chronic pain has caused them to evolve into night terrors. i found the mood beam helps with getting back to sleep and not having another terror, although often like you described i just give in on sleep and get up. is there anything that helps you & your husband cope? i can't work because of my health but my husband is now also on the verge of giving up his job because of the 'shared' sleep deprivation and stress of my illness. he can't sleep in a different room because i need him with me during the night for various medical reasons, so it's such a difficult situation to be in how does the clock help with the night terrors? Wow! - I'm not alone........I'll PM you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
