I’ve been firmly in the clutches of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) since mid-December. It’s been dark here about 18 hours a day. I go to work in the dark, I come home in the dark. Even when it’s light, it’s often a dark light that makes me feel like I’m living in von Trier’s Melancholia world. And it rains or drizzles a lot.
This is a frustrating condition because I’m completely content with my life. I’m not depressed, I just feel “off” and I’m not able to enjoy things as much as I’d like and my creativity has all but dried up. At least depression sometimes leads to great creativity, but SAD has lead to nothing but wasted time.
It gives me insomnia, which means I’m exhaused, so I drink too much coffee to make it through the day, and then I can’t sleep, and the cycle never stops. Once I’m asleep, I’d gladly sleep all day, but I won’t because I will not surrender to this.
I’ve tried as much as possible to live my life as I would if I wasn’t having this issue, but it’s a haze that I haven’t been able to completely escape. I’ve started light therapy and it seems to be helping. The past few days have almost felt “normal,” which is a huge relief.
Anyway, that’s where I’ve been all this time. Off, sitting in front of a lightbox in the happiest country in the world :)
But good things are coming… I’m going to Copenhagen on Saturday, I’ll be guest blogging at Unplugged Sunday in few weeks, and winter’s darkest days are behind us for now.
I’ll be back soon :)
Fran says
Happy New Year to you. My dad got over SAD by taking a high dose of Vit D and treating himself to a couple of sunbed sessions. We are half way through winter and the lights are getting lighter now, so chin up xxxx
Heidi says
What light do you use? do you find that it helps? My husband has looked at them online several times but is a bit nervous about spending $300 on…a light (though a potentially helpful one) I keep telling myself that the days are in fact, getting longer. Hope you’re feeling better soon
Anonymous says
Hang in there. Light therapy is the only thing that gets me through the winter!
smilingsurfer says
Good to hear that the light therapy is helping you!
Take care :)
Angela says
Ugh, that sounds awful. I live in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon) and struggle with the amount of light that we have this time of the year… can’t imagine 18 hours of darkness though. I would have a very serious case of SAD!
I am glad that you are spending time in front of some light. Hopefully you’ll notice more positive effects soon.
Wishing you the best!!!