Maine's Own Off-Topic Thread -- Pt.2 (condo, live in, kitchen)

[Maine Writer]

Originally Posted by maine4.us

A main symptom of SAD (seasonal affective disorder) is headache. Sounds like your body is telling you to get from behind the desk, and go get some exercise and sunlight if available. Even a cloudy day will get your body some sunlight. Just a thought.

You're right. Exercise, sunlight and 800 mgs of vitamin D for a couple of days made a big difference. I feel good again.

[McMar]

I've suffered from SAD several winters. Even though winters are fairly mild where I live, the skies are still gray most days. When I was working in an office, it was dark when I got to work, and dark when I left. That was the worst. Has anyone tried one of those SAD lights?

[elston]

I once worked an hours commute from home (in NH) my office was in a basement so only flourescent lights. In the shortest days of winter, with my commute and work schedule, sometimes a week would go by in which I never saw the sunlight, unless I managed to get outside during my lunch break. I only could stand it one winter....I got a job closer and with lots of sunlight possibilities.

My son in Maine told me he is going thru his annual SAD's period about now. He tries to fend it off with increased exercise and outdoor time. I don't think he has tried the lights.

[BacktoNE]

Molly, my sympathies to you and your family.

[BacktoNE]

RE: SAD. I never experienced it in Maine, although I worked with a couple of people who would get it really badly right about now. Having lived in WI for two consecutive Winters, I now know exactly how they feel. If we get 2 sunny days a month out here between October and April, we're lucky. I don't even refer to it as Winter, I refer to it as the season of the Gray Gloomies.

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by maine4.us

A main symptom of SAD (seasonal affective disorder) is headache. Sounds like your body is telling you to get from behind the desk, and go get some exercise and sunlight if available. Even a cloudy day will get your body some sunlight. Just a thought.

hmm.

I had never heard of SAD before.

There must be more to it then just sunlight, vitamin D and exercise though.

Living underwater we don't get any sunlight, the Navy refuses to allow vitamin supplements and exercise is mostly limited to jogging in-place, sit-ups and push-ups.

We do shorten our days down to eighteen hours though. After long testing researchers found that an eighteen hour day is far more natural to humans than a twenty-four hour day is. Maybe the shorter days help to ward off SAD?

Which would account for not seeing SAD underwater.

[AlisonL]

I suffer with SAD. I found by replacing all of our light bulbs with the full spectrum bulbs is a huge help. I didn't even know I had it until I started tanning and then stopped going. Its very common in northern areas.

[Elcarim]

I've heard of SAD but have no idea what the symptoms are. Can you describe it for us?

I'm SAD all the time in the Texas sun and heat that keeps me from being able to venture outdoors most of the year!

[McMar]

Originally Posted by Elcarim

I've heard of SAD but have no idea what the symptoms are. Can you describe it for us?

I'm SAD all the time in the Texas sun and heat that keeps me from being able to venture outdoors most of the year!

My symptoms included depression, lack of energy or drive, extreme lethargy (just wanted to go home from work each night, put on PJ's and shut down for the night - zone out to TV or go to bed). Some people suffer far worse symptoms than I did.

[bignhfamily]

Though I've heard (in recent years) about SAD, I've never experienced or even know anybody that has. I wonder if this phenomenon is experienced primarily by folks with inside office type jobs. I am outdoors all year long and I have a couple of kids and their friends who are going to be SAD when I call them in for dinner here in a minute.