SAD (seasonal affective disorder) in rainy/cloudy part of Oregon (Portland: environment, work)

[ziera]

We are moving to Salem area some time next year. I suffer from SAD and I wonder what other people with this disorder do for treatment in Oregon?

I read other threads with suggestions of light boxes, however, artificial light stimulates me so I have trouble getting to sleep at night. I already take medication.

Can anyone please advice what an effective treatment would be?

What about color therapy has anyone tried that, if yes, does it work?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Larry Caldwell]

Do your light treatments when you get up in the morning. They work better then anyway.

[ziera]

Thanks for your response.

About the light box, been there done that.

When I lived in Idaho I tried to use the light box for 10-15 minutes in the mornings (starting out slowly), but somehow the artificial light kept me awake at bed time.

[ziera]

And of course I NEVER used the lightbox after 8 AM.

[ziera]

GEEZ thought I'd get more response on this thread
perhaps there isn't that much SAD in Oregon after all.

[mdvaden]

Buy a house and have plenty of solar tubes installed through the roof.

[Larry Caldwell]

Originally Posted by ziera

GEEZ thought I'd get more response on this thread
perhaps there isn't that much SAD in Oregon after all.

If you suffer from SAD, the only choices you have are light treatments or drugs. You don't like light treatments, and are already on the drugs, so there isn't much to say.

[ziera]

What about color therapy?

Has anyone tried that?

[janb]

Originally Posted by ziera

GEEZ thought I'd get more response on this thread
perhaps there isn't that much SAD in Oregon after all.

There is an exhaustive similar thread in the WA forum.

As LC said true SAD folks that are not successful with the common treatments have their work cut out for them.

Try to mitigate BEFORE the crisis; Be active, eat well, drink gallons of water, get outdoors (A LOT), have a well lighted and ventilated home. Don't cocoon, walk a lot, have interests you can (and must) share with others. Take frequent 'eastside' trips for attitude adjustments. basically, don't let the moss grow under your feet. Get by with minimal but intense and regular sleep, and keep a regular and disciplined schedule.

[PortlandNative]

I wonder if SAD is less common in people that are born into gloomy (e.g. Westside Oregon) environments? I was born and raised in Portland and I always find it funny that a cloudy day sometimes gets me pumped up. It reminds me of when I was a teenager and going over to friends' houses to goof around, play Nintendo, football in the backyard, etc.

Boy, it sounds weird to say that I see clouds and get pumped up from fond memories of walking in misty rain down Garden Home road to go buy candy at the grocery store.

Not that I'm against sun at all......