Happy Lamp: Viable Option? (Seattle: buy, live in, vacations)

[Hamza]

My partner is a bit sun-addicted and, while NYC hasn't had much sunshine this year, it usually has more than Seattle. She tends to get cranky or a little blue when she's denied sun for a long period of time. Seriously.

One way we were thinking to combat this is to purchase a sun lamp, called a "happy lamp" where we come from. I reasoned she could sit under it and do some daily reading. Is this a viable option? What other ways do you Seattle folk get sunshine? Is there somewhere particular you go...? Any advice would be appreciated.

[CityGirl72]

I have a happy lamp for the first time since I moved here. I really like it - it's on all day at my work desk. I do have S.A.D.

I also increased my Vitamin D intake, I started taking 5-htp, and every now and again go to the tanning both for UV rays. It's been a hard transition for me to here, and I'm from Calif.

[CityGirl72]

Light Therapy Products and Full Spectrum Lighting by Verilux

[mayfair]

I have a SAD lamp, too. They help some people- its individual if you respond to it or not. Vit D supplements helped me the most. My friends go to Hawaii every winter.

[Yeledaf]

Buy full spectrum light bulbs and put them in your regular lamps.

Same effect.

[allforcats]

Many people here use S.A.D. lamps on their desks at work. Just Google SAD lamps Seattle and you'll find plenty of resources. Or use the C-D Search as we have discussed this recently.

[509]

Originally Posted by allforcats

Many people here use S.A.D. lamps on their desks at work. Just Google SAD lamps Seattle and you'll find plenty of resources. Or use the C-D Search as we have discussed this recently.

It is just as bad east of the Cascades from December until March.

Change your thinking....there is no reason to take a vacation in the summer if you live in eastern Washington....weather is perfect. Western Washington is more difficult but you can easily drive to eastern Washington.

Take your vacations in the winter and head to Hawaii, Mexico, New Zealand, Chile, Australia, or anywhere in the tropics.

Prior to our retirement we would take all our vacation time in winter and head south. By the time we returned sun and spring was just around the corner. It made those gray skies of December, January, and February bearable.

[vnodak]

I did not find that happy lamps work for me. I do take vit d and I recommend that everyone does as most who live here are deficient. Definately fun in the sun during the winter is a must. We use to take two weeks in Nov and two weeks in Feb. Unfortunately, we can not afford to do so anymore. What ever you do---make sure your residence is not dark so you can take advantage of any light that is present. I wish you luck as when we retire we are out of here and probably to Colorado where the sun shines 300 days of the year.

[cyenne1]

I currently live in Denver and am quite worried about this. Sounds like vitamin D, trips back to Denver to ski and the tropics are the way to go. Will look at the SAD lamp thing?