SAD...oh so SAD...

[Waxing_Gibbous]

For those of you unfamiliar with Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) its also known as the 'winter blues' or 'rain funk'.
It's pretty common in Northern Europe, Canada, the US (esp. Alaska) and Russia.
Basically, those with SAD get thoroughly depressed when the weather is crap .
Like me.
So, on top of the clinical depression I was diagnosed with a couple of yeears back (now under control - thanks, Lexapro!), I had to contend with 6-9 months of being 'down in the dumps' just 'cuz of a few clouds.
There is no real psychopharmacological treatment for SAD, but last week me missus tried a new tack.
Un-beknownst to me she installed "Daylight Spectrum" bulbs in our light fixtures.
They work a treat!!!
For the last week, I've been feeling as chirpy as very chirpy thing indeed.
No one's entirely sure how or why this works, but it does.
So if you're in a bit of a 'rain funk', pop down to your local hardware store and pick up some of these bulbs. They're a tad more expensive ($7.95 @, here), but they definately seem to do the job. :D

[leon]

Peter, not that I have any problem with the dull and cold weather other than that it is a pain in the arse at times, I can relate to what you are saying, and have heard of this condition before.
It can even relate to night shift workers who rarely see the Sun, hey and if those light bulbs work, why not even if the cost a bit.

Leon

[jjjnettie]

:D I'm glad they worked for you Peter.
Sure beats having to pop pills to combat the condition.

[pgc hunter]

I think I have it to some extent aswell. If it's Melbourncast outside, or drizzle etc, I feel deflated and just not as motivated as when its sunny. On cold cloudy mornings I'll sleep till 10 or 11, if it's a warm sunny morning I'm up with the sun. Seeing a cold and cloudy forecast during the warmer months angers me aswell. Wintry weather has no place in summer, but here it's more common than galaxies in the Virgo Cluster. To me, our famous overcast days are analogous to a bleached nuclear winter - there is nothing fun or exciting about a monochrome world.

[Stardrifter_WA]

Here a suggestion Hunter, move to sunnier climes :D If only we could all do that, hey? :)

[Gem]

Ironically the condition is usually associated with winter since the days are short and it gets dark quick.... which are the BEST days for me!!! Give me observing at 6pm over daylight savings anytime!!! :)

[traveller]

All the best Peter. There is evidence supporting sunlight and other intense light as sources to increase the amount of dopamine and serotonine in the brain, and they are the "feel good" chemicals.
When I was in Europe in January a few years ago, I saw people literally stopping in the street and orientating themselves to to the sun in midday.
Bo

[adman]

I had this the first winter I was in the UK. Around the same time my brother came to visit me and he had just been travelling through scandinavia where the suicide rate triples in the winter time, and one of the frontline treatments for depression is to go lie under a sun lamp. After hearing this I went and had a sunbed at the gym (purely for medicinal purposes :P) and felt 100% better within a day or so - amazing!