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No blogging today...

Submitted by Rick on Sun, 01/29/2006 - 4:10pm.

...due to weather induced depression.

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I hear ya. It's a good day to

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Sun, 01/29/2006 - 7:48pm.

I hear ya. It's a good day to stay inside and catch up on whatever. Not that you have to be able to get outside to blog.

Get well soon, Rick.

From here, FYI:(Seasonal Af

Submitted by emmettoconnell on Sun, 01/29/2006 - 8:02pm.

From here, FYI:

(Seasonal Affective Disorder) Treatments

Phototherapy or bright light therapy has been shown to suppress the brain’s secretion of melatonin. Although, there have been no research findings to definitely link this therapy with an antidepressant effect, many people respond to this treatment. The device most often used today is a bank of white fluorescent lights on a metal reflector and shield with a plastic screen. For mild symptoms, spending time outdoors during the day or arranging homes and workplaces to receive more sunlight may be helpful. One study found that an hour’s walk in winter sunlight was as effective as two and a half hours under bright artificial light.

If phototherapy doesn’t work, an antidepressant drug may prove effective in reducing or eliminating SAD symptoms, but there may be unwanted side effects to consider. Discuss your symptoms thoroughly with your family doctor and/or mental health professional.

Hope you feel better

Please be especially wary of

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Sun, 01/29/2006 - 9:45pm.

Please be especially wary of those anti-depressant drugs. Many of them aren't safe. I have some personal experience to back up my claim.

What works for me (I am a self-diagnosed SAD sufferer) is to make sure to get up early, so that I get every bit of day light possible. I don't necessarily need to be outside for all of it, but it definitely helps to get outside for an hour or two everyday.

Advice: Along with some of those fancy light bubls, get some serious rain gear so that you can get outside even when winter weather is at its worst. Aside from that, eat well, and be social.

What Rob and Emmett said, yea

Submitted by Sarah on Sun, 01/29/2006 - 8:05pm.

What Rob and Emmett said, yeah. Ditto. I second their motions.

Thanks for the tips, guys. Ch

Submitted by Rick on Mon, 01/30/2006 - 8:32am.

Thanks for the tips, guys. Chocolate is the only anti-depressant I'm using right now -- and exercise. I just don't understand how so much water can come out of the sky. Is this what we have to look forward to in the NW with global warming?

Chocolate can cure so much!

Submitted by Sarah on Mon, 01/30/2006 - 8:50am.

Chocolate can cure so much!

My NW weather instincts are all confused this winter. Somehow this keeps feeling almost like spring. Temps are warmer and this type of rain seems like early spring storms somehow. But it is not stopping.

The ferocity of the rain has

Submitted by emmettoconnell on Mon, 01/30/2006 - 10:08am.

The ferocity of the rain has surprised me a bit this year, but this isn't untypical in terms of rainy days. I like the rain, keeps my in a contemplative and warm mood. Makes me want to play jazz records, even (I'm almost afraid to admit it) one Boston Pops CD of Count Basie songs.

I'm enjoying the rain too. I

Submitted by Sarah on Mon, 01/30/2006 - 11:25am.

I'm enjoying the rain too. I can commiserate with folks who are not enjoying the rain, but I'm not very convincing, I go into too much detail about the beautiful light and the sound of rain......and my voice is much too enthusiastic.

After days and days of rain d

Submitted by Rob Richards on Mon, 01/30/2006 - 10:38am.

After days and days of rain during the winter, we then get a spring where we don't know what's going to happen. I've read that unpredictable, sporadic weather has the opposite affect that SAD has. After every dark night there's a brighter day.

Some folks even find that the

Submitted by Sarah on Mon, 01/30/2006 - 11:29am.

Some folks even find that they are almost manic when spring pops. And some people react badly to bright hot summers, they do best if they hang out say at a tree shaded lake during the worst of it.

I read up on SAD awhile ago and was surprised to find that there are several varieties.

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