Comments on: When darkness falls

By: omegamom

omegamom — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 05:41:34 +0000

Ceedee–I looked at LLBean’s things, and couldn’t find the “coldness rating”? LandsEnd has them. I have definitely thought of the lightbox thing, or at least getting full-spectrum bulbs.

SBird–I grew up in Chicago, so you’d think I’d be subliminally used to cold, gray and drizzly.

Sara–I know exactly what you mean about feeling the pressure on pretty days–Saturday was nice, and I kept feeling like I should be out-and-about-and-doing-things. You’re right about getting used to it, it will just take a few years, that’s all!

Kate–I saw your post about indoor flowering plants and thought, “Man! She read my mind and is giving me good advice from afar!” How’s Heather taking it? Did she live near you? It’s really quite a difference!

Mamasan–A light box is a bank of full-spectrum lights, supposedly quite good for seasonal affective disorder (e.g., winter doldrums)…

By: GrannyJ

GrannyJ — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 18:53:53 +0000

So what is a “light box”??? Any relation to an orgone box (from days past in the shrink biz?)

By: Kate

Kate — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 03:37:55 +0000

Hmmm… sorry to hear this. My friend Heather moved to Alaska within days of you and we just had a virtual happy hour (we each bought a bottle of wine and gabbed on the phone for a couple hours.) The short days and gloomy weather is getting to her, too. Here’s a thought, keep in mind this is from a garden-aholic. You’re in control of the weather INSIDE your house. Order some Plumeria from Hawaii. Draw the blinds and pretend. I do this quite often. It works!

By: sara

sara — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 22:00:30 +0000

Definitely get yourself a lightbox…I think you can get a decent one for around $150, but it is money well spent if it keeps you sane during the long winter ahead. I am guessing that eventually you will get used to the weather and not need the light therapy. I have many friends who use them (we live in northern NY) and swear by them.

I hope it gets easier for you. I wake up here on sunny days sometimes and feel so much pressure to go out and have a fabulous day that I actually have come to love the slightly dreary days because I can just relax and do what I need to do. Funny how the climate dictates so much of our psyche, isn’t it?

By: SBird

SBird — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 20:04:16 +0000

I too think that Arizona has ruined me for most of the states north of here. The fact that I lived in Michigan, where it was gray 10 months of the year, is amazing to me now.

By: ceedee

ceedee — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 02:41:31 +0000

Sorry to hear about the shock to your system that Alaska autumn has dealt you! Before you order Dotter’s stuff from Land’s End, you might also check out L.L. Bean; they rate their jackets for coldness ranges. I usually like Bean’s outwear better; this year I’m going to have to get my DD a new parka/winter coat to replace the 2T that she has worn for the past two winters (I always buy a little big).

For you, have you considered light box therapy? I have no recommendations for boxes, but having lived in Pittsburgh for several years (where the number of cloudy days rivals Seattle’s and Portland’s), I once considered getting one.