I Love the sun!! I'm not one of those crazy people who worship the sun or anything. In the summer I get a nice tan, but nothing crazy.

I live in Pittsburgh, and here we have 4 lovely season. Steaming hot summers, freezing cold winters, and beautiful springs and falls. I LOVE all of these seasons, even the sometimes crazy "snowed in" winters!!

BUT what I don't love is how I feel in the winter. Without a daily dose of sunshine I have ZERO energy, and all I want to do is sleep. I'm miserable. My skin gets all dry and really messed up. I'ts like I NEED the sun to be happy.

About 10 years ago I was diagnosed with 'seasonal depression', and was put on Efexor. I only took it for a year or so and discontinued. I didn't like how it made me feel either. I've tried tanning in the winter. It helps with the skin, but not with the depression. I haven't tried the special light bulbs you can buy that simulate the sun. Anyone here have any experience with them, how'd they work?

I wonder what it's like for people who live where it's always cold? Are they generally less happy than people who get sun? I guess If they were like me, they would never know. I have lived here my whole life. I don't think I would like living where it's always hot though... I love winter, and white christmas, and hot chocolate, and hoodies!!

Ugh

Anybody relate? Any advise??
Thanks ATS

I'm the same way. I live in western New York and I can already feel the lethargy beginning. It's horrible! I can barely get anything done now.

I refuse to go on medication...I believe I can just train myself. With hope, I'll get one of those lights. If not, then I guess I'm going to force myself to go out and get sun, even when it's 10 ° out...hehe.

When I lived in northern NY I had a "sun lamp." I found that it did help a little with depression that worsens in winter but I have other mental issues too so I might not be the best person to go by.

When I got it, I had a pretty good insurance but at that time they didn't pay for it so a family member got it for me. Personally, although it helped a little, I always felt guilty that they bought it because it really wasn't a huge difference.

Funny how it works, you're all getting cold and feeling the winter blues, and for the last few days, as it's been getting warmer here and the sun is saying howdy a little earlier each day, I'm feeling the opposite.

nothing massive, but definitely a change in mood.

I feel better in warmer weather but I hate the heat. I guess it depends, a comfy chair in front of a fire place on a cold night still has its place in my memories.. But it feels like get out and go for a walk, time..



being on the other side of the planet as you, opposite seasons and all..

If you're seriously planning to avoid the sun, at least take some Vitamin D supplements.

...Vampire.