I suspect I suffered from it mildly when I lived in the Midwest. I moved to the Southwest and no problems.

May I ask where you got it and approximately what it cost?

I've often thought that I would benefit from one during the darkest shortest days of the winter. I looked around a bit on line and they look quite expensive.

Sue

I've heard that going to a tanning bed once or twice a week in the winter will help SAD.

I suspect I have it. I am so happy Spring and longer days are here. I tend to hibernate and feel down in Winter. Must've been a bear in a past life.

I hate winter, I hate driving in ice and snow, I even hate the dark. I love the springtime, especially when I wake up and the sun is up and I hear birds outside. I think I have SAD.

Chemocurl, I looked online and found one for $125. Most of the ones I saw online were $200+.

Yikes, Linda! Kinda pricey, but I'm pretty sure I had SAD every February when I lived in Indiana. Tired of everything outside being white, gray and brown. They didn't have a name for it then, nor did they have light boxes. I sure could have used one.

I have it. The lights are a little expensive but worth it to feel good. Vique

I['m sure I have it. Gray days for months on end cause fungus of the soul, and that's one of the primary reasons I moved from Oregon to North Carolina. Of course the primary reason is meeting DH out here and moving to be with him.

When we have cloudy/rainy/foggy days (rarely) I tend to keep the curtains closed and find a book to read. When the sun is shining, I can go out and walk around the yard and instantly feel so much better. The longer I stay out the better I feel..within limits, if it's 32 degrees out there!

Yes, Vique it is worth the price to feel good.

I grew up in Oregon too, but only realized how much the crummy weather affects me when I moved to California. Even though it is politically incorrect to say, let the sun shine every day!!

I'm warped, I know it, but I like foggy days, even some cloudy days. I like the change of seasons. I turn on a light during the winter and all is fine. When it's light real late can throw me off when I need to get up early. Hard to get to sleep when the sun's out.

My sister has S.A.D. When they lived in northern MN she got very depressed in the winter, so she had lights also. They live in Washington (st) now, and I am not sure if she still uses it or not.

Cynic...I am with you. I have always gotten terrible headaches from too much sun. I love cloudy days! I guess that we actually have a 'condition' also! LOL Someone told that there is some movie star that is the same way, and they said what the name of the 'condition' was....can't remember or find it now.

May I post the other side of the coin? Having lived on both sides of the country, So.Cal and upstate NY, I much prefer NY. In So. Cal, the winter daylight is about the same number of hours, and there are a lot of gloomy days. However, there is usually no letup in watering and yard care in the winters, which are more often than not excessively dry. So, that means watering every single day and sometimes twice a day during Santa Anas and most of the winter. During bad weather in NY, I can get out my crocheting and have at it :-), or make chili and soup, or whatever lousy weather activities come to mind and not give a thought to anything more than snowblowing the driveway once in awhile.

Living with changing seasons is a bonus. Paying the heating bill is painful.........but I wouldn't trade either for California weather (or traffic) ever again.

So what site did you find yours? Eric and I have a horrible time in Jan and Fed. WAY LESS sun in WV than in GA!

I found mine at www.catalogclearance.com. Mine was on sale for $129.99, it had been $199.99.

Here is a link that might be useful: light boxes

Can anyone truly say it's Christmas without seeing a snowfall in the streetlights with some Christmas lights in the background? What a calming effect, so peaceful. Really puts your troubles aside. And a walk in dense fog is fun! And great for when you're stuffed up from not having enough humidity inside.

sandy_in_ia & wantoretire_did, does rain on the rooftop help you sleep well too? Sure helps me. C'mon over, I'll get out a deck of cards, the Monopoly game or something and we'll enjoy the weather. Guess I never thought of it as a "disorder". Now I can complain like so many others! Sorry boss, I can't work today, it's foggy. Don't make me file an ADA complaint!

I like different weather, except hot days with high dewpoints. Can't handle that. Rather have it 0° and put on a jacket. At least you can do something.... and breathe.

So what's the difference with these special lights? Are they just daylight temperature? If so, why not just use daylight bulbs? Or is is UV rays or something? I don't understand what these lights are supposed to do. To some, low light is romantic, and to others depressing. Unless the romance is depressing? :)

I was diagnosed in 1984. Have tried thousands of dollars in meds and my husband, at great expense, replaced all the ceiling light fixtures in our house to install those special lights. I couldn't tell a darn bit of difference.

Cynic, I'm pretty sure it wasn't snowing in Bethlehem...

I didn't grow up with snow and I hate it when it snows here. It's pretty to look at for a day but after that, I've had enough.