Seasonal Affective Disorder


I have been trying out something new to see if it can help me break free of the winter doldrums that I seem to be suffering from.  All I want to do is sleep and over eat. I lack the enthusiasm that I normally have for things that I love. I don’t want to go out and be social. I am craving food I don’t normally eat – in larger quantities. And hard to admit, but I have gained some weight. Last week, I went and saw my general doctor and mentioned it to him and was surprised when he told me that I said the same thing last February. He also said that he sees a lot of patients with the same issue during this time in February — It’s dark outside, lack of sunshine. Winter in Northern Virginia.

Sunshine_81424585I decided to try some light box therapy. Lightphoria Sad Light Therapy helps alleviate symptoms associated with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), jetlag, shift work fatigue, insomnia, seasonal change and more.

According to the Mayo Clinic:

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that generally occurs each year during fall and winter. A light therapy box is a proven seasonal affective disorder treatment. Light box therapy may be effective on its own. Or, light therapy may be most effective when it’s combined with another seasonal affective disorder treatment such as an antidepressant medication or psychological counseling (psychotherapy). Light therapy boxes for seasonal affective disorder treatment are also known as light boxes, bright light therapy boxes and phototherapy boxes.

Even the NYT has written about light boxes: A Portable Glow to Help Melt Those Winter Blues

It’s only been a few days, so hard to tell if it’s working well but I will keep you all posted with my progress.  Anyone else out there trying Light Therapy out or have had experience? Would love to hear about it…

warmup
mobility
800m jog

skill
wall balls

WOD
4 Rounds

  • 5 Deadlifts 125#
  • 10 KTE
  • rest 1 min

6 Rounds

  • 10 Deadlifts
  • 10 Wall Balls 14#

time: 13:20

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