Reddit mentions: The best alternative medicine products

My favorite one of the 4 I've tried over the years, by far, has been the Day-light Sky light. Pricey, but I like how it can tilt over my head while I'm at my desk at work, it definitely tricks my brain into waking up. I usually flip it on the super bright setting for 30 minutes to an hour, then turn it off for a bit, then I'll use it for the next several hours on the slightly lower setting. Hot tea, good music, and that light makes winter afternoons nice.

My second favorite has been the Verilux HappyLight Liberty 10k, I bought this one at Bartell Drugs. I tried another variant or two of the Verliux, and I liked this one the best of those. For me, having the light shine from above eye level seems to work better for me, so I usually set mine up on a small shelf, though it works fine just sitting on the desk too. I sort of have the same regiment with this one, I'll use it on the super bright setting for a little while, maybe 30 minutes or so, then switch it down to the lower setting for the rest of the evening (though I try to turn it off a couple of hours before bed).

I tried the blue light, but I found that I preferred the more normal feeling lights. Honestly, I don't think its the spectrum that seems to make the biggest difference for me, its just having a really bright light to trick my head into going into awake mode.

In addition to the bright lights, forcing myself to get up and walk around the block can help fight the dreary feelings for me, or if its super nasty out walking around somewhere airy and busy, like Pacific Place (or similar indoor place), helps me feel more awake. Also, try to do some social things regularly if possible, even if you aren't feeling super social. I've found its easy for me to accidentally forego hanging out with people for a couple of weeks if its messy out, then realize I'm feeling more cabin fever than usual. Movies in the theatre can be fun in the winter too, as you are sort of transported by the big screen to some far off place while being warm and dry.

Those are my coping mechanisms. I love winters here in almost every way, the clean, crisp air, even the cool, damp, darkness is calming for me. Its just convincing my brain to feel awake that can be tough for me. If it really gets to me, I try to take a week or two and go somewhere sunny in February or so if possible (though I realize this isn't an easy option for everyone).

I have tried many things over the years, not even sure which ones were the best ! Looks like you are already doing the basics right, so something else is off. There is no one right answer for any person. Here are some other things you can and should try that helped me:

1. Order a cooling pillow pad that you can put on top of the pillow. I use it and it helps me fall asleep much faster. I ordered one from amazon. the brain needs to experience 2-3 degrees lower temperature than the rest of the body to doze off.
   
   
2. How is your state of mind even when awake ? Do you find it hard to be relaxed or calm ?
   Try meditating daily using www.calm.com. Try the 10 minute session. can you do it easily ? If not, that's an important signal right there - your mind is too anxious or has a hard time slowing down. Try learning to slow down at will with this website once or twice daily and this will greatly train your inner system to relax and go deeper at will. It's all about practice when you are awake.
   
   
3. Try calming or white noise generation machines - they play the sound of waterfalls, ocean waves, white noise and so on. They are really cheap but help engage the mind to slow it down and avoid it from getting side tracked.
   
   
4. What's your sleeping ritual ? Do you just try to sleep and get stuck in your thoughts ? Browse the phone ? Read a book ? All of these have dramatically different sleep induction effects. Reading a non-fiction book on kindle works amazingly well for me. If I take the phone with me, it keeps me awake for a couple of hours.
   
   
5. I know someone who had a high concentration of heavy metals in his body - that completely messed up his sleep. He had to go through a prolonged process to get those out in some hospital but it eventually helped. Not sure how you would get tested for that and its a less common thing. but trying some detox treatments anyway to get any junk can only help. Try wheatgrass pills or other detox stuff on amazon.
   
   
6. Have you gotten blood work done recently ? How are your vitamins/minerals ? If you are very short on D for example, that can totally interfere with melatonin production. another biggie is magnesium. Taking magnesium mixed with water promotes calmness - I have had great success with this, in feeling relaxed and sleeping in general. Specifically I have: http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Vitality-Magnesium-Calm/dp/B000GJOZWE. Sometimes treating simple imbalances like these can change things dramatically.
   
   
7. Yoga is another very versatile solution to issues like these. It promotes healthy hormonal activity and exercises the lymph system - very critical for getting rid of your inner cellular junk. It requires more effort than stuff I've described above, but its positive effects on your mind, body and inner organs are well known.
   
   
8. Try using sunlight therapy: Not sure how much sun you get so this really depends on that. Getting sunlight in morning regulates your melatonin cycle. This simulates that and just using it for 15-20 minutes everyday has a very strong effect.
   For example:
   http://www.amazon.com/Lightphoria-000LUX-Energy-Light-Lamp/dp/B004JF3G08/ref=sr_1_3?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1412132233&sr=1-3&keywords=sunlight+lamp
   
   
   That's a bunch of stuff I know from first hand and others' experience. Most of these may be experimental for you and will work to varying degrees. But my philosophy is if it doesn't hurt, no harm giving anything a fair shot !
   
   

Crazy cat lady here, I have four in my apartment. Unless they are lying to me, everyone that comes over is always shocked I have cats because it doesn't smell like it "should". I have two air purifiers in the house these and I have this one that sits directly on top of the litter box. I've had my four cats around 10 years and also fostered probably about... 30. So I feel like I've tried it all and I finally have a good ritual and set up. I use this litter box because it's big and tall which they prefer but also easy to get inside when it's time to clean. I use this track mat because so far it's really done the best to keep the litter from traveling far from the box. And like you, I clean it 2-3 times a day. The litter that is. I use this litter which is LIGHT YEARS better than anything else I've ever used. One of my cats also has horrible allergies and this is the one litter I've found that she doesn't react to. It also doesn't dust so you don't have to constantly feel like poofs of litter are showing up around the house or on the carpet or furniture. I also vacuum every single day. I have one vacuum I use for the floor where there may be litter tracked and another I use that never touches litter. I think this is fairly important. This vacuum honestly is the best I've found for hair. Miracle worker. Unless you can afford the Dyson Animal. I also have this spray that I'll use for my carpet and fabric once a month or so and I feel like it makes a huge difference. And then lastly I also keep windows open whenever I can and I have this diffuser and put oil in it a few times a week and let it run for a bit, plus it looks cool with the lights :) Oh! and one last thing that I think is great... put one of those cardboard scratch pads near the litter box so the cat has to step over it to get anywhere else. Like off the track mat but near the box. I do this and all the cats inevitably use the scratch pad for fun when walking by it but I'm convinced it also cleans their paws from any litter left over before they start walking around the rest of the house!

In short, I was in a very similar situation. I have been suffering from similar issues for than 15 years. About two years ago, after hundreds of hours of research, consultations with sleep experts, and self-experiments, I managed to find a way out. I have been waking up naturally at 7am and falling asleep within <15 mins since.

Taming my sleep schedule required multiple measures. But, combining all of these together, completely changed my life.

1. LIGHT THERAPY FIRST THING IN THE MORNING - this one has a huge impact, not only on my sleep schedule but also on my alertness during the day. I have tried five different recommended lamps and found North Star 10,000 by Alaska Northen Lights to be the most effective, even though it's a bit pricey and bulky. This model is the closest one to what was used in clinical studies that demonstrated the efficacy of light therapy. Every morning, after waking up I get myself out of bed and go sit/lie next to the lamp for 30 mins. As I mentioned, I start to feel a lot more alert within 20 mins. I do this everyday.
   
2. LIGHT DEPRIVATION TWO HOURS BEFORE BED TIME - stop using any screen 1.5 hours before your designated bed time. Can't emphasize it enough. I discovered that, like many others with this disorder, I am hyper sensitive to light. I found out that computer screens, TVs, and mobile phone screens can be devastating to my already poorly performing self-regulating mechanism. Blue light blockers are nice, but unfortunately, are no substitute to putting the screen away. Also, dim the lights around the house and avoid bright fluorescent lamps.
   
3. MELATONIN TO DIAL BACK MY CYCLE - I learned that 0.3mg (300 microgram) melatonin 4-6 hours before my bedtime really helps my circadian rhythm to shift back a couple of hours when combined with light therapy in the following morning. I came across this fact when reading through hundreds of clinical studies. I was also surprised that such a small dose is doing anything, but apparently, it does wonders.
   
4. AVOID CAFFEINE - similar to my hyper sensitivity to light, a cup of tea in the morning can throw me off my sleep time.
   
5. WAKE UP AT THE SAME TIME EVERY DAY- I know it sounds impossible, but after getting my routine in place (more on how I got there below), to maintain it, I wake up at the same time every day - weekdays and weekends. Any continued deviation, even for two days, throws me off an hour or two of my cycle.
   
6. FALLING ASLEEP WITH RACING THOUGHTS - another thing that helped me tremendously to get into the adjusted sleep schedule was to listen to audiobooks when I having racing thoughts, or generally, when not falling asleep within 10 mins. Anxiety and racing thoughts when lying in bed were a common occurrence. A gentle distraction - such as in the form of an audiobook - made wonders for me. Instead of turning from side to side for hours, I just felt asleep within minutes after starting to listen. Bedtime meditation also works but audiobooks are easier to start with (HEADSPACE actually have some great content, and also has built a dedicate sleep section in their app).
   
7. SLEEP HOW MUCH I NEED, NOT MORE - I experimented with how much time of sleep I actually need. I noticed, that 7:30 hours is exactly what I need to fall asleep easy, have a non-fragmented sleep, and function well. Trying to sleep more was counter productive and deteriorated my sleep quality and made it harder to fall asleep at the same time. Today, I'd rather err on sleep to little, and not too long. It helps me maintain my routine.
   
8. OTHER - Aerobic exercise is a great habit, which also improves the quality of my sleep. Another thing that I found out is that camping outdoors (when/where it is sunny) really helps with many of the items above, and is a great way to start the shift.
   
   When I was looking for a cure, I found encouragement in reading forums like this, which illustrated to me that I am not alone, and people do figure out how to overcome this eventually. I don't think that there is a silver bullet for fixing it, nor that its a one-size-fits-all solution. For me, educating myself on this (here's a really great resource to start with), experimenting to find what works and what not, and committing to resolve it, eventually paid off.
   
   Have faith, and more so, luck, in finding a way to a healthy and sustainable resolution.

My big toenail got totally ruined by fungus because I left it untreated for 2+ years. Tbh I didn't know what it was and thought it'd go away on its own. 

A year ago, during my trip to Bali, I was in the water so much that half of my toenail actually fell off! This is when I finally started doing research and treating it. I went through a 9 month phase where I slacked off because I was traveling a lot, which is why you see it get much worse. But about 3 months ago I decided I've had enough and took this to the next level. I've been extremely proactive in my routine and am finally seeing results!!! It's a lot of work but it's really encouraging to see improvements.

Here's how I'm doing it:

• Keep it filed down using this electric nail drill (be really careful not to get carried away & use the slowest setting. stop if you feel ANY pain)
  
• Keep it clean & trimmed I make sure the sides of my nail/cuticle are free of debri and keep my nails short using these tools
  
• Make sure to disinfect all tools & surfaces using alcohol or hand sanitizer & soap
  
• Brush your toe 2-3 times a day with a soft tip toothbrush and tea tree oil body wash (especially in morning and before going to bed)
  
• Apply Tea tree oil & Coconut oil after brushing
  
  • Why: Several studies have shown that tea tree oil has antifungal properties. (source) Coconut oil also has antifungal properties and also smoothes out your skin & nail, which is key cuz tea tree oil makes it really dry and rough
    
  • How: You can do it by hand, but to make it easier I bought this mini refillable perfume spray bottle, filled it up with tea tree oil & coconut oil 50/50. So all I gotta do is spray it on my toe after I brush and dry
    
• Apply Vicks vaporub I apply this along with the tea tree oil & coconut oil once a day or so
  
• Apply Urea Cream at night in addition to the tea tree oil & coconut oil
  
  • Numerous studies have shown combination therapy of urea and an antifungal agent to be an effective treatment for onychomycosis. Urea functions to soften the nail plate, which can enhance the passage of antifungal medications to the underlying nail bed.
    
• Footsoaks I've done footsoaks 2-3 times a week for 30 min each. Recently I've been combining 2 part warm water, 1 part vinegar (distilled white or ACV), and like 5 tbsp baking soda. Sometimes I only do baking soda. Sometimes I add a few drops of tea tree oil. Sometimes I soak just with bleach & water. But if you do the bleach & water, make sure you use regular bleach (not the splashless kind). Anyways as you can tell, I kinda mix it up when it comes to footsoaks
  
  • In the lab, plain old sodium bicarbonate limited growth of the most common types of fungi that cause skin and nail infections. (source)
    
  • Vinegar can protect against bacteria, fungi, and other harmful microbes, so putting it into a foot soak could have potential benefits for the feet. source
    
• Antifungal foot powder I use this foot powder anytime I wear shoes to keep it as dry as possible
  
• Try to stay bare feet as much as possible
  
• Put toe in sunlight as much as you can fungus hates the sun
  
• Clean socks I change into fresh clean socks constantly
  
• Handwash & sanitize socks I handwash all of my socks by soaking them in this collapsible dish tub with super hot water, laundry detergent, and a few drops of dettol, which is this super concentrated antiseptic liquid that kills the fungus
  
• Spray on sanitizer If I'm ever lazy, I carry this hand sanitizer spray to spray my toenail before going to bed. I also spray this in my shoes & flip flops at night. I also use this to spray down my nail filer, sink, hands, etc. to not spread fungus.

As adjuvants to treatment I would recommend the following:

Light Therapy/Sunlight - It seems to be helpful with no adverse side effects. You can get a cheapish one from here(it's $60). I think Costco sells one too for like $60, but it's only 4000LUX rather than 10,000LUX

Taurine which many have found to be beneficial for skin conditions (most sulfur containing amino acids have). Can be found here ($12 for a full year's supply if you take 3g/day)

Daily consumption of (low mercury) Fish/Fish Oil which can be found over here ($24 if you take 3/day for a year, $48 if you take 6/day for a year). People have found that their skin health improves after they start getting adequate amounts of Omega 3 in their diet, it's also beneficial for a bunch of other stuff. You can also use the coupon code KSF812 for 5% off your order at Trueprotein. Very Important: If you purchase anything from Trueprotein, make sure you pay through some sort of credit card proxy because there have been reports of people's credit cards being stolen recently. Use Paypal/a virtual credit card; and you should be at no risk though.

Vitamin D might also actually help as it's been found to be important for hair/skin. 4K/day seems like a good amount to take.

Biotin supplementation has been found to be helpful for hail/nail/skin strength as well, actually.

I'd really recommend you start eating low mercury fish though (as long as you're not allergic) like salmon (look for wild/sockeye salmon), herring, sardines, or mackerel (look for atlantic/pacific, not king/spanish) everyday. It's got a ton of other health benefits too, and the improvement you notice in your skin will just be a small thing in comparison to all the other healthy stuff.

Ah, something I'm unfortunately an expert at! Skip to point 3 if you just want to read about the light, I'm pasting in something I wrote on a different thread. I have suffered from really dramatic SAD for years (Minnesota) and have finally got a handle on it.

For me, it revolves around 3 categories: Exercise, Vitamin D, and Light. Especially blue light. Also, I didn't realize until I started really digging into it how poorly researched SAD is. . .

1. Exercise: The "easiest" one. Getting your heart rate up once a day appears to be very effective in combating depression generally, and seasonal depression specifically. Being a ginormous nerd, I bought a smart trainer to strap my bike into, and cycle fast for 30 minutes every morning through virtual lava fields in Zwift. https://zwift.com/ It definitely seems to help, and I'm no longer 'foggy' in the morning, but I'm still having issues fitting it into my schedule. . . it probably takes 45 minutes more in the morning, total, to fit this in. . .
   
   
   
   
2. Vitamin D: My entire family is known to be chronically deficient in Vitamin D, so I supplemented with the suggested dose of 2,000 IU a day for the last year. While getting a blood-test for an unrelated reason, I asked if the doctor could also check my Vitamin D levels, and they were hysterically low, ~14 nmol/L. Normal levels are around 85, and anything below 30 is deficient. With this new knowledge I started dosing with 25,000 iu a day, and noticed an immediate improvement in my mood. I've considered really cranking this up as there seems to be no documented negatives from too much vitamin D (if you drink adequate water, at least) but 25K seems to be working for me.
   
   
   
3. Light: The tricky one. . .
   

• I had a standard "10,000 Lux!" light box that was a hand-me-down from someone who hadn't found it effective. . . I didn't find it effective either. Some research showed that these were only rated at 10,000 lux when you were 8 inches from the light and looking at it. That's not going to happen. This model made no difference at all.
  
  
• Looking around for a DIY solution with many more lumens, I ran across this blog: https://meaningness.com/metablog/sad-light-lumens and https://meaningness.com/metablog/sad-light-led-lux This seemed like a good way to go: find the maximum lumens per dollar possible and spend what I could justify. Out came the spreadsheet, and at 183 lumens per dollar, this LED floodlight won the prize: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KFVFQFW. I was thinking of getting 2 or 3, but I've only gotten one so far as a trial. It is SO BRIGHT. I'm intending to mount this over my bike trainer to get a blast of light while exercising. . .
  
  
• Blue light is king, apparently. . . a fairly narrow band of blue (Lower than 540nm) controls the circadian rhythm. In an effort to get enough of the blue wavelength, I tried having a very bright white light at my desk at work. This was ridiculously over-bright, led to a lot of eye-strain, and seemed to have only nominal effectiveness. To try to deal with the 'blue issue' I was going to do two things:
  Wear blue-blocking glasses every night starting 90 minutes before bed. Richard actually got me turned on to these, and they seem to work really well: https://www.amazon.com/Uvex-Blocking-Computer-SCT-Orange-S1933X/dp/B000USRG90
  Wire up some LED's in the specific blue wavelength to use at my desk at work. However, I happened to find an (overly expensive) ready to go solution to this from Phillips: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M3SGCUE This sits on my desk just below my monitor and beams JUST blue light into my face, within my field of vision. I can comfortably have this on for several hours in the morning, and it seems to make a huge difference. I think.
  The light and the glasses seem to agree, as wearing the glasses makes the light very nearly disappear. . .
  
  TL;DR: Use a LOT of blue light in the morning, block blue light late at night.

I've found it helpful with sleep. I typically use lavender at night and it really calms me. Using it during the day has been somewhat helpful but I've noticed if I'm around the scent too long or it's too strong I'll get a headache. I'm sure everyone is slightly different, but I will say it's definitely helped. I got into a routine of using it at nighttime about an hour before bed. I would turn it on while getting ready for bed then spend about an hour awake with it just relaxing. I tried to get into a routine with it so my body and mind would understand it's time to relax and settle down. Honestly that in itself has done wonders for me. I don't use it as often during the day as I do at night. I have close friends who have diffuser bracelets and necklaces and they've said good things about those.

This is the oil and diffuser I purchased off Amazon. I wasn't looking to spend a lot since it was my first time using either but I'm really happy with both products! Eden's Garden has tons more than just lavender if you'd prefer something else!

Lavender Eden's Garden

Essential Oil Diffuser

Edit: Added more info about how I use it at night.

If you are struggling with depression or anxiety, doctors will often just diagnose you to give you a prescription. There are many things you can do outside of medication to help that don't require insurance and are practically free!

If you believe it goes beyond mood issues, then find a non-profit in your community that can connect you to resources.

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Build connections--like you are doing on Reddit but also in your community. Look on https://www.meetup.com/ for meet ups in your community. If you're religious, find a good church and get involved.

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Get sunshine & Vitamin D: especially important during the winter up here, that alone can lead to really bad focus issues, depression, and sleep disturbances. If you can, get a "Happy Light" on Amazon that will help with seasonal depression. https://www.amazon.com/Verilux-HappyLight-Lucent-Bright-Therapy/dp/B079YBGPM5/ref=sr_1_5_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1550609760&sr=1-5&keywords=happy+light

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Find physical activities that you enjoy: Bonus if it connects you with other people. Exercise alone can improve mental health leaps and bounds https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/exercise-is-an-all-natural-treatment-to-fight-depression

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Find an outlet: if you're a creative person, create. If you don't think you are, give something a try and don't judge yourself! Write a short story or doodle. http://writingexercises.co.uk/index.php

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Find online resources: there are countless meditation and yoga videos on youtube that are free and extremely helpful. Find one that resonates with you and practice, practice, practice. Strengthening the mind is just the same and strengthening a muscle. You must be proactive or it will atrophy.

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Hoping you find answers and help. <3

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What do you think triggered her sleep problems? Does she have a history of dieting and/or overexercising? Or a period of a lot of stress?

• Some ideas:
  
  -> Make sure your mom gets enough light exposure during the day (ideally sunlight). Sitting inside all day is not good for your circadian rhythm. Try to get half an hour of sunlight exposure as soon as waking up. If that's not possible, buy a blue light lamp, like this one:
  
  https://www.amazon.com/Philips-Therapy-Rechargeable-HF3429-60/dp/B00M3SGD4Y
  
  -> Make sure your mother eats enough. I've seen lots of people, including myself, who got insomnia due to excessive dieting and overexercising. Eating enough in the morning and at lunch is key. Make sure every meal contains a good amount of protein, fruit and vegetables, to make sure your blood sugar levels remain stable.
  
  -> The right kind of exercise is important. Weightlifting is a great way to improve metabolic health without exhausting yourself. Improved metabolic health is a key factor in insomnia. The increased amount of mitochondria and improved insulin sensitivity make sure your cells are able to produce a lot of energy, thus reducing levels of stress hormones. Endurance type exercise is less ideal because it can wear you out.
  
  -> I'd also recommend taking some CBD oil for resetting your nervous system and calming you down. I don't know if it's legal where you live, but if it is, definitely try it. It's one of the best supplements there is for insomniacs.
  
  -> Finally, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a good way to improve sleep as well. There's a number of good books on CBT that you can find on Amazon. I recommend this one to start:
  
  https://www.amazon.com/Say-Good-Night-Insomnia-Drug-Free/dp/0805089586/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1524235804&sr=8-1&keywords=gregg+jacobs

This is the light box I use. The legs are annoying but it's so cheap so I bought 4. If you buy a light therapy box, definitely go with a trusted brand like the ones you find at your sleep center. I'm very happy with carex as a company. I had an issue with one of the lamps and they promptly sent me a replacement, despite it being past the warranty. They even followed up with me to make sure I got it.

I have it set up on a Wemo plug, but any smart plug will do. I would wait until black friday, all of my smart plugs were free-$5 on Amazon during a promotion, and I bet Amazon will have something for black friday.

This is one of the bulbs that is tunable. I have a few around the house now, I can't remember which is which, and I'm currently out of town. Bulbs also go on sale during black friday and prime day and all that jazz.

Good luck and happy sleeping!

To: sassyma


From: DarkOctober


Now that it's a new day, I hope you're feeling a little better and your good karma is starting to kick in. Just in case it hasn't, karma, quick!


Weird and random things happen to me all the time. One of the latest things to happen was just the other day, my boyfriend and I were quoting Robin Hood, Men in Tights and the line was, "A toll is a toll. And a roll is a roll. If we don't get no toll's, then we don't eat no rolls" (I think we were making rolls for dinner). Now, keep in mind this movie is from the 1993, so it was totally random. Now for the weird part. I very rarely venture out of RAOA cause most people are dicks, but I ended up clicking on a thumbnail and reading the comments. Third comment from the top was the quote we had been saying from Robin Hood...it was pretty weird to say the least!


If I win, I would love this peppermint oil($6.15 under new and used with free shipping) I like to put a few drops on a tissue then suck it up in my vacuum for a nice clean scent :) Thanks for the contest!

Mmmmk... so I've been awake for like 23 hours at this point but I'm going to work a 12 hour shift tomorrow so I'm going to try to answer now without sounding loopy.

Okay so, it's kinda shitty that the doctor threw so many prescriptions at you. I mean, I'm not a doctor, so obviously their word always trumps a tech. I just really don't like when doctors hand out prescriptions to try to fix problems that might be solved without them. I want my husband to try nuvigil because he DOES have OSA, and he's getting treatment, and still super tired.

Anyway, so I mentioned delayed sleep/wake phase disorder earlier. The name of this disorder is kinda misleading because it makes it sound like there is something wrong with you, but in reality it's a set of behaviors that got you there. It would be super nice if your body just did exactly what you told it to do, and you could sleep exactly when you wanted right when it was convenient, but unfortunately it doesn't always work that way. So, you mentioned having issues where you'll be tired through most of the day but then you get a boost at like 11pm. This is, for the most part, normalish. Your circadian rhythm is kind of like a rolling tide all day and all night. For the average person there is a specific time of day you're most awake (10am) and going to get groggy (4pm) and it happens when you're asleep too! IIRC 4am, while you're sleeping, is when you're the most "awake" during sleep. So with delayed sleep phase disorder, you've basically conditioned your body to do this normal circadian rhythm process but not at the right hours. This actually is super super common for teenagers to do, and I actually do it myself. I have very serious problems being on a 1st shift schedule and when I was on first shift I would find myself drifting towards staying up till 4am on the weekends and then I would be fucked trying to sleep Sunday night. So this is what I think has happened to you. The "best" way they say to fix this is to set your sleep time later every day in increments of like 30 minutes until you've made it around the clock and land at a more normal people time to sleep. That is completely and totally insane though and I have no idea who would be able to do that, you'd have to have no job or school or obligations at all. The easiest way to do it is on a weekend stay up all night long until you're fucking exhausted and then go to bed at a normal people time, like 10pm. After that, you have to force yourself to commit to it. You will definitely find yourself drifting again if you allow it, but you have to be firm about your bed time, and eventually it'll stick. So that's my first set of advice.

My second advice is to buy a light box. Most of them are really expensive but I bought this one which is pretty reasonably priced and unobtrusive. Use that fucker every. single. morning. Make it part of your getting ready process. Alarm goes off, you turn on your light, and then sit in front of it for like 20 minutes while you go through your phone, eat breakfast, whatever. This should help you a ton, like you have no idea. Your body needs this light to tell it to wake the fuck up, and it should help with grogginess a lot. It won't happen overnight but in a few weeks if you stick with it there should be improvement.

My other general tips that I'm sure you've heard before: take melatonin like an hour before bed every night. I actually do this and it really helps the quality of your sleep. Doing this goes hand in hand with the light therapy in telling your suprachiasmatic nucleus when it should and should not be signaling sleep. Also if you're determined to look at your phone leading up to bed (I'm guilty of this) then install an app to filter out your blue light. I have one and it's on a timer so I don't even have to remember to turn it on. But if you really can be disciplined, read a book before bed. And don't get in bed until you're ready to sleep. If you still can't sleep, don't just lay in bed tossing and turning. Get out of bed for like 20 minutes and read a book and then try sleeping again. Sleepytime tea also can be helpful if it has valerian root in it, which is proven to make you drowsy. And of course, never ever ever ever EVER drink caffeine after lunch. This is my firm rule here, this will fuck with you in ways you don't even realize. Once you've tapered down your caffeine, if you try drinking it again you'll notice how fucking wired it makes you.

That's all I've got, hopefully it was helpful. Let me know if you have any more questions, I don't mind answering at all!

Hey man I have struggled with this before - I set the alarm like 45 minutes before I need to get up and take my Meds then.

First of all you gotta really think about what you are doing...if you aren't finding a way of being at work that inspires you then you aren't gonna wanna be there. Trust me there is an inspiring way of being in almost every situation. Some are more difficult and even then it can be rewarding to inspire yourself in the face of difficulty. I'm not talking about forcing yourself to grin and bear something. I am talking about fundamentally dealing with your goals and identity to literally see your circumstances differently.

Like it or not lateness is a function of priority. ADD people have a problem focusing on things long enough to make them a high priority. It's how often you let the commitment invade your present thinking. Get in the habit of reminding yourself about these things.

Also rationalization man... don't tell yourself it will be okay. It won't be. At times your reputation is the only thing you have going for you. Treasure it and keep your commitments. decide how much time you realistically need to get ready and get to work 10 minutes early. now respect that schedule. every time you sacrifice your comfort and easy breezy way of being to the schedule it gets easier to follow the next time. Eventually it's automatic.

You are gonna do great. For Awhile. you will invariably have a breakdown and feel like it was all for not and start believing silly things like you are intrinsically an irresponsible person or whatever meaning you make from it. Identify the cause of falling out of integrity with your commitments. Did you fail to frame it in such a way that you paid attention to it. Did you let yourself fall into a pattern of dismisal or justification? identify and recommit and you are clear and on the path towards building and identity of punctuality and integrity. You will literally feel your commitments like a drive and feel the need to complete them and you will derive satisfaction from doing so. It's great man.

Also a kick ass alarm clock tied into a freaking bright light never hurts
Philips Blu Light Alarm Clock

Ah wow, I can understand just wanting a good night's sleep in your situation.


This page is a really good guide for sleep hygiene. The most important things for me are: no caffeine/alcohol, not hanging out in bed while awake, establishing a pre-sleep routine, and having a "wind down" period about an hour before bed. You may find some of these more important than others. It's really important to train your body to recognize bedtime.


Light therapy is just helpful for readjusting your schedule and encouraging your body to feel alert/sleepy at the right times. This entails getting out in the sun when you first wake up (or using a sun lamp) for at least 15 minutes. Having access to sunlight during the day helps (as in, not staying in a dark room or cubicle!). Also, keep the lights dimmer at night, because bright light will suppress melatonin production and keep you alert. Consider using f.lux if you don't already. I started using this a few years ago and can't imagine life without it!


Best of luck with your health issues, hope you continue to get good sleep. :)

I have several friends that live in Finland, so I get to go and stay for free. I spent about 4 days in Rovaniemi for skiing last year. As an American looking over the side of the bridge and seeing a partially submerged speed limit sign, I thought, "Huh. The road has been flooded by the adjacent river and frozen over." Nope. They turned part of the river in a road. The river road speed limit is about 20 mph. :)

Useful information, VITAMIN D and a sun lamp are your friends. I used this sunlamp while living in Northern France. Seasonal Depression is a real thing and it blows.

Like the kind Finnish redditor mentioned, Finns don't generally do small talk. This is almost always true. Fight the urge to chit chat American style.

Also, learn sauna etiquette as saunas are very important in Finnish culture. Your board shorts in the pool and shower aren't going to fly. There is nothing better than beer and a sauna.

Speaking of beer, Finland has some great beer, but you may have to look around for it. I've some excellent beers in Finland which had complex flavors.

Remember that you are in Europe. Travel is relatively cheap once you get there, but living up north may make it a little more inconvenient and / or expensive.

Sign up for a VR account -national rail system. You can get some excellent deals.

Good luck and have fun!

I have SAD, so feel free to message me if you'd like to talk more about this!

Here are things that have helped me:

1. Light therapy. You can get a lamp for pretty cheap on Amazon and it has really helped me get going in the mornings during the dark days of winter. Use it in the mornings or in the middle of the day while you're studying. This is the one I use: https://www.amazon.com/Verilux-HappyLight-Lucent-Bright-Therapy/dp/B079YBGPM5
   
   
2. Diet. I know it can be hard if you're a student, but doing what you can to eat a balanced diet in the winter is super important. Make sure you're eating enough, getting enough lean protein and vegetables and avoid sugar and caffeine when you can. Try to avoid alcohol when you can, too. The caffeine thing is the hardest for me, because I'm so sluggish in the winter and feel like I need it to function. I've found that using my SAD lamp helps me wake up without coffee. Look into supplements/vitamins. When I was diagnosed with SAD, I was living in France and my psychiatrist was BIG on supplements and suggested I take some magnesium, Omega-3, and Vitamin D supplements. I encourage you to do some research and talk to your doctor, of course, but I've personally found Vitamin D supplements to be very helpful. I did a blood test when I was seeing that psych and it turned out I had crazy low Vitamin D levels at the time (like, just slightly above "your body is in shambles" level) so I've made it a point to make sure I'm getting enough Vitamin D every winter.
   
   
3. Exercise. If you're a student, try to take advantage of the ARC/CRCE. I know it's hard when you're not feeling energetic/motivated, but even just 20-30 minutes on a stationary bike might be helpful. If you can't get to the gym, get some cheap resistance bands online and spend some time each day when you get home just moving your body around.
   
   I know a lot of these things are easier said than done - it's hard to force yourself to cook a healthy meal or go to the gym when you feel like you can't get out of bed. But making these things a habit has done wonders for me. I still experience symptoms and I doubt it'll ever go away, but these small lifestyle changes you can incorporate into your routine that will make a huge difference.

This one works well but I like the hue of light a bit less than a few that are a bit more expensive (it is bluish and feels less like basking in the sun): NatureBright SunTouch Plus Light and Ion Therapy Lamp (package may vary) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000W8Y7FY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_v8VtybG2C7M3Q

This is my favorite one (nice sunlight-like hue, nice and bright-feeling): Northern Light Technology Boxelite 10,000 Lux Bright Light Therapy Light Box, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NPZZ1JW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_W9VtybTPEBHGC

The evidence behind both of these is good. You just gotta make sure you are sitting close enough and long enough (should be no more than a couple feet away and for about 30 min/day).

I use this device to make sure I'm getting enough light and for long enough (not exactly what the product was made for but it works - it measures anything over 2500 lux so you will know if you are sitting too far from the light): SunSprite Wearable Light Tracker https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KX5X4T6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_S.Vtyb221SKDB

Hope this helps! I'm a bit of a light-junkie so PM me or post here if you have any questions.

Here is an expensive nicer one I LOVE:

300W Red Light Therapy Lamp Red... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RBRM15H?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Here is a much cheaper bulb that is great to start off with:

SGROW 24W Red Led Light Red 660nm... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JW9RZ7K?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I’m no scientist but basically Red Light stimulates your mitochondria and helps the cells it comes in contact with perform better. Proven to heal skin faster, help pain, etc. The bright light is rewarding on its own, feels like your sitting in the morning sun. Terrific way to get started in gloomy days.

<3 Some extra lighting could help, and maybe even set aside some cash for one of those sun lamp type things to make the shorter daylight hours in winter more bearable.

If you haven't already, investing in one or two plants that don't need a lot of light can add some cozy comfort to a room too.

What are your favorite colors? Can you decorate within those to create a happier space? I really like yellow and turquoise, and am always trying to find things in those colors. Even just a few throw pillows or knick knacks and a brightly colored cozy blanket can help. Throw down a cute dollar store blanket or some cheap cozy pet beds for the puppers to cuddle with you too!

...and maybe some brightly colored dollar store baskets to help organize your craft stuff and/or stash :D

IF you're able to, get outside as well even for 10-15 minutes during the day when the sun is out. Even if you're not smoking, but toking in your new cozy spot, and then trying to adventure out. It makes a a bit of a difference to get a change of scenery.

Edit: If you could find even just a futon mattress in good shape on Cragislist or something, you could fold that against the wall, hang some lights, put down some blankets and throw pillows, and call that a lounge/smoke spot too. If you Google reading nook ideas, you might be able to get some more inspiration on how to convert that into a smoke spot ;)

I have bipolar 2 and am on meds, but use supplements to support me.

This website has comprehensive information about lifestyle and supplements that make a difference. I highly recommend that you explore it completely. (It looks clunky/unsophisticated, however I have researched the MD who created it and he is respected in the field...although considered a bit of cowboy.)

Fundamentals you may have already addressed: Exercise, bipolar specific cognitive behavioral therapy, establishing a consistent daily routine (an ongoing process for me).

Most effective for depression is light therapy; it can actually trigger mania, so be careful. It has rarely failed me. I use a dawn stimulator and morning lightbox. The combination of light and dark therapy I think is ideal but I haven't added dark therapy (I'm on reddit at night and can't break the habit).

Re: your stack:

• Make sure you are taking a EPA /DHA combo of at least 60%. And the DHA is important. Don't just take EPA.
  
• Assume you're on methylfolate 15mg?
  
• Probiotic: I'm not familiar with Symprove. However you need to choose the probiotic strains (name and number) that have research backed evidence of helping with depression. I used the resources of r/HumanMicrobiome and this spreadsheet to choose these strains to take: Lactobacillus casei DN-114001 - mood (NOW probiotic-10). Bifido. Longum/Infantis 35624 - Immune modulation incl. TNF, IL-6, CRP, depression (Align Digestive Support) because there was crossover with my other problem, rheumatoid arthritis. With some work, you can find something specific for you.
  
  Personally, I would stop all supplements except methyfolate, NAC, fish oil (EPA/DHA >60%) and maybe theanine if it helps you sleep. Add a light box in AM. Make sure you are taking melatonin 300 mcg (not more than that) every night (add a low dose time release melatonin if you still wake at night.) Give it one month of consistent use then re-evaluate.
  
  Good luck and feel free to DM me!

The two things that have improved my sleep issues the most are giving up caffeine and using a light box.

Caffeine never kept me up at night, so I resisted giving it up for years. But when I finally gave it up for a month as an experiment I found I needed less sleep, and it was so much easier to wake up in the mornings.

The light box is a new addition, but it's been amazing. The trick for me is to use it as soon as I wake up for about thirty minutes. It helps me wake up in the morning, but most importantly I find it so much easier to fall asleep at a reasonable time. I didn't expect that, so it was a pleasant discovery.

Good luck!

A light for seasonal affective disorder has been a life saver for me!

When it’s gloomy out, and we have less exposure to the sun’s rays, our bodies produce less serotonin. I think we HSPs are often especially affected by this, I know I get super blue when it’s dark all day. I get really tired, too.

Light therapy has really worked for me and I’m glad I found it! I highly recommend getting a lamp for light therapy. There are a bunch on amazon. Here’s their best seller’s description:

Our brain’s chemistry and body clock are affected by light, and light stimulates hormones and neurotransmitters that greatly influence our overall feelings of well-being. Bright light exposure early in the day stimulates our body's production of serotonin (which improves mood and happiness) and regulates melatonin in the evening (which promotes sleep). Adding a HappyLight to your daily routine allows you to stimulate the production of these important hormones naturally, to keep your body running like clockwork.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00K08ZDBI/ref=mp_s_a_1_5_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1537920371&sr=8-5&keywords=seasonal+affective+disorder+lamps&dpPl=1&dpID=31iP0Zu-OpL&ref=plSrch

I use one that’s also an alarm clock. It gradually wakes me up with a “sunrise” and sounds of birds chirping, so nice :)

I hope you give it a try and feel a boost in your mood and energy! <3

Lot of factors here but I’ll try to give the best insight I can.

1. To answer your question, most people I’ve worked with usually can see a shift in their CR after 4-6 weeks of consistent sleep scheduling. Now, most often, this is 3rd shifters who are trying to move from a regular diurnal pattern (e.g. 10pm-6am) to something that would fit a graveyard shift (e.g. sleep from 11am-7pm). This is a massive shift, and the one you’re describing isn’t, so wouldn’t take as long to move it 2 hours earlier bedtime/rise time.
   
   
2. I’m concerned that if you’ve been getting 10 hours of sleep consistently and not feeling rested upon waking. Have you had a sleep study? This doesn’t sound like insomnia, but could be an organic sleep disorder (OSA, circadian rhythm disorder, restless leg). You’ll see this a lot on this sub (for good reason) but you should consider a sleep study.
   
   
3. Lastly, if your circadian isn’t sending you enough “alerting” signal in the morning, you can jump start it through what we know regulates it: light. Making sure you have enough light coming into your room in the AM will get it jump started. If that doesn’t work, you can look into a light box.
   
   Hope that’s helpful! Best of luck to you.

Hey! I've been through the EXACT same issue.

Arizona native here. Where I live now, winters are pretty grim. I never thought I would say that I miss having the sun and loathe cloudy days, but here I am!

My psychiatrist recommended that I buy one of these lights a few years ago. I wish I wouldn't have waited. My boyfriend ordered it for me since I'm so cheap. $40 later, I feel like a new person.

Verilux HappyLight VT22 Lucent 10,000 Lux LED Bright White Light Therapy Lamp https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079YBGPM5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_.LCWDbVAXXYVJ

I also saw an endocrinologist a few years ago. She found I was deficient in a vitamin D and gave me a few booster doses. I've taken it 2x a week ever since. Highly recommend you see one if you have good insurance. Everyone's body is different.

Take care of yourself!!!

Fear cuts deeper than swords.

1 something grey

2 something reminiscent of rain Well it's a rainbow necklace and without rain you don't get a rainbow ;)

3 unusual food related item um yeah talk about yummy dreams hehe

4 something for someone else a psy gangnam guy mask for Liz. She swears she's going to marry that man lol

5 a book you should read One of my favorite memoirs of all time by Frank McCourt growing up dirt poor in Ireland. I would like to read a thousand times

6 item less than a dollar an mp3 from the 80s oh yeah!!

7 something about cats, nothing on my list, will edit soon

8 something beautiful but not useful this shirt is lovely but I have no clue where I'd ever wear it.

9 a movie Grease!! Everyone should see it because it's effing amazing!

10 for hurting zombies You could attack them with this amazing pizza cutter that looks like a saw!!

11 profound impact would be this awesome stream mop, cleaning is getting difficult for me sure to health issues and this would make life easier

12 add on item eyebrow shapers

13 most expensive I have no computer at the moment. I use a kindle. I need a computer to keep me business organized amongst other reasons.

14 bigger than a bread box, well a bread box could fit inside this laundry bag

15 This pretty ring is smaller than a golf ball

16 This peppermint oil smells wonderful

17 sfw toy would be this belching hamburger keychain

18 back to school zipper pouch to keep your lunch money in

19 my current obsession is kitchen or cooking gadgets hence this adorable ice cream cone hinged container

20 awe inspiring....umm sock monkey headphones...amiright??


Bonus item made in Oregon hand warmer clay mug

Bonus item

I would be very careful with using Vaseline as an occlusive. Definitely patch test it for a prolong period (like 2 weeks) before going all out. Better to have a small patch of blemishes than a face full of it. It does sound like your skin might benefit from something exfoliating like the C20 to help with dullness, but without some good hydrating & occlusive products, that will just land you in trouble.


My HG hydrating & moisturizing 'products':


DYI Witch Hazel, HA, & Glycerin toner (sometimes I add a few drops of high linoleic facial oil or tea tree oil to the mixture). This is my, 'I screwed up my face using too much acne medication/trying a new product that it hates' savior. I know for a fact my skin response very well to these 3 items mixed together & I can always turn to this DYI toner without risk of a reaction. It isn't hydrating enough for me just to use it without a cream of some sort, but it is the figurative lifejacket of skincare routine.



Carezone Doctor's Solution Dematology Hydra Toner, this the most hydrating toner I've ever come across that doesn't break me out.


Carezone Doctor's Solution Dematology H.A. Cream, this cream is on the heavier side, but damn if it doesn't hydrate & moisturize my skin without causing a bad reaction.


Mediheal Mediental Balhyo-Jinjeong Healing Mask is the best damned face mask I've ever used (thank you, Snow White & Asian Pear!) Comfortable to use, crazy moisturizing, & soothing as all get out. The blue, yellow, & purple versions are extremely nice, but the green one has my heart!

I tried to go with cheaper, more accessible Asian & Western products, & soooooo much regret, especially in regards to the toner & cream. As long as they make that those 2 Carezone products & that Mediheal mask, I will be a loyal customer! My only regret is they aren't the easiest to buy. I usually get all 3 off Koreadepart but I may try another vendor the next time I need to order them.


If you're not sensitive to snail, the COSRx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence might be the way to go. It's got a pretty limited ingredient list & it's easy to get a hold of without breaking the bank.

L-theanine, magnesium, D3/K2, therapy lamp each morning. Omega-3's.

I think NAC is something many should try, (I take 1000mg 2x a day) it's been the #2 thing that's helped my anxiety/OCD/irritability issues other than CBD.

L-tyrosine is the other thing that I take in the morning and I have much more energy and motivation, it's been better than coffee. Amino acids are amazing. I also like red panax ginseng for mood/energy/relaxation.

Gut health is important. I take a probiotic 2x a day and also 5g of psyllium husk for fiber (you won't ever need more than 1 square of toilet paper again). Apple cider vinegar is great for heartburn, I take a tablespoon or so in some water each morning. Many people have gut health issues, and they aren't properly absorbing vitamins/minerals even if they are eating a healthy diet.

Ashwaganda works for many, it didn't for me.

Hemp flower has been great, a backup when I need a bit more than the regular CBD oil. NAC and L-tyrosine I couldn't live without though, they have helped a lot.

Not exactly a makeup/skincare recommendation, but do you have a humidifier you love? I have one that says it creates an "invisible mist," but I've been running it for 5 days straight in my bedroom and the water level hasn't dropped AT ALL. Humidity level doesn't feel like it has changed at all in the room--I still wake up with a dry, tight face and a dry, bloody nose.

It's been a while since I've shopped for one, and I'm honestly overwhelmed by the options. They all look so different now! Bonus points for one that's not gigantic, hideous, or super loud.

Call me a corporate shill but I use a happy lamp and, I know it's anecdotal, but it makes a huge difference for my mood and energy in the winter months.

You can get a 10,000 lux lamp on amazon for 40-50 dollars. Use it for 30 minutes in the morning while you are drinking your morning coffee. Game changer.

EDIT: Since there were some questions about recommendations, [I use this one.] (https://www.amazon.com/NatureBright-SunTouch-Light-Therapy-package/dp/B000W8Y7FY/ref=pd_lpo_121_bs_img_2/166-1337885-5426712?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=G0EE30FB4N1A4WTGEJNQ) I actually spent quite a bit of time agonizing over what to buy since I have a min-max issue in real life and I have to say I'm happy with it. If I recall, a majority of the negative reviews were regarding the "ionizer" portion of the product which, to be frank, I have no idea about. There is no research to suggest that inhaling ionized air is beneficial. There is plenty of science to support the benefit of these lights for SAD as long as the strength of the light is 10,000 lux. This is important. Again, there is no scientific evidence to support that anything less than this will be beneficial. As with any product, user mileage will vary so I can't, in good conscious, suggest that you buy one of the "higher end" models for 200-400 dollars without knowing if you benefit so this is a good option. Having seen one of the more expensive lights be used in the resident room of the hospital I worked at, I suspect the more expensive ones do the same thing but are more aesthetically pleasing and have a larger spread of light.

As for use, the idea is to expose your skin to the light. I have it sitting on my dining room table so, in the morning while I drink my coffee and surf reddit, it's hitting my face. I use it for 30 minutes a day.

My doctor gave me this info some time ago:
> The usual dose is 10,000 lux, beginning with one 10 to 15 minute session per day, gradually increasing to 30 to 45 minutes per day depending upon response. It may take four to six weeks to see a response, although some patients improve within days. Therapy is continued until sufficient daily light exposure is available through other sources, typically from springtime sun.

I don't know, (I haven't spent much time looking so I could certainly be wrong,) but I don't imagine most desk lamps are capable of outputting that much light. Here are some of the suppliers they gave me. I don't have any first hand experience to offer since I didn't end up buying one at the time (though I may reconsider soon. Oof, Seattle winter...)

• Sunbox
  
• Bio-Light
  
• Philips goLITE - formerly Apollo BriteLite
  
  Philips has a couple of models that they claim are "as effective" as larger 10,000 lux lamps, one of which is right around $100. Good luck!
  
  edit: formatting

I'm a firm believer that the only thing stopping you is yourself. Easier to say than do though. Be disciplined, put reminders up that are highly visible, and find a way to be accountable that kicks at your guilt. I had to learn that it's not "motivation" that gets you there, it's discipline, and a solid week of whining about being hungry and crying about the fact I wanted chips... Everything you do in life is a decision! YOU have to decide you want it, because where there's a will, there's a way. Here's my motivation that keeps me going. I had to learn to stop making excuses for why I was failing.

I'd recommend you get rid of *all your crap food in the house. Change rules with your roomates to where you don't share food with them, or even better, get your own shelf for your groceries, and a mini fridge for produce so you can't be tempted by seeing all their goodies. Get an air purifier for your room so you can retreat if someone is going to bake pizza, or cookies that smell enticing.

I might also recommend a SUN LAMP if you work overnight. It will help with your sleep, which will help everything else out. The body does weird things when you don't rest properly. Had one since end of college and I swear it's the best thing ever IF YOU USE IT REGULARLY.

I hope you can find something I've said helpful, best of luck. The road to any form of recovery is never easy.

I had in 7 in high school from soccer, so can confirm that they are a bitch lol.

For some advice: Consider getting on something like adderall/vyvanse for the focus issues (don't abuse it, just take the recommended dosage). Also for the depression, be wary of going on any medication. I went on cymbalta for a long while and it completely changed me as a person. When I started noticing how boring I became I decided to get off it... but the withdrawals were fucking horrible. Legit took me months to get back to my normal self. Some things that have worked: therapy (a good therapist goes a long way), sunlight or a light box in the winter times, a good social circle around you, working out, and limit your drug/alcohol use. You'll likely still have your moments where life is depressing as hell, but you just have to know you'll eventually be fine again.

I'd also recommend researching more about concussions and trying to understand everything you can about them... as it can help you cope when something pops up. Concussions can cause you to become a sex addict, more likely to abuse drugs, have anxiety, etc. there's just a lot that can happen when your brain is damaged and it can be nice to know what some of those things are so you can better address them.

Last thing: consider a good neurologist if you still get headaches. I used to get hella migraines (and still get them occasionally), but there are some great drugs out there that can help and the science gets better every day. It took me awhile to find something that worked for me, but eventually I found something that made them manageable. Either way I hope everything works out for you/anyone else who may read this who is struggling with some of these issues.

I'm very much a night owl and hate having to drag myself out of the warm cozy blankets before noon. In college, I never took morning classes because the one time I tried, I had to drop it due to missing too many. For many years, I'd rush to work barely or not-quite on time. So I hear you!

Then I got a job I like (which helps all by itself) but its major downside is that it is NOT flexible in its "early" (9AM) start time. I knew "just try harder" to get there on time wasn't going to cut it.

YMMV, but I worked with a sleep doctor and found the thing that works for me: a very consistent wake up time. Bed time doesn't matter (although at this point, it seems to take care of itself). The doctor said he didn't care if I went back to bed, but I absolutely had to get up and get light on my face for 10 minutes at the same time every morning. Turns out, I'm actually awake by that point and I can easily stay out of bed by then.

Damn if he didn't know what he was talking about. :)

Where I live, it's sometimes dark when I wake up, so I bought a light alarm to not have any excuses there.

Some mornings, the bed's cozy allure is strong. I remind myself that I am about to hop into a nice hot shower.

But mostly, knowing that I have to be consistent for this to work has been enough. Good luck, OP!

I was having this issue too about a month ago! I was putting chapstick on like crazy and it wasn't helping. I think it is because I drool at night, which I read can be a cause (which if you started using the invisilign it would make sense that it might be trapping bacteria in your mouth and drool). It does look like angular cheilitis, but I'm not a doctor.


I'd try some tea tree oil mixed with some vitamin E oil. Tea tree oil is a natural antifungal, antibacterial, and antimicrobial, and you don't need to use a lot (it's potent!) so it is an effective an inexpensive treatment. You can usually find tea tree oil at the pharmacy or the grocery store, but if not you can get it online or at health food type stores. The vitamin E oil they should have at the pharmacy or grocery store as well, but if you have any vitamin E capsules you can crack one open and apply it.

I also read that this problem can occur when your immune system is weakened, which can happen when you're stressed or haven't been eating enough nutritional foods. It wouldn't hurt to add a multivitamin and some vitamin C. I know when I started taking vitamins, the corners of my mouth cleared up in a couple weeks.

Thank you! Light therapy is basically re training your body to wake up to "natural" light. Humans have historically woken up to the sun rising and shining in our faces, which is arguably the cause of a lot of depression and anxiety in our culture today. So my therapist recommended me two things, the Philips HF3520 wake-up alarm clock and the NatureBright SunTouch plus.


The Philips alarm clock wakes you up with a simulated sunrise in your room plus some more "gentle" alarm noises (aside from the beach with the annoying seagulls - unless that's your thing lol) which so far I'm loving. There are a few videos on YouTube of it that give you the run down on how it works, it's really cool.


The NatureBright light is basically a bright as hell light you shove in your face for half an hour within 15 mins of waking up. I've done some google research on the therapy and some say that with the alarm clock you would get your sufficient light therapy for the day but my psych was very insistent that I use the 10,000 lux lamp, especially if I could only afford one.

Which brings me to my next point... These aren't cheap at all. The total for both lights was $316 CAD with the fastest shipping, which to me could potentially be worth it if it helps even a little bit with my depression and/or anxiety. I know I've already spent over that amount on medication and I'd rather try to wean myself off of the meds and use more natural methods. I'm hoping this works, and so far it seems like it will be pretty effective, and maybe if someone else reading this decides to try light therapy it could help them out as well.

It’s this one from Amazon (linked below). It’s plastic though if you’re trying to avoid that. Young Living oils (MLM company) has a wood and glass option. It’s VERY expensive, but I linked that too in case you’re interested!

Your main concern with “cheap” diffusers is the plastic lining. This should be a good, hard plastic otherwise your oils will erode the lining and you’ll be diffusing plastic. I’ve had mine for nearly a year and I love it. Just something to keep in mind if you want a different diffuser. :)

Amazon Diffuser
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018CLNEOM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i.ERAbV3NYKV5

Wood and Glass diffuser
https://www.youngliving.com/en_US/products/aria-ultrasonic-diffuser

I used a bluelight. It simulates traveling, and creates a sensation of mental well being. You set the light to the side, and set the intensity. It creates a sensation of walking / traveling while you are working or whatever.

https://www.amazon.com/Philips-GoLITE-Energy-Therapy-HF3422/dp/B00M3SGCUE/ref=sr_1_6_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1501198761&sr=8-6&keywords=blue+light

The original one was called a "golight" but is very hard to get now.

Humans have a desire to get up and travel every day for food, exploration, etc. The light simulates that
and it creates a mental state that is very pleasant. Don't overdo the brightness or time, more is not better. If you use it too long you feel like you have sunstroke. Quite amusing.

Sure! This is my little buddy. He sits on my vanity propped up on some books, and I turn it on in the morning while I do my skincare routine and drink my coffee. I usually do a minimum of 20 minutes when the weather is or will be grey for several days, but try to get more like 45 when I can. And you don't have to stare into the light for the whole time, which is nice, so if you like to check your email (or let's be real, Reddit) in the morning, it's a great little quiet time for that too.

I'm in the same place right now, so I figured if I can look outside myself for a minute and and focus on something to help you, I might feel better.

• Search "positive affirmations" in YouTube ( I like Honest Guys and Jason Stephenson)
  
• Use an essential oils diffuser or candle for aromatherapy
  
• I use light therapy every morning with natural sunlight or
  Nature Light Therapy Box
  
• Pet your dog (or get one to pet)
  
• Read about alternative methods such as Kratom or CBD oil. (Tell your pdoc about any supplements or herbal treatments you use.)
  
• Color or doodle/ bullet journal (Search Pinterest for ideas)
  
• Get outside of your head for a minute and see if you can help someone else.
  
  [There now...I do feel better]

Daily tasks

• body weight exercises
  
• back and leg strengthening exercises
  
• eat healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner
  
  Irregular tasks
  
  
• visit cfmeu building and ask about work
  
• Ask supervisor about employment opportunities either under him or elsewhere?
  
  
  
• buy depression supplements including 'saffron' and light
  
• Cut out Y.Yang from your interest list, she's not into the same things as you and remember the Y.Lai experience, it gets draining but hard to leave. People are addictive after all..
  
• Cut 'Bain from your interest list, since she's incredible but her nose is not ideal and she doesn't know/like to let to dance (or hasn't demonstrated so yet!). But, her mind is really special. Friend her for that intelligence and her character! Wow.
  
• Cut Catherine from your interest list since you felt kinda bored and not totally proud when you hung out....I guess..reluctantly, you should do the same for Raj* for the same reasons :<...fitness won't help a face.
  
  
• insight, become less grandiose
  
• insight, go from pick up artist to boyfriend material
  
• apply to become a psychepi here or there
  
• buy running track pants that I can wear under my other pants for warmthy (actually, don't do this - save money)
  
• consider upgrading formal, walking, running and hiking shoes in one go (actually, don't do this - save money)
  
• use debit card statement to track expenses, but cancel transefrs from one of my own accounts https://www.mint.com/
  
• get warm but manouverable gloves maybe from aussie disposals or similar
  
• ask the low cost dentist at uni about jaw...
  
  Heroic task
  
  
• Complete then submit for assessment (first draft submission) and feedback from classmates 7 Lesswrong-complice pomos of scientific research (both musculoskeletal and psychiatric research projects) 3 pomo sci done
  
  posthoc
  
  
• cut down possessions and property
  
• upgrade your engagement as appropriate

The one I got which I love is this: Philips goLITE BLU Light Therapy Device - HF3332

Found it on ebay for like $40. Read the reviews. After like a week of usage, I found myself getting dead tired at 9 pm. Im used to going to sleep later and later, until I finally have to say fuck it, and not go to sleep one night.


Next, try to use software that limits blue light in screens for when you are using them. Get [f.lux](https://justgetflux.com/faq.html for your PC and there are other options for your Android devices. They basically drop the level of blue as it gets darker outside.

Lastly, I want to try a nice sunrise/sunset simulator alarm clock to work in conjunction with my light panel. Here's the one I found which seems to be pretty awesome.
Philips HF3520 Wake-Up Light With Colored Sunrise Simulation
I've seen it drop down to $114 so I wouldn't get it now, but yeah, seems great for DSPS.

Those three things combined should work great for you, especially since you're waking up before dawn.

Definitely agree with going on a walk before leaving. If you can, quarantine him in a room so he doesn't have access to the whole house to chew on things.
When we leave the house I either put the tv on HGTV or Food network (channels that won't have noises to upset the dogs) or I turn the radio on. I find this helps to soothe them.
If it's feasible, find a dog walker to come play with him while you're gone. It has done wonders for our pup.
Also, our vet recommended Rescue Remedy when our springer was having anxiety attacks. Also works well during thunder storms. All natural, just a few drops does the trick. Bach Rescue Remedy Original Natural Stress Relief Flower Essence, Dropper, 20 ml https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RFTCZW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_zlRtzbAX8V12X

>I know it's not as good as medicine.

There haven't been as many studies as with many drugs, but so far the research is at least suggesting they're as good or better than most antidepressants. So good, in fact, that you have to watch out for mania. Using them in the middle of the day seems to reduce this risk, but again, not a lot of research.

>I am having financial issues and it's kind of expensive

This one seems pretty reasonable: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000W8Y7FY

This was the one I used. I liked it because it also had a negative ion feature, which also boosts your mood. Sometimes I'd lend it to my coworker and she found it really helpful, too (even her dog would sit in front of it!).

Also maybe check out some of these vids by therapist Kati Morton

SAD

What should you expect from therapy

What makes a good therapist

5 signs you are seeing a bad therapist

How to get the most out of therapy

Which type of therapy is right for me

depression playlist

​

Some other things that help me in the winter are planning a vacation somewhere warm if possible, even if it's short, getting outside even if it's cold, opening the blinds to let the natural light in, surrounding myself with "warm" things (cozy blankets, hot tea, springing the extra money to keep the house a few degrees warmer, pictures of warm scenery), and putting on my shoes when I first get out of bed. That last one is hugely important because it helps me set the tone and keep my schedule. If I don't, it's incredibly difficult to get up and moving and the whole day is lost. It also helps my depression in general to use a weighted blanket for sleep and to set up regular things to do with friends/family- grabbing coffee once a week together, going for a walk after dinner with my husband, taking the dog out, etc.

Hope you find what works for you!

No problem.

I had some issues where I kept changing something in it and messing all my progress up. Been doing much better now that I realized I was the problem. Seems like a lot in writing, but it really isn't much.
__
AM:

• Wash hands
  
  
• Wash face with Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser gently using kojac sponge
  
  
• Pat dry with washcloth
  
  
• Apply Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera with a cotton square/circle
  
  
• After shaking to mix, pat on CeraVe Moisturizing Cream to which I had previously added almost .5 fl oz/15mL of 100% pure tea tree oil. (I think I read that it should be no more than 10% tea tree oil.) Last time I used Now tea tree oil but I have also used Jason.
  
  
• Wait a while and sunscreen before going out, added to help scarring. Not sure if the one I had been using was good for my skin though so I won't put a brand here.
  
  I mainly use the kojac sponge because it cuts down on me picking the flacky skin off my face which tended to be the gateway to me picking acne or peeling off scabs.
  
  __
  
  PM:
  
  (I do my face wash last step in the shower even though places tend to recommend against it because of the heat; if I turned up the heat a lot during my shower, I turn it down to wash my face. It seemed to me that I used more heat in the sink after showering since my hands can stand heat better than the rest of my body.)
  
  
• Wash face and neck with Hado Labo Rohto Gokujyn Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Foam (Harsher so I prefer it at night.)
  
  
• Pat dry with towel before drying any other part of my body. (I go face, hair, upper back, rest of me and don't lay a towel on my back after showering since that seemed to cause acne.)
  
  
• Apply Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera with a cotton square/circle
  
  
• After shaking to mix, pat on Differin Gel
  
  
• Pat on same CeraVe Moisturizing Cream as above to face and neck.
  
  __
  Shower details:
  
  I use shampoo/conditioner that doesn't contain sulfates. I know my one friend realized that sulfates in her shampoo were likely what was causing her back to break out. I use this which is expensive but it lasts me a year even though I tend to overuse it.
  
  I also wash in the following order: shampoo, conditioner (leave in), private areas with water, wash my hands with my body soap (Dr. Bronner's), then my shoulders/back before any other part since that seemed to cut down on back acne as well. Last, in order, I wash my armpits, groin (not the inside of genitals, I mean my groin pit?? [Where my leg bends] I cover my genitals to keep soap out of that area.), feet. Then I rinse out the conditioner and do my face wash routine.
  
  Edit: Also forgot to mention that I avoid letting soap sit on my skin. Trial and error seems to show that that causes me to breakout as well so I rinse it off as I go.
  
  I don't change my pillowcase every night but I flip them. I have two pillows I sleep on and I sleep once on each before changing the pillowcase.
  ____
  
  I would definitely recommend changing one thing or adding one thing at a time and patch testing if you can.
  __
  
  ETA: If your acne is severe, I'd still recommend a dermatologist when you can go. Or maybe talking to your primary doctor even. My HRT prescriber, for my acne, prescribed me Doxycycline and Tretinoin at one point. I don't use either, currently, but you can try using a non-dermatologist if you don't have any other option.
  
  Edit2: Clarified some minor things.

I was in a DBT therapy program where we made self-soothe kits one week! You put something in there for each of your five senses, things that either relax you or just give you something neutral to focus on. You can make kits for home, work, your purse, etc.. I just have a little one that lives in my purse, and some of the pieces work for multiple senses:

• Sight: A piece of paper with a link to /r/rarepuppers ;) I need to print out a couple pictures of my cats, too.
  
• Sound: A list of my favorite albums to listen to, or better yet, sing along to, which helps get my breath under control. (You could also use a small bell, tuning fork, something scratchy-sounding, ...)
  
• Taste: Fancy dark chocolate with ginger crystals, because the ginger is soothing, and sometimes when I'm stressed it's just because I let myself get hungry.
  
• Touch:
  
  • A rose quartz stone that a close friend gave me, so I can rub it or toss it around. For sight, I can also turn it around under a light and focus on all the different little facets.
    
  • A massage ring. When I have a really stressful presentation or conversation, I actually put this on beforehand so I can fidget with it half-subtly.
    
• Smell: A small vial of a favorite perfume. (Scented lotion is another popular choice.)

Keep your curtains open. Try low dose time release melatonin (or Valarian root) to help you get to bed early. I like this. Use Sleep As Android to set an alarm that will wake you up in a light phase of sleep so you feel refreshed. After waking up use a blue light device (or get some sunshine for awhile) to help reset your sleep rhythm. Also if you live in a cold/dark/cloudy area try a vitamin D supplement. These are things that have helped me get into a healthy sleep schedule, hope it helps you!

A lot of the recommendations so far are pretty solid. In your case because you travel so much, I would also suggest using smell (aromatherapy) to enhance your life. The way that some thing or some place smells is key to our experience of that object or location. When we are most moved, our senses directly inscribe our remembrances. Even our mood and behavior is influenced by smell.

I caution against using air fresheners, or aromatherapy, as a daily practice simply because of possible side effects (e.g. air quality, migraine, etc.). But in moderation, it has been known to help alleviate stress and other psychological issues.

When you travel half the day on the road, you may be cutting yourself off from a huge range of scents that people take for granted. By testing different essential oils and using a small portable diffuser like this one or an even smaller one like this, you could easily create a self-care travel kit that provides you with some extra comfort.

I have tried a few of the best light boxes. My favorite is one I got on Amazon, though it's rather expensive. But totally worth it for me. Bright Light Therapy Box - Alaska Northern Lights - North Star 10,000 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003OWJCIM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ggaaCb96NG3VJ

Sorry I'm on mobile so I hope the link works. If not, the name of the product is right there. Unlike other cheaper lights, you can sit two feet away from it and get benefits. With other ones you have to get close, like 6-12 inches away.

Buy a sun lamp! You can find them on amazon for ~$70. It changed my life when I got it. The first time I used it for 45 minutes at work, and for the rest of the day I just couldn't stop laughing at stuff. It was extremely odd because I was just smiling and feeling good. My friend bought one before I did, and told me about how absolutely amazing it was. He had always been dealing with depression and ever since he got one he said he's been so much better. He wakes up in the morning (around 5:45 for work) and uses it for 30-45 minutes while he brushes his teeth and gets ready.

It also warns how you shouldn't use it within 3 hours of going to bed because it'll mess with your sleep schedule.

It's also super great for the real busy/lazy. I use it for 45 minutes a day while I'm gaming or at work.

edit: this is the link to the one I have.

My mom got me this Nature Bright one as a gift (she knew I get bummed out in the fall/winter). I didn’t do any research to see how it compares to others, but I’ve had it for a few years and am very happy with it.

Highly recommend a light box to help offset the season change.

Note: I don’t use the ion therapy feature as I heard some questionable things about that.

Nature Bright Light

Just to preface, I've never lived nocturnally like you, but based on my research/knowledge this is what I would try if I were:

Circadian rhythm doesn't have to not help you at all, you might be able to manipulate it by changing some of the things in your environment.

If I were working nights and was inside, I'd get at least one blu light like this: (non ref link) and set it up on my desk and just leave it on while working. That should, to a degree, trick your body into thinking it's daylight and make it easier to shift your circadian rhythm. I would turn it off when the sun is up so I get natural light that way before I go home.

The second thing I would do is install blackout shades in my bedroom so that it can be totally dark, and I'd spend at least 30 minutes in it (fully dark) with maybe one dim light on to read/work by, and not using screens unless using flu.x as well. That way I'd trick my body into thinking this is the natural sleep/sunset time, and help it start to get more tired.

The third thing I'd do is as soon as I wake up at 8pm or whatever time works best for you, take at least 5,000ui of Vitamin D. This is another good way to signal that this is the wake-up time your body should expect, and after a couple weeks can make waking up and falling asleep happen at more regular times.

The problem with all of this of course is that you're going heavily against the sun-influenced natural circadian rhythm, and I don't know what would happen long term. I'm sure you've experienced some of the negative effects of living out of sync with the world, and it's possible that taking it to this extreme could make it worse.

I have to say again though: this is PURELY SPECULATION. I have NOT tested this, but were I in your situation, this is what I would be doing. If any of this is crazy based on other people's experiments with this lifestyle PLEASE let me know. I'd be curious to find out if it works too though!

I posted in your original thread about some behind-the-head Sonys for super cheap, but I also remembered that my wife uses one of these speakers you slip into your pillowcase with great success.

I have this one (Phillips goLITE). It uses a blue set of lights to create a high enough amount of lumens to simulate real sunlight.

I tend to pull it out on days when I get very unmotivated during the winter (or any other time during the year). It allows you to set the brightness, length of time the light is on, and an alarm for it to come on when you wake. Once you get used to the blue color, it's very nice.

I find that ater I use it, my mind feels more clear, and I can focus on things more easily. I also find that I'm able to be much more courteous to other people I work with (some of them are very happy I use it too).

EDIT: Edited the link.

Welcome to Oregon!

Get one of these to ward off teh winter! It makes a difference I promise. The alarm clock is great too!

What are your top three tips to warding off existential dread/depression?


What are some of your favorite songs to shake the blues?

I have this light box and use it every weekday at work. I've had a few coworkers ask about it, but it's kinda hard to explain. I just tell them it mimics the sunlight which is good when it gets dark so early. I can definitely tell the difference on days when I use it and days I don't. I do 30 minutes on like 3/4 max brightness, but that's really dependent on each person.

I have two questions. Are you in a place that has shorter days in the winter? and Have you ever heard of a thing called SAD?

Its basically a seasonal depression that happens to some people caused by a reduced amount of sunlight. This is usually from shorter days in winter combined with regular working/schooling hours (which keep you inside for the short time it is light out). It really throws my Mom for a loop, but she got something like this to have at her desk at work, and apparently it works like a charm.

You should for sure go have a chat with your doctor just to explore the options and make sure that this isn't something more serious (self diagnosis is bad, and I'm no doctor), but this sounds a lot like what my mother goes through pretty much every winter.

Welcome!

Tip number 1: Don't worry about it! You'll survive.

Tip number 2: Get good gear. I can't stress enough how important it is to have a good parka, mitts, boots and toque. When I was a teenager, I used to try and be super cool by not wearing proper gear and guess what? I froze. It sucked, and I hated winter. If you can't afford a fresh batch of new gear, layer up. Not being terrified of going outside everytime you need to run the garbage to the curb is going to help your mental state immensely.

Tip number 3: Get outside! It sounds weird, but if you get out and do stuff, it helps you enjoy the winter, instead of just associating it with cold, darkness and being cooped up. I like to go skating at the outdoor rinks 3-4 times a week, and ice fish whenever I can. You can also go sledding, cross-country skiing, Festival du Voyageur, or a ton of other things!

Tip number 4: If you're susceptible to SAD, get a light therapy lamp. I hate the darkness, and find that it really wears me down by around January. These lamps mimic sunlight, which gets your body to produce endorphins.

If you have any questions about cool stuff to do, or anything else about Winnipeg, please ask away!

Consider checking out light therapy.

This sucker changed my life (don't use the "ionizer" part, though): https://www.amazon.com/NatureBright-SunTouch-Light-Therapy-package/dp/B000W8Y7FY/

It seems like a highly personal thing, but 30 minutes in front of the light box every morning has helped fix my sleep cycles like nothing else, and it's better than relying on supplements to get to bed. 14 hours after my session I feel like a tranq dart hit me. If you try it out, give it a few weeks; you can always just return it if it doesn't work for you.

As for waking up feeling like garbage, that can be a blood sugar thing... try a few spoonfuls of almond butter right before bed, or some oatmeal.

You should definitely look into a sun lamp - this isn’t a tanning deal, it just put out bright blue-hued (e.g. sunny daylight hue) light. You set it up to be indirectly shining in your eyes for about 15 minutes and it peps you right up.

I have one on my desk. You’re looking for 10,000 LUX (not Lumens).

Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/NatureBright-SunTouch-Light-Therapy-package/dp/B000W8Y7FY

But preferably native 240V not the 110V we have here.

I believe Wirecutter has a review so you can read more about them - google it ;)

Source: former Brit, now in Seattle by way of 15 years in sunny Florida. It’s the only thing getting me through the winters.

Yep! I have this guy.

I haven't had luck with primarily tea scents on my skin yet so I usually just away, but this sounds so nice I'd pick it up for my home! If it works on my skin that's just a bonus. Thank you for your feedback. It's definitely going on my wishlist.

Axe body spray and black ice air fresheners.

For real, basic stuff like dishes, laundry (clothes and sheets), trash, old shit in the refrigerator. General maintenance will keep the smells from mysteriously appearing.

And then, get a candle. You don't need 20. Not every square inch of your place needs to smell like mangos and lilacs. If you have 1, and the rest of the place smells like nothing because you're not an animal and you clean, then that should be enough to give the illusion of your whole house smelling like that first room

EDIT: And if you really want to go all out, this thing works pretty good from what i've seen. I don't actually have one.

Sgrow red + infrared combo bulb is pretty inexpensive and good quality for spot treatment.

Gives 1J/cm2 dose per 10 seconds, so about 150 seconds per spot you want to treat for an effective dose.

You’ll want to get a larger panel if you intend to do full body.

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/SGROW-Light-Infrared-Therapy-Relief/dp/B07JW9RZ7K

I bought this one 8 years ago when the price was $130. It's now $52. The "ion therapy" is a quack, it's nothing more than an ozone generator. It the light part works awesome, and I love the timer! My light is still going strong after 8 years!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000W8Y7FY/

The anxiety part that comes with it is so hard. I know I'm being irrational, but I just can't make my head stop sometimes. Using the summer/fall to build the routine was important so that once the SAD started I was already into the habit and didn't have to put too much thought into what needed to be done. This is the light I use, but mostly just because a friend of mine offered it too me. I've looked at others, and some have really neat features (someone else in this thread has one with a gradual wake up feature, that would be neat). Some people seem to respond to blue light and others to natural light, so it seems like a pretty individual thing.

I use this one the Philips goLite Blu Light.

I use it primarily as a super effective alarm clock so I'm not sure how effective it is for seasonal depression. It is definitely worth the high price tag for me. It is extremely durable and travel friendly; I've used it for an hour daily for almost 7 years and it has functioned perfectly without a single issue yet. Also it seems to have retained its value considering I purchased it in 2008 for ~$120 CAD and it still sells for $275 CAD in Canada (really not sure how that happened?).

Last year I got myself a SunTouch Plus and it has really worked wonders for me. I used to have MAJOR and debilitating seasonal depression but now I find I am just a little drained feeling. I think if I increase my time with this I could maybe even maintain a better feeling.

Other then that, just try to eat healthy and exercise when possible, those two things combined make a huge difference as well.

I STRONGLY recommend that you try magic mushrooms or psilocybin like someone else suggested in this thread. You have nothing to lose. I've read SO many stories here on reddit of people being cured of depression and anxiety when nothing else could help.

Could magic mushrooms be the answer to depression?

Also, you should look into Methylene Blue. It's a substance that has been shown to have potent anti-depressant properties:

• A controlled trial of methylene blue in severe depressive illness.
  
• A two-year double-blind crossover trial of the prophylactic effect of methylene blue in manic-depressive psychosis.
  
• Methylene blue. A possible treatment for manic depressive psychosis.
  
  If you're not familiar with Neurofeedback, you should look into it. It works by measuring your brainwaves through electrodes placed on your head, and feeding that information into a computer, which then creates feedback.
  
  Here's an example of the kind of feedback that might be used: You watch a video and the computer adjusts the brightness of the video based on what the electrodes are reading. When your brainwaves shift closer to a more peaceful pattern, the computer rewards you by lightening the video. The idea is that by repeating sessions of this, your brain is trained to be less anxious, and more at peace.
  
  Here are some videos that might explain it better than me:
  
  
• What is Neurofeedback?
  
• Stress, Anxiety, Depression
  
• Neurofeedback
  
  I would recommend Brain-trainer.com. You can find a map of their practitioners here: https://provider.brain-trainer.com/brain-trainers They use a system where brainwave patterns that have been established to correlate with anxiety/depression are trained down, whereas most other practitioners use a system where your brain is simply trained towards an average, which may not be ideal; although people still get results. If you can't find a Brain-trainer practitioner near you, don't be discouraged, you may still be able to find a practitioner that isn't affiliated with Brain-trainer.
  
  There's another form of Neurofeedback called LENS, which I think would be worth looking into. Your brainwaves are read through electrodes, and then extremely tiny electrical pulses are sent, which interrupt the pattern of depression. You can find a practitioner near you on this page:
  
  https://www.site.ochslabs.com/about1-c1b0l
  
  I was listening to an interview of a biologist who mentioned a woman he knew who, every month, would break down and become completely suicidal. At the time he was studying hormones and their relation to health. So he suggested to this woman that she take progesterone, which he found to be very beneficial from his research. Within 45 minutes she completely recovered from her depressive state. And whenever her depression came back, if she took progesterone, she'd immediately recover. This woman used A LOT though, so if you try this you may also need to use a lot. You can get some here:
  
  https://www.longnaturalhealth.com/Dr-Peats-Progest-E-Complex-34-ml
  
  The spice, Saffron, is supposed to help with depression: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEwQlqFPbAU. Vitamin D is also very important: https://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/a6tbhu/healthy_levels_of_vitamin_d_are_linked_to_a_75/. I think I've even heard of Ketamine helping depression.
  
  Another thing that can help depression is shining red or near-infrared light on your head. Here are some studies on that:
  
  
• Transcranial Photobiomodulation for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder. The ELATED-2 Pilot Trial.
  
• Multi-Watt Near-Infrared Phototherapy for the Treatment of Comorbid Depression: An Open-Label Single-Arm Study.
  
• Transcranial Laser Stimulation as Neuroenhancement for Attention Bias Modification in Adults with Elevated Depression Symptoms.
  
  And here are some useful resources on using red light therapeutically:
  
  
• The Therapeutic Effects of Red and Near-Infrared Light (2017)
  
• Complete guide to light therapy dosing
  
• Inexpensive red light devices
  
• Build your own red light therapy rig
  
  Here are some places you can buy red lights from:
  
  The one I link to below is probably best because it shines in the 830nm wavelength which has been been shown to be better for brain health, and which has been used in the studies.
  
  https://lifegivingstore.com/store/LGS10-Infrared-830nm-p95952577
  
  You can get the model I link to above for a cheaper price from alibaba, but if you want to get it in the 830 wavelength you have to make a specific request for that. If you don't make a specific request, it looks like it has a combination of the 660nm and 850nm wavelengths, which is probably better than nothing. But it's probably best to just get the 830nm one.
  
  https://wholesaler.alibaba.com/product-detail/Hot-Items-2018-New-Years-Products_60793479341.html?tracelog=null
  
  Here is one from amazon, but, again, it's doesn't have the 830 wavelength, it has the 660/850nm wavelength. So probably not ideal.
  
  https://www.amazon.com/SGROW-Light-Infrared-Therapy-Relief/dp/B07JW9RZ7K/
  
  Please try some of these things.

Happy light! It truly does make a difference. This is the model I have, and I absolutely love it: https://www.amazon.com/Verilux-HappyLight-Full-Size-Therapy-Energy/dp/B0094HBU6I/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1539274101&sr=8-4&keywords=happy+light

I have this one

I don't have anything to compare it to, but I like it. It's quite easy to move around with you and very bright.

I struggled a lot with this too. I tried putting my cell phone far away from me when I went to sleep so I would have to get up to turn it off; I tried the alarm apps with the crazy captchas that made me do math before it would turn off (I would just sleepily wind up removing the battery, and eventually got good at drowsy math)... I even tried the crazy-loud alarm clocks made for deaf people..... Nothing worked.

I would up taking a shotgun approach to this as well.

I started off with some very cool looking blue-blocking glasses that I would religiously start wearing once it was sundown, and wouldn't take off until I went to bed. I would take some melatonin at the same time as well.

Now, the real pièce de résistance was a sunlamp--of which there are many kinds that I used alongside the Sleep as Android phone app. There's a specific captcha on there called "Let there be light" that forces you to turn on a lamp before the alarm will turn off. By adjusting the sensitivity I made it so that only the INCREDIBLY BRIGHT sun lamp would turn it off, which combined with the sun lamp finally did the trick. By the time the alarm had turned off, I really did start feeling invigorated by the bright light.

Don't feel like you need to jump in to the deep end and wake up at 6:30 right away. Set realistic goals, and once you establish a rhythm you can adjust times based on your schedule.

Best of luck, friendo!

Consumables like super fancy coffee, or a hot sauce set, gourmet salt and pepper grinders something like this, or how about an aromatherapy diffuser with some various essential oils like lavender and sweet orange?

Edit: I can see how a diffuser might not work with allergies but since it's just drops of pure oil into water with no additives and not applied to the skin, maybe things like tea tree oil or spearmint (or something you know for sure she isn't allergic to) won't bother her.

Rescue remedy : Bach RESCUE Remedy Dropper, 20ml - Comfort and Reassure Flower Essences https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000RFTCZW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_SY8GDbVDTFYRY
This is what did it for me the 3rd time . Had to take more than the 4 drops advised though ... Still have to take the mod 2 now

Sure thing! One thing that may help you as well is getting a daylight lamp, something like this is small and reasonably priced. Use it before you start a lecture and your circadian rhythym will think it's morning and help keep you awake. Just be careful not to use it very close to bedtime or it could cause insomnia.

Honestly, I like the MR11 for new(er) folks to start off with. It isn't ridiculously short, it isn't ridiculously long. It has a good neutral feel even though it is fully stainless (the handle).

Ummm, besides that.... the kit will come with an Alum bloc.

Back to the Amazon purchase, one thing that I'd recommend always having on hand from there that has been my favorite for the past few months or so are going to be:

Thayers

and

Tea Tree Oil

I can't really think of anything else off the bat right now.... I'd say that I am selling my Merkur Futur, but I don't think that I'd recommend that as a beginner razor at all. Maybe once you want to try something more aggressive and adjustable that is affordable down the road.

The "don't go to sleep for a night and go to bed early the next day" advice won't work for you if you have Delayed Phase Sleep Syndrome.

The only solution that worked for me (and my situation was almost desperate) was changing my eating patterns (particularly the timing) and avoiding blue light spectrum after sunset. Your body should associate light + socializing + food with the time of the day you should be awake. If you stay in front of your computer at night watching videos and eating the brain and body think it's daytime and your schedule will get really messed up.

1. The blue light spectrum blocks the realease of melatonin and interferes with your sleep patterns. Buy blueblock glasses (http://www.amazon.com/Uvex-S1933X-Eyewear-SCT-Orange-Anti-Fog/dp/B000USRG90/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458086898&sr=8-1&keywords=blue+blocker+glasses)
   and wear them after sunset if you are at home (it is very important to avoid watching computer and mobile screens in the evenings before bedtime...I do it anyways but ALWAYS wear the glasses). Upon waking up, go for ten minutes under the sun, or get the room very bright (you can buy a blue light spectrum device such as http://www.amazon.com/Philips-GoLITE-BLU-Energy-Light/dp/B00M3SGCUE/ref=sr_1_10_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1458086966&sr=8-10&keywords=blue+light).
   
   
2. If you need a miracle: Do a 16 hour fast before your intended awaking time to reset your circadian rythm. Then eat immediately upon waking up. (This guy explains it better than me: https://www.reddit.com/r/sleep/comments/1pzoic/intense_fatigue_during_daytime_unrestful_sleep/)
   
   In theory one day should be enough. One day didn't work for me, but I have severe Delayed Phase Sleep Syndrome, my situation was desperate, and nothing worked...this literally changed my life. I did it for several days. Usually nowadays I don't eat after 18:30pm. if I'm at home. and I eat as soon as I'm awake
   
   
   Apologies for my English. If this helped you, please help me improve my English by correcting my mistakes.
   
   

This light is cheaper and better. Has a built in timer. I've had mine for 8 years and it's still going strong! The ion "therapy" is a quack, it's an ozone generator. But the rest of the light is awesome!

NatureBright SunTouch Plus Light and Ion Therapy Lamp (package may vary) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000W8Y7FY/

Well, I don't know exactly how helpful this is, but I purchased this light on Amazon two years ago. I use it every day for 45 minutes, and it is still going strong. It is not particularly handsome, but I do think it looks better than many other models out there and it is small enough to put away in a cabinet when you are done with it.

Holy moly! Yeah putting you in a tanning bed would be like putting a fork in a toaster. My husband is a redhead freckleface too :D

They have home lamps that basically treat you like a lizard! Kinda. Its things like this so you can at least get some "sun" without the burn.

It is not the best situation, but if you get them a sun-lamp (sold as "SAD lights" on amazon) or "full spectrum light bulbs", that will help a LOT. If you get the sun lamp, be sure to protect the cord so they can't chew it. Also, you can get multi-vitamins from oxbow and those will help too.

You can also get a portable play pen to set up outside for a few hours every day so they can have sunlight. Make sure to get one with a top AND bottom so that they don't escape or get attacked by animals.

I used this one. I moved to an area with lake effect precipitation, and it honestly feels like it's cloudy for months. I started using it in the late fall, and I feel like I'm a bit in love with the bright light. Last week I looked up if it was bad to use it for more than 45 minutes.

This one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004JF3G08/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

is my favorite. I've used several different kinds, and this one is powerful and compact.

Occasionally you can find happy lights on sale at Costco, but that is super variable to location and time of year.

I know this is an old thread, but I saw your question never really got answered.

Carrier oil, the oil that makes up the majority of your mix, can probably be found your local health food store, organic grocery, hippie/smoke shop or maybe even Fred Meyer. You can also get essential oils from the same places. They're the oil that puts off the smell, and they can have benefits in themselves.

Or honestly you can order everything you need from Amazon.

Jojoba oil (carrier oil):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00GJX58PE/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?qid=1464522016&sr=8-1&keywords=jojoba+oil&pi=SY200_QL40

Cederwood oil (essential oil):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000MGWIMK/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?qid=1464522084&sr=8-1&keywords=cedarwood+oil&pi=SY200_QL40

Tea tree oil (essential oil):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0014UFXCA/ref=mp_s_a_1_11_a_it?qid=1464522236&sr=8-11&keywords=tea+tree+oil

Start with an ounce (30ml) of jojoba oil, add the tea tree and cederwood oils in one drop each at a time.

This should get you started, from here it's just about experimenting and figuring out what you like

Truth, works great for me. This is the one I have, it's great. Use it in the morning right when you wake up. I felt a difference in about a week.

Try out rescue remedy. It's a natural anti-anxiety tincture you can find on amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Bach-Rescue-Remedy-20-ml/dp/B000RFTCZW) and places like Whole Foods. I have experienced anxiety ever since quitting and this is something that has really helped me. It's 100% natural and you don't need to worry about getting addicted er whatever.

Can’t find the link for my specific model, but I got this one for a friend and she loves it

(https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018CLNEOM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_nwiBDbVF1Q7MP)

I've felt the same pattern my whole life. I chalk it up to S.A.D. - Seasonal Affective Disorder. Do some research to see if it rings any bells for you.

I bought this light on Amazon and surprisingly it helps when I'm working from home in the grey days of winter. After 30 minutes or so I feel a subtle giddy "who gives a fuck" feeling floating around my brain. Makes me jump up from my desk and do silly things around the house. Weird but whatevs. I've also started taking vitamin D supplements and try to get a few minutes of sun on my face whenever I can.

But it's spring now! My favorite time of year so yay
Hope you find a way to feel better next winter.

For some weird reason they don't make very many that are actual alarm clock ones like this that you can set to turn on at a specific time, so they're a little harder to find. This is the one I have, but it looks like it's unavailable now, sorry. :/ You might be able to find another one though, or just google the brand and maybe it's somewhere besides Amazon?

You can find tons of light alarm clocks like this one that I also have (except it wasn't such a ridiculous price when I bought it—wtf?), which are helpful and nice, but they're just regular lamps and not the super strong blue light, so they won't have quite the same effect. If you just need a little help though, it could be good. Just make sure you know what you're getting—if it doesn't explicitly say 10,000 lux somewhere, you're getting just a regular lamp alarm clock like this one.

This is the one I use at my desk, but you have to turn it on manually. So you could have your alarm go off, then turn it on, then lay there for a while, but that's not quite as helpful as having it light up gradually while you're sleeping.

This link gives a great breakdown on what to look for in the light box. This lamp on amazon is similar to the one my mom has. It's perfect for on a desk at work or while reading. Fair warning these lamps can get very pricey!

hey, thanks! which article are you referring to? but towards what you just said, let me ask you I use this light box for probably 3 or 4 hours a day, is that too much? any general advice on the best use of this?

https://www.amazon.com/NatureBright-SunTouch-Light-Therapy-package/dp/B000W8Y7FY/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1480449813&sr=1-1&keywords=sun+touch+plus

Your body produces melatonin to help you sleep. It produces it based on what time of the day it thinks it is which is affected by exposure to sunlight. By exposing yourself to light in the evening it prevents your body from producing it too early in the day and then running out of it in the middle of the night.

If your problem is that you can't fall asleep at your usual bedtime then you'd want to do the opposite and expose yourself to sunlight (or artificial light) as soon as you wake up or at least in the earlier part of the day. This could help synchronize your melatonin production to your sleep patterns. Like this guy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yze6_qZZrsI

This is the lamp I use but there are many more available out there. https://www.amazon.com/NatureBright-SunTouch-Light-Therapy-package/dp/B000W8Y7FY/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1485565701&sr=8-2&keywords=light+therapy

Good luck.

HAHA, I have also self diagnosed myself with this. Good old Google. A constant resource for the hypochondriacs!

I use a therapy light in the mornings to mid afternoon to help combat this (especially in the winter when I'm totally thrown off schedule) - these are the two I recommend:

http://www.amazon.com/NatureBright-SunTouch-Plus-Light-Therapy/dp/B000W8Y7FY

http://www.amazon.com/Lightphoria-000LUX-Energy-Light-Lamp/dp/B004JF3G08

Both well worth the money in my opinion. I use the little one at work and when I travel, and I use the larger one at home.

What about this summer was different, physically speaking? Were you getting more sun, more exercise, different diet?

Based on what you've written, it sounds like your pdoc is simply not treating your symptoms at all. It sounds like you've experienced hypomania (or at least an elevated mood) this summer and are swinging down into depression, and are still agitated by symptoms of your OCD. Can this person offer you no therapy at all, just because you have drug sensitivities? That's not how being a doctor works. Which makes me feel very sad for you that you have no options. Your doctor, if they cannot help you, has an ethical obligation to connect you to someone who can help you, not leave you untreated. What you write shows that you're exhibiting symptoms of at least two illnesses without relief and I'm like, "sooo, what is this professional even doing?" Hot damn.

Can you call your doctor and ask what they think about getting a full-spectrum lightbox? If that sunlight made you feel better, maybe that's a place to start to weather the winter months? They help A LOT of people. Naturally you'll want the supervision of a professional because you don't want to swing up into a dangerously high mood with something like this. I'm just trying to think of non-drug therapies there to bring up with your doc that might help, since your doc seems useless.

Also, see if finding a psychiatric nurse practitioner is an option in your insurance. I've always loved mine and they can do pretty much everything a psychiatrist can do, with much less ego.

I hope this brainstorming can help, if even a little.

This: https://www.amazon.com/Sphere-Gadget-Technologies-Lightphoria-Energy/dp/B004JF3G08/ref=sr_1_6_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1506432050&sr=8-6&keywords=sun+lamps+for+depression is the sun lamp I have. It's small, so can easily be transported back and forth to your job.

Just doing what you do, for a half hour in the morning, with it on the highest intensity, really helps with energy levels.

This is the new and improved model. I got the original one 15 years ago for a (requested) birthday present. I was traveling a lot for my job, and I could throw it in my suitcase and use it in the hotel room before I had to go spend the day teaching home healthcare nurses how to do charting on a laptop.

What kind of job do you have? You don't have to reveal too much, I'm just wondering if it's office work, if you work with people or by yourself, or what sorts of things you're allowed to do. When you see your doctor, make sure to bring this up. My pdoc prescribed me modafinil, it doesn't exactly deal with depression but it gives me more energy and helps counteract the fogginess. I don't know where you live, but if it's a relatively high latitude like I do, you might have some Seasonal Affective Disorder going on as well. Every fall/winter after I was diagnosed sucked really bad, until last winter when I got a light box. This is the one I have https://smile.amazon.com/Sphere-Gadget-Technologies-Lightphoria-Energy/dp/B004JF3G08/ref=sr_1_9_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1474310365&sr=1-9&keywords=light+box
and it really helps me. It's small but it's bright and it would fit on a desk.

I've used a bunch. This one is a little pricier, and it's hands down the best. My tiny apartment is on an interior corner, so zero light in the winter. Turning this thing on makes it look like a bright May day inside.

I have been using this one for about a month and have seen significant improvement! It helps if I wake up early and use it first thing in the morning while I drink my coffee. At the end of a half-hour session, I feel ready to face the day!

NatureBright SunTouch Plus Light and Ion Therapy Lamp (package may vary) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000W8Y7FY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_D7-AybSFSZ9RP

Ahhh! Well, different light bulbs have different color temperatures, some are more reddish or bluish, but in this case, I'm talking about devices that use blue-only LEDs. They appear as pure blue. I have an older model of this light.

At the end of the day, avoid blue wavelengths. Remember, "white" is our brain seeing a lot of visible wavelengths, so it includes blue wavelengths, too. Avoid computer monitors, compact flourescents, white lights of all sorts, really. Watching TV is not too bad, since the blue pixels aren't on as much during a film/tv show. Older incandescent bulbs are ideal for DSPS, but otherwise, buy the warmest-colored LED bulbs you can. The yellower, the better. They also sell these amber "blue-blocker" wrap-around glasses that promise to block all blue wavelengths at night, though I haven't tried them.

Halogen bulbs are not very blue; they're good at night, but won't help that much in the mornings.

Sounds like ur circadian rhythm is off. Use a special lamp in the mornings. Turn on 30 minutes before getting out of bed and lie down facing the lamp on your bedside table.

Lightphoria 10,000LUX Energy Light Lamp https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004JF3G08/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_k9i.ub04XX0EQ
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004JF3G08/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_k9i.ub04XX0EQ

You could also try a low carb diet, a lot of people say it really helps with energy. It definitely helped me. Whenever i eat a lot of carbs, i want to sleep for 12 hours and i feel exhausted. I eat a ketogenic diet. One doesn't have to eat low carb just for weight loss, there are a lot of other benefits.

I don't know about actual light boxes (if my roommates weren't gone for study week, I would ask one of them). However, from my short amount of research I just did for you, I liked this one the most.

The most common "bad" comment is it smells like burning plastic. which makes sense for the amount of wattage that is needed for the therapy... and how hot it would get.

but yeah. I liked that one.

https://www.amazon.ca/Verilux-VT10WW1-HappyLight-Liberty-Compact/dp/B00K08ZDBI/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=happy+light&qid=1572983279&sr=8-7 I've purchased this one and have been using it for the past 3 years. It's really good, i personally think it helps me a lot :)

Don't get the small dinky ones, or those 'blue light' ones, they don't do much. I'd recommend this one: http://www.amazon.ca/Day-Light-Uplift-Technologies-000-Lamp/dp/B0009MFUWC
A bit pricey, but it's great. I have it on a timer to go off in the morning before my alarm clock, really helps me wake up.

Its both. This is the one I have at home.

You can get cheaper ones on Amazon like this one.

As for essential oils, I find that lemongrass, eucalyptus and tea tree oils emulate a Thai massage parlor the best. These are the ones that I use. You only to add 2-5 drops each time so a small bottle can last you a really long time.

Sure! I'll give OP a chance to respond but if they don't want it it's (probably) yours. I say probably because I did some major cleaning and have to figure out where I put it!

It's this one: https://www.amazon.com/Sphere-Gadget-Technologies-Lightphoria-Energy/dp/B004JF3G08

I have a spare because my boyfriend was trying to be helpful, but didn't realize 2 of these is no better than 1!

[edit] found it!

JFC, I'm so sorry to hear about this.

You said you got your hormones checked--do you mean your thyroid levels at an Endocrinologist? I suddenly got worse this year, and I found out that I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (autoimmune of the thyroid). Sometimes they just test your surface TSH levels, but with Hashi's, it fluctuates (thyroid stops working well, then tries again to work etc.) So you have to test the "antibodies". Give it a go, if you haven't.

I've been through several birth controls in my life, but there was also one instance where I became SEVERELY fatigued on it. Like ridiculously fatigued like you've mentioned. I'd never had that kind of fatigue happen before, so my brain is always like, "did I get lupus?" or something.
But turns out, once I stopped the birth control, I was better. That one messed up my energy.

I second the light therapy box if you're stuck indoors. I have this one and it's great. There are cheaper ones too.

Also vitamin D! Seriously! If you aren't getting enough sunlight, your fatigue will get worse if you are vitamin D/and calcium deficient. Also your b12 levels/iron levels, if they are low can contribute to fatigue. (Low iron specifically, can make you anemic--but you have to watch this vitamin, because too much IS very harmful.)
Have you got your vitamin levels checked?

I live in Japan, and I'm thinking about applying for some caregiver help--but unfortunately, I've been out of the States for so long, I don't know how it works. But I do know such programs MUST exist for people with disabilities.

It looks like someone underneath me (mynipsareonfire) knows a little bit about it. Please take all of their advice.

I think of course, even though you don't want your grandparents to be your caretakers, you can ask them, just for this--to help you fill out the forms for the people to come to your house and judge your disability and talk to you about it. Do be afraid to ask for help when you need it. You can tell them this will get you back up on your feet a little.

Anyway healing vibes and energy to you. I don't have a lot myself, but I wish I could give some to you.

Sorry you’re feeling that way 💛 my husband’s psychiatrist recommended one of these lights to help him through the winter. Have you heard of them/considered them before?

For a book, any local guidebook would be great. Even if they don't get outdoors too much yet it would at least be something to get them psyched to get out. I remember winning a Rocktown guidebook (not that that is really local for Florida) at a comp at my university climbing tower before ever climbing outdoors and it got me stoked and I planned a trip as soon as I could.

Also get them some robot buttholes!

https://www.amazon.com/Goda-Acupressure-Massage-Rings-Set/dp/B00G2G22IO

To further your point a bit, I'd suggest a therapy lamp. I don't suffer from seasonal depression per se, but I do notice an uptick in energy with these types of lamps. I don't think you should use lamps like these all day long, but an hour or two here and there while modeling seems to be a good amount.

My Dr. suggested a happy light I use it. I couldn’t really say how well it works though. It looks like there’s a new model of it out now.

Here’s a link:
https://www.amazon.com/Verilux-HappyLight-Liberty-Therapy-Energy/dp/B0094HBU6I/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1510291009&sr=8-1&keywords=happy+light+10000+lux&dpID=31EUQwMzPyL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

I know exactly what you mean about the sleepy eyes! I guess I didn't even realize it had gone away for me until I just read this (got mine about 2 months ago). But yes, my eyes just felt tired and like, drowsy.

And yes, OP should absolutely pay more for a quality product. The investment is so worth it. I really like mine although I don't use the 'ion technology' at all. The footprint was smaller than I feared and the light quality is really great. I have to make myself not use it.

Hello, sorry you have had such a tough time here, and that people are not social to you. As a fourth generation Vermonter, I just want to say welcome to Vermont. I wish you had it better here. Also, it is what you make of it. Taxes, and stuff are undoubtedly high, everything here is except peoples pay. It is getting worse as time goes on too. Also, you may be suffering from a lack of sunlight, a buddy of mine has one of these:

https://smile.amazon.com/NatureBright-SunTouch-Light-Therapy-package/dp/B000W8Y7FY/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=sun+light&qid=1554918077&s=gateway&sr=8-10

and it helps him with getting through the winter, you should give it a try.

​

I mean no ill feelings, and wish you the best of luck. We are not all unfriendly here.

This is half the usual recommended Lux (this is 5000), but studies (http://www.columbia.edu/~mt12/blt.htm) have shown that you just use it longer for the same affect:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K08ZDBI/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 It's $40 and I paid $40 in 2014, so the price is pretty stable.

They have medical devices specifically made for this, such as:

http://www.amazon.com/Philips-goLITE-BLU-Therapy-Device/dp/B001I45XL8/

Research has shown that it is blue light in the morning that is most effective for regulating sleep cycles, and it must shine into your eyes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_therapy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase_response_curve

I've found that taking 1mg of melatonin a few hours before bed works well.

However, it would be best if you saw a doctor about it and get prescribed a proper therapy. It could be something else like sleep apnea or mild depression, which require different treatment.

Pillow speakers are a pretty good solution, but I just hook my stuff up to a nice speaker dock across the room.

So here where I'm at...
Lights to replace the standard fluorescent tubes

A new sun lamp

A three-panel canvas with a forest print.

I'm replacing the dark burgundy lamp shade in there with this.

Plants I'll work out once everything else comes together but the spider plant sounds like an idea.

Thanks for all the ideas everyone!

I bought a diffuser on amazon for around $20 and use it frequently with perfume oils I like, but I don't like on my skin. It works great and a little oil goes a long way!

I have this Philips goLite Blu with the timer/clock function. Whether I'm particularly happy or not... well... maybe I'm like this year round. ;)

Can I ask where you bought yours? I tried searching on Amazon and wasn't able to find that one. While I like the look of yours better I saw this one and was considering giving it a try, but I do like how your's stands more upright.

I'm not usually much on homeopathy, bach flower remedies and the like but 'Rescue remedy': http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RFTCZW/ref=s9_dcbhz_bw_g121_i4_sh is genuinely good at reviving plants (as well as animals and humans). However, unless you can establish why the plant is failing and correct it, that's not going to be more than a short term sticking-plaster.

My girlfriend and I got one two winters ago and it has been a godsend. I would HIGHLY recommend getting one if you live in New England. This is the one we have.

I have this one!

For me, it also helps to have nice cozy slippers to wear right when I get out of bed, and coffee ready. (I have a programmable coffee maker.)

I do this too! We bought a pillow speaker off amazon that is just like a black flexible piece of padded fabric that I shove under my pillow. Husband can't hear it and I can still a listen for the baby. It's like this one. I love it!
Pillowsonic Stereo Pillow Speaker by Pillow Sonic http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002BK7KU/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_8DLXtb1J3G3NW

They make those indoor lamps that you can use for SAD. I have no idea how well they work, but maybe you could give one a try? Like this one? It's very highly reviewed. They're a little pricey but could be worth it if it helps.

Absolutely! Light boxes work for shift workers as well! This is the one I got, it's $50 CAD at my Costco but still reasonably priced elsewhere considering the positive reviews.

Yes here is what saved me..Supplement with some vitamin D and use a high energy light therapy box to emulate the sun for about 30 minutes a day in the morning...There is alot research on how they help with seasonal depression. If you don't know what i am talking about ..

https://www.amazon.com/NatureBright-SunTouch-Light-Therapy-package/dp/B000W8Y7FY/ref=pd_lpo_121_bs_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=18KGAZGTZFHC387404GZ

If you buy one make sure it is 10k Lux , anything less then that wont emulate the sun..
There is alot of scientific research on their benefits for Seasonal Depression.

https://www.amazon.com/NatureBright-SunTouch-Light-Therapy-package/dp/B000W8Y7FY
That's the lamp I got; there is a review on Amazon which explains why you should NOT use the ion therapy part of this otherwise excellent lamp.

You can find this album on iTunes and if you want to give it a try, one of the tracks is the short version of yoga nidra. It's the one I've mostly done and is great. If you like it you can get the long version track, too; I think the other track on the album is some weird yoga music, I just have the two guided meditation tracks.
https://www.amazon.com/Experience-Yoga-Nidra-Relaxation-Remastered/dp/9197789429

These days as in winter? You may have SAD (I have this), where a lack of sunlight and exercise actually wears you down and makes you depressed. Try going outside for a minimum of an hour a day, preferably mid morning to afternoon (while the sun is still shining) and just walk around enjoying nature. Getting a lamp can be very effective (I've heard, I don't own one).

Good luck my friend.

This is the unit I bought, cheapest and best reviews: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009MFUWC/ref=pe_385040_30332190_pe_175190_21431760_M3T1_ST1_dp_1

If you are affected by change in weather I'm sure this therapy could help you. I mean it seems like a no brainer.. the 'right' light hitting the optic nerve produces serotonin = we feel better. If it's sunny out I just read out side with my face to the sun, but any cloudy days I'm on this light big time or I slip off the rails again.

Mine looks like this one http://www.amazon.com/SAD-Light-Therapy-Box-Northern/dp/B003OWJCIM

This one costs $300. The Mayo Clinic has a good page on Lightbox Therapy too. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/in-depth/seasonal-affective-disorder-treatment/art-20048298

Mine, and the one in the link are both 100,000 lux. Ideally I'd do an hour a day. If you get one with a lower level lux, the recommended daily time will change.

Try these.

https://www.amazon.com/Goda-Acupressure-Massage-Rings-Chart/dp/B00G2G22IO/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1467038345&sr=8-1&keywords=acupressure+rings

I have been using them for awhile now and find that they help quite a bit. They increase blood flow to my fingers. Very useful when my fingers are tight in the morning after a hard session the night before.

I also jammed my pinky playing basketball the other day and low and behold.. the rings have been working wonders. The swelling is almost gone within 2 days.

Nope, but I do have both :) those salt rock lamps look pretty cool. You might hear SAD lamps called light boxes, they look like this and are basically ridiculously bright lights that make your body think the sun is up.

[These are great too!](Goda Acupressure Massage Rings (Set of 5) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G2G22IO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_I.lPAbC5Y2XH8)

You can take them anywhere and they feel great! There’s are the ones I use but there are cheaper options on amazon

Something like this? http://www.amazon.com/Lightphoria-000LUX-Energy-Light-Lamp/dp/B004JF3G08/

I think you leave it on as much as possible to treat SAD. It's a bit expensive but if you can set it up on a timer it might work great as a wake-up light too.

I also react poorly with any SSRI antidepressant, but this is an old tricyclic antidepressant which has very minimal side effects. You take it right before bed so you'll wake up a bit groggy. But the rest of the day is pretty smooth.

Try peppermint oil immediately. It will give you instant relief.

http://www.amazon.com/Heathers-Tummy-Tamers-Peppermint-Capsules/dp/B0002UDK4Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406125765&sr=8-1&keywords=peppermint+oil+capsules

or

http://www.amazon.com/NOW-Foods-Peppermint-Oil-ounce/dp/B00028MKRQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406125773&sr=8-1&keywords=peppermint+oil

I usually shoot it with a shot glass and chug water to chase it. It's been a life-saver.

Yeah. It's a white light I'm pretty sure.

https://www.amazon.com/Verilux-HappyLight-Liberty-Therapy-Energy/dp/B0094HBU6I/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1522522339&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=sad+light&psc=1

Hey there! I got one of those lights for light therapy. It's like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012CBOFZ0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It helped me through the winter and lack of sun. Good luck to you!

Yay! I'm so happy to find someone I can help with this! Here's what I use - http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00028MKRQ.

You can do what I said above or use an oil diffuser by your bed when you lie down.

I typically do turn all lights off except for one on my night stand prior to bed, and read for 20 minutes to an hour. I've been looking at a few lamps on Amazon that are pretty cheap but have some good reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000W8Y7FY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H2C67XW/ref=sspa_dk_detail_6?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07H2C67XW

I have this SAD lamp. Works on a timer and it is nice to wake up to. Other than that, I like to bike everywhere and always book a trip (even if it is only small) in February for something to look forward to.

Good luck!

Sounds like y'all might really benefit from styling your apartment in the "jungalow" theme (SFW, I promise, haha). Lots of plants, very homey, warm, friendly and colorful.

Also, since this sounds like an issue that affects your overall quality of life every day, it might be worth it to invest in a therapy light. No idea if this is the best one, but this is an example. It might be able to help y'all cope with the dreary days and low lighting.

1. Get a blue light box to help you control your circadian rhythms and sleep in a regular pattern. Here's a good one. Use it daily in the morning after you first wake up. (Be careful with this if you're bipolar, as it can trigger mania if you use it too long.)
   
2. Start taking fish oil. Start slow and work your way up to 3000 -
   6000mg. Here's a decent fish oil.
   
3. If your doctor prescribed you medication, take your damn medication.
   
4. Start weight lifting. Go easy and then go hard.
   
5. Read. Reading always helps pull you out of yourself.
   
   This shit passes. It's cyclical like everything in nature. Misfortune can only last so long before it expends itself and balance returns. Remember that. It passes.
   
   

That's a completely different device though. The OP is trying to recreate a wake-up light, which aren't meant to be very bright. The light goes on 10-30 minutes before your sound alarm and gradually gets brighter with the intention of gently bringing you closer to wakefulness before the alarm goes off.

You seem to be thinking of something like this, where the idea is to have "light therapy" sessions while you're already awake, right?

Do not do what this guy said, do not have her taking stimulants as that will only make it worse.

Buy her a light box like this and have her sit in front of it for 30 mins every morning: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003OWJCIM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Then, you want to give her supplements that help with deep sleep. Some examples: Glycine, taurine, lavender, magnesium, time-released melatonin.

Herbs like valerian only last like four hours, so don't try those.

I swear by this sun lamp! I use it mostly for the winter blues, but I bet it would help with energy levels too. https://www.amazon.com/NatureBright-SunTouch-Light-Therapy-package/dp/B000W8Y7FY

Ask away! I use this lamp in this model. Every doctor at my psych clinic has this one on their desk to show patients as it's the one they recommend. I also have one of the mini models that I sort of just use for reading but I figured it couldn't hurt to get another one.

So I actually have bipolar disorder and am medicated and attend therapy regularly, so YMMV depending on your other treatments but I'll describe my experience anyway:

Excluding the periods of absolute total bottom, I very much felt like the lamp was helpful, but didn't realize it while I was in it. At first it was kind of like, ok, I'm using it now, why am I still sad this thing sucks. Then I realized when I used it in the morning I was able to put on two matching socks and other seemingly menial tasks that are out of the realm of possibility for someone with major depression.

If anything, it at least wakes you up in the morning and helps regulate your circadian rhythm, if you can find the will to roll out of bed and flip it on. Takes some of the misery out of being awake when it's cold and dark and shitty.

This got SO long but let me know if you have any other questions, I'm happy to help. Oh also if you're manic-depressive talk to your pdoc about this first before you start on an I LOVE LAMP wild ride.

I would suggest getting a wax melter and buying soy wax chips on Amazon in bulk. You can add your perfume directly into some chips (just a few drops after you had a handful of chips to the wax melter) and it will make your house smell just as amazing as you! (and you don't need to spend a ton more money) I found linen sprays really don't last that long (scent wise). Alternatively, you can also add drops of perfume to a diffuser. :D

that's it, I'm pulling the trigger on a Philips GoLite. they're cheap enough now it's worth a shot http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M3SGCUE/

edit: now debating the merits of using full spectrum bulbs in my home office instead of the GoLite. not sure if they will be as effective when used on a ceiling fixture... anyone know?

You can nudge your circadian rhythm forward (fall asleep earlier) with proper blue light exposure. The science is interesting but essentially it causes your body to produce melatonin earlier in the evening which helps induce sleep. The easiest way to do that is to go for a walk outside right after you wake up for about 30 minutes or alternatively there are blue light therapy products that can help.

On the flip side of this, you want to avoid blue light in the evening, as this can suppress the expression of melatonin. Don't look at electronics before bed, and / or buy blue light blocking sunglasses and wear them for a few hours before you fall asleep.

Don't waste your money getting it there. Places like Amazon sell it way cheaper, like this one. You can get a 1 oz bottle for less than 7 bucks.

These are a more effective treatment, vastly safer, and more cost-effective in the long run to boot.

I have a small, cheapy one from Amazon, and it's perfect. It was maybe $15 on sale. I don't think you need to spend a lot on one, or get a big one. The small ones will go for hours on the intermittent setting, which is the way to go.

Mine is something like this, but like I said, whichever one it was, I didn't pay full price.

https://www.amazon.com/Verilux-HappyLight-Compact-Personal-Portable/dp/B00K08ZDBI/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1541983830&sr=8-3&keywords=happy+light

​

Same as the "light box" that Lismox just asked.

​

It is set up to help get you going with broad spectrum light that you aren't getting with the dark. It's been helping a lot. My doctor recommended it.

I don't consume any dairy or grain anymore and it's what made the biggest impact in my energy and cognition. I've actually bought this red light https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JW9RZ7K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

​

There are so many conflicting information out there. My LED is 100-110mw/cm2 at 3 inch , and 80-90 mw/cm at 6 inch.

Those intensity is per second or minute or hour?

For skin improvement, how long should I use the lamp given the intensity?

What they don't mention here, but which I have seen elsewhere, is that blue light in the morning is good, but in the evening it may interfere with sleep by confusing your body to think it's earlier than it really is.

My husband and I started using a BLU light in the morning while eating breakfast (at least when it gets gloomy/wintery out), and run f.lux to redden our computer screens after dusk. It seems to help.

Hello! Have you looked into getting some sort of sunlamp to help you out? I live in SoCal, so this sort of thing is not an issue, but I hear these can be useful, along with full-spectrum lights.

Oh, that can be tricky with coworkers. I got some of these acupressure rings, and they make a nice fidget toy, and kinda help me destress a bit. I'm not sure if that will help you.

​

https://www.amazon.com/Goda-Acupressure-Massage-Rings-Set/dp/B00G2G22IO

I originally expected to find it to be hokum. I don't really do homeopathic or alternative medicine stuff. But I have found it to really work for me both with energy level, mood, and sleeping well.

I have a bigger one for home, but this one is currently at my desk and it's great.. 10,000 lux seems to be a good target to look for, but I'm not an expert.

Anecdotal, yes.

A friend & colleague of mine struggled with SAD for years. He, by his own testimony, tried everything, including various kinds of light therapy, before it had been more widely talked about. His self-experimentation started with different wavelengths, at different intensities, even exposing different areas of the body, at different times of day, from different angles, for different lengths of time. The guy's a scientist, who takes the function of his mind pretty seriously, so while his experimentation was definitely abnormal, I appreciated his scientific rigor. Ultimately, he found that blue light (I forget the specific wavelength he uses), especially in the upper-half of his vision (ie: shining from above center), for as little as 15 minutes, works spectacularly for bringing him back from the SADness.

Personally, I had never really felt afflicted by SAD, but I figured, what the hell, with all this light equipment around, and given the remarkable success my friend had had with it, why not see what kind of effect it would have on me? I'm prone to getting gloomy, stir-crazy, irritable on gloomy days, so when the next opportunity presented itself, I switched on one of these bad boys for 30 minutes (note: didn't use the ionizer; wasn't sure what it did; only used the light) and proceeded to feel my mood lift substantially. Maybe placebo, but at that point, and on the numerous instances of mood-lifting success, I did not argue with the results.

Here you go.

Good luck.

Take some supplemental Vit D, get early morning sunshine if possible or buy a light to help (I have the Philips GoLite), get as much exercise as you can, go to bed earlier, eat less sugar and more veggies and lean meats, do some meditation or self-hypnosis, and be patient.

I have this one https://www.amazon.com/Sphere-Gadget-Technologies-Lightphoria-Energy/dp/B004JF3G08/ref=zg_bs_13053141_12?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ZNA1EJ79ETGXPWSNY466

There are a ton of them on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Health-Personal-Care-Light-Therapy-Products/zgbs/hpc/13053141

Lots of difference price ranges. Basically, it mimics sunlight and kind of tricks your brain into thinking you're looking at the sun. I like to put it on the corner of my desk while I work. It looks like a sunny window out of the corner of my eye.

You could try a therapy “happy” light . I have seasonal depression and it makes me feel all of these things but I’ve had a huge improvement since using the light in the mornings!

I use Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil Skin Ointment for the cold (lips, cheeks, neck). And the regular Tea Tree Oil to help with breakouts. Quick applications after shower. I try to buy the 1-2 oz. Smaller and easier to carry around.

It's not stupid! It's a small thing that I have on my desk, I turn it on while I'm working in the morning. I have this one but there are lots out there. There are also lamps that you can program like an alarm, to turn on slowly on a timer, which makes it easier to wake up.

https://www.amazon.com/Verilux-HappyLight-Compact-Personal-Portable/dp/B00K08ZDBI/ref=sxin_2_osp33-7fd41a1e_cov?ascsubtag=7fd41a1e-a1b4-4959-806a-8e536f38f6db&creativeASIN=B00K08ZDBI&cv_ct_id=amzn1.osp.7fd41a1e-a1b4-4959-806a-8e536f38f6db&cv_ct_pg=search&cv_ct_wn=osp-search&keywords=sun+lamp&linkCode=oas&pd_rd_i=B00K08ZDBI&pd_rd_r=05917251-5b1a-4b33-9d4c-8644f70f9c13&pd_rd_w=miBkl&pd_rd_wg=yhwjO&pf_rd_p=53eff971-6e12-4016-9864-b6dfd929b2b3&pf_rd_r=8AA4AHXNG4WX6EV36CJ8&qid=1574271712&s=pet-supplies&tag=verywellpublish-20

This is the one I have. I originally bought one for my boyfriend who spends all day indoors so I needed a small, desk sized one. He liked it so much I bought myself one haha

> order lamps

---
>According to Nature News, Ian Morgan, a myopia researcher at the Australian National University, has estimated that children need to spend around three hours per day under light levels of at least 10,000 lux to be protected against myopia.

http://www.nature.com/news/the-myopia-boom-1.17120

Maybe this might work:

> Day-Light Classic 10,000 LUX Bright Light Therapy Lamp

http://www.amazon.com/Day-Light-Classic-Bright-Light-Therapy/dp/B0009MFUWC

You might have seasonal affective disorder (I have it too). It's when the lack of sunlight in the winter months leaves you feeling depressed and lethargic. I would recommend getting a faux sunlight lamp http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004JF3G08/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=328QFD75LHK52&coliid=I3INTXRJEPPXTG and also drinking lots of orange juice and taking walks in the morning while the sun is high in the sky. The lamp will also help you sleep better at night if you have it on you all day. You should be feeling better and more motivated if you're able to do what I'm suggesting.

Mayo description

There's obviously a thousand styles, different powers and features and so on, but this seems like a solid example here. Pretty much a faux sun. Funny that you mentioned these, u/introspeck.. bought my dad one for Christmas last year.. knowing him he probably doesn't use it so I may have to steal it from him and try it out

A note on his option C is that we've been trained that indoor light is 2700-3000K. We call that "warm white". Anything higher than that reminds us not generally of the sun, but of large laboratories or warehouses and harsh fluorescent light. It's just a subconscious thing. But easy to try: buy one bulb and see how you like it. IMO, it will look very cold, almost blue. But maybe you like that.

They do make lamps to simulate daylight for people with Seasonal Affected Disorder. Maybe check out products like this.

This works surprisingly well. It's a bit expensive, but in my opinion it's worth it (There are others that are cheaper, this is just the one I use).

https://www.amazon.com/Philips-GoLITE-BLU-Energy-Light/dp/B00M3SGCUE/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1492553641&sr=8-2&keywords=blue+light+therapy&refinements=p_89%3APhilips

I set it to turn on 30 minutes before I have to get up.

EDIT: Side note, my psychiatrist recommended this for SAD.