SAD

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Won’t you take me to Funkytown?

August 27, 2009 in Personal by Ben | 3 comments

I know what to look for, now, and it’s funny how soon it starts to happen.

I’m talking about SAD, or seasonal affective disorder. Yes, it could be in my head. It could be the stress of getting the kids back to school (this week) and my wife going back to teach (this week) and work being busy (always) but there is no doubt in my mind – I can feel a brain drain.

Dammit, I’m sick of it. But I’m doing what I can: using my grow light, I’ve been running 3 or 4 times a week (not far or fast, but getting out there). I’m trying to eat right but know that’s been slipping. More sleep couldn’t hurt, either.

One thing on my list is “don’t pay so much attention to the news.” This isn’t easy, what with the Health Care Debate and all. Financial news, I’m probably in the minority thinking that the recession is far from over (example: 1/3 of US banks are LOSING money after borrowing it for 0.25% and loaning it out at a much, much, MUCH higher rate; how do you lose money doing that? By having lots and lots of BAD LOANS on the books, that’s how). See? See how easy it is to slip back into paying way too much attention to world events that only peripherally impact me?

My kids are having trouble going from lazing around the house and swimming for an hour every day to eight hours of school. Homework hasn’t really started yet, but the early mornings take a toll on all of us.

On the plus side, we’ve all been healthy-ish, and since I love football I’ll have something to watch soon.

If you need me, I’ll be here, trying to keep a smilie face on and getting on with things…

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bright light! bright light!

February 23, 2009 in Educational by Ben

Kudos if you know what movie the title is from P

I found another article on light therapy, interesting stuff:

Do the lights really work?

Researchers at more than 15 medical centers and clinics in both the U.S. and abroad have had much success with light therapy in patients with clear histories of SAD for at least several years. Marked improvement is usually observed within a week, if not sooner, and symptoms usually return in about the same amount of time when the lights are withdrawn. Most users, therefore, maintain a consistent daily schedule beginning, as needed, in fall or winter and usually continuing until the end of April, by which time outdoor light is sufficient to maintain good mood and high energy. Some people can skip treatments for one to three days, occasionally longer, without ill effect, but most start to slump quickly when treatment is interrupted.

How do the lights work?

The therapeutic level of illumination has several known physiological effects, though its therapeutic mechanism is still unclear. Blood levels of the light-sensitive hormone melatonin, which may be abnormally high at certain times of day, are rapidly reduced by light exposure. Depending on when bright light is presented, the body’s internal clock–which controls daily rhythms of body temperature, hormone secretion, and sleep patterns–shifts ahead or is delayed when stimulated by light. These physiological time shifts may be the basis of the therapeutic response. Light may also amplify the day-night difference in these rhythms. Research into the possible mechanisms is currently underway, and the final answer is not yet in.

Source is here.

Side note: my son takes melatonin to help go to sleep, and suffers from depression as well. Hmm.

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Too bad, so SAD

February 16, 2009 in Personal by Ben | 4 comments

Have you seen Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfus in What About Bob?

If you haven’t, go watch it, we’ll be waiting here when you get back.

All done? Wasn’t that great? I love the sailing scenes.

Anyway, one of the main points of the movie (that I can remember, I haven’t seen it in almost ten years. Okay, so I’ll rent it, too, since you did it for me). Where was I? Oh, yeah, one of the main points:

Baby steps.

No, babies don’t actually learn to walk in the movie, but Bob has to learn that he isn’t going to get from here to there in one giant leap. You have to take baby steps along the way.

I was reminded of this the other day in a comment about, er, taking baby steps. Cuz I’m literal that way, sometimes.

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