I was thinking...have any of you tried light therapy?

Dianne, I think that's a great idea. When I was in Milwaukee where the clouds and winter seems to last forever, I would go to the tanning parlor periodically and it seemed to help.
Maybe if Eagle doesn't have one of those light therapy lights, she could try that.
smile

Welcome Eagle Heart!
This is the place to find solace, friendship, understanding and humor. I recently joined too, and found these gals to be amazing. They are warm, friendly and non-judgmental--they are friends!
Alanna

And even in winter, boomers bring sunshine into life.
smile

I tan all winter long, it helps tremendously. I would recommend it to anyone who has a problem with SAD.

Sherri, when I read about Smile tanning I immediately thought of you. Personally, it scares me. I have only done it to prepare for early spring vacations to warm islands.

Sherri, do you protect your eyes while tanning?

My skin is already wrinkled enough from taking scalding baths.

Dotsie, Yes I do protect my eyes and also wear a foundation on my face that is spf 15. I use lots of lotion every day, and lotion when I tan.

If I had to choose between the POSSIBILITY of skin cancer and the well being it give me right now...well, I'm still tanning!

Sherri

Thanks for the light therapy advice...I've was diagnosed with SAD about 20 years ago. At that time, the lamp was way out of my budget's reach. So I've just always tried to walk 30-40 minutes in the sunshine everyday and that seems to keep the SAD at arm's reach most of the time. Even just knowing what it is helps to not get too sucked in by it.

I'm very fair-skinned, rarely tan, but burn easily. Two years ago I decided to try the tanning salon before our annual trek south, to see if that would help me tan vs burn. Lying there basking in that glorious heat was very rejuvenating, until one day I could actually smell my flesh burning. I ignored it, but the next few times it happened again. So finally I lay there asking myself why on earth was I doing this to my poor body? Who was going to see my tan anyway? It's the dead of winter and we have to wear tons of clothes, so any tanned bits get covered up. I realized that for me personally it was more vanity than anything else, I just wanted to be able to show off to everyone else a glorious winter tan (which my skin is probably never going to be capable of attaining anyway). But all I usually end up with is a very un-gloriously blotchy red face and even more hot flashes. So I stopped going.

Whatever I'm doing these days seems to be working to keep the SAD manageable. My bigger problem is the social angst, which probably won't respond to light therapy anyway; walking seems to be better for me all around, if and when I can drag myself out of my cave...

Ladies I read all you accounts of SAD etc. and am here to tell you, there is no need to risk your health in unsafe tanning booths when you can purchase a simple lightbulb to put into any lamp to bath yourself in immitation sunlight. True these lights use to be out of reach money wise but are much more affordable now. I have one in my lamp on my desk next to the comuter. I realize I live in Las Vegas and we are suppose to have 360 days a year of bright sunlight and that use to be true but "times they are a changin" and that is no longer the case. We've had a miserable cloud filled winter. I felt like I was back in Illinois. Check these light bulbs out, they really work with NO danger to anyone.

Sherri...do you realize the most common area of the body for skin cancer is the back of the legs? Girl, stay out of that booth!

Today, I'm shaving and spit shining my body and getting myself a "store bought tan." One of those spray on tans. I should look like a island beauty by tonight!