I Light Up My Life

I managed to crawl out of my she-cave to open some Christmas presents, cobble together some holiday feasts, and toast the new year. Right about now I am usually ready to return to pillow and blankie in said cozy cave replenished with a new stash of nuts, carbs, and chocolates to last until spring.

However, not this year, thanks to my new light therapy box.

If you've been wondering about the paucity of posts lately it's not because I live a more active glittery social life than you and don't have time. No, I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, which became clear to the household recently after I needed three naps to muster enough energy to brush my teeth and change back into PJs.

For those of you who are SAD skeptics, if you think of it as hibernation it doesn't seem so crazy. Plus, research has found more people have it in northern climates than southern ones. It's real, chickies, but fortunately for us all, therapies exist which can help me.

What I've started is 25 minutes sitting 18 inches away from my light box. Simulating the power of daylight with 10,000 luxes, it is supposed to stimulate the production of chemicals to increase my energy while costing considerably less than a condo in Florida.

My light therapy began only one week ago but already I believe I am experiencing results. I'm blogging, Ok? I barely blogged at all last winter; in comparison I posted a half-dozen times last April. Furthermore, I am already down to one nap a day and only when it's cloudy. Coincidence?? We'll see ....

Meanwhile I decided to enhance my she-cave to make the therapy more holistic. I've got the humidifier running on max, the light box positioned above, plus I've added some tropical plants and a hidden alarm clock that reproduces ocean sounds. It's not exactly a replica of the Sunshine State's unique climatic microcosm, but serves as a decent approximation of the parking lot landscaping at the Fort Myers airport. IMO.

A close-up of my she-cave/ the Fort Myers airport parking lot.

So I'm off to soak up some rays in my fake tropical she-cave paradise while reading about why my adultescent kids won't leave home.

This is what you get when you point a camera at 10,000 luxes.

Upon reflection, I think I'll do a little more research on Florida condos. One bedroom ones. Maybe studios.





Here is a Wickedpedia link for more info on SAD:

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


I trust the Mayo Clinic site for health advice:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/light-therapy/MY00195


I am a co-coiner of the phrase 'real estate junkie':

realtor.com

I've thought about starting a support group, REJA (Real Estate Junkies Anonymous). Maybe in the spring ....



'Adultescent' reference from Slouching Toward Adulthood: Observations from the Not-So-Empty Nest by Sally Koslow.


 








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