Sorry if this seems like a silly thing to say. But I think I am suffering from SAD. I haven’t seen the sun, or a natural shadow for that matter, for a month. I was really down this morning. Then this afternoon, in a miracle, the clouds decided to part and let us mere mortals gaze upon the vast and incredibly beautiful sight that is the heavens. I sat there, hot chocolate in my hands, just letting the sun caress my face with its rays. All was good.
Then as I looked lovingly at the orb of life, I noticed that it was gradually diminishing. It was setting. I looked at my watch. 3pm. I felt SAD descending like a London fog over me. Thick, impenetrable and just sapping the warmth out of my body.
I really need to go home.
FloChi
This wasn’t an attempt at sympathy thread, just telling someone who isn’t going to laugh me and say, ‘it’s only going to get worse’. Dammit, end of november is beach time!
I should remember that every evening when I’m trying to drive home, with the sun at the precise angle necessary to prevent me from seeing oncoming traffic. Right now I hate the sun. I keep telling myself that the nights will start drawing in earlier, but it can’t be soon enough for me.
Well, Rilchiam, you can always join us here in Oslo. We don’t get the sun in our eyes driving home; matter of fact, since the beginning of October, there have only been four or five days where we’ve seen the sun at all. The drawback is that the ground is completely saturated and everything that resembles a river, creek or stream is just millimeters below flood stage. But yeah, at least we don’t have that pesky sun in our eyes.
Most cities in NW Europe have a similar tale to tell, so you can take your pick of where you’d like to go.
Hey Flo - I’m with ya! As a solar-powered homonid myself I understand your joy at seeing that big friendly ball o’ fire shining brightly in the sky. Even if only for a few moments. Last weekend here was bleak and dreary. Constant rain, cold temps and grey skies. I was sinking fast. Around 2:30 Saturday afternoon the sun broke through the clouds and a flash of blue was visible behind the scuttle. Awsome! I hopped into my running clothes and hit the road for a few miles. Sunshine, blue sky, endorphines and a song in my heart. Who could ask for more? By the time I returned from my run the clouds had once again obscured the sun and the rain was returning. No problem though, I’d had a fix and was fine for awhile.
Something else I just realised, I haven’t seen spring for several years. I keep hopping between Sweden (work) and Australia (family) and keep missing spring. But I keep managing to find winter. I have had 1 spring time since late 1996 and that was in 98. And it looks like I have to miss then next one too. I just keep on managing to get 3-6 month holidays off work (well not really holidays, contracts change and stuff) in Sweden, go back to Australia and am nowhere for a long time. Damn it.
I would go for a run, but it is too damn cold. You enjoy it for me el_mono. And I am in Västerås flodnak, so I know exactly what you are going through. Our waters aren’t quite high enough yet though. Just think of this as a way of keeping Oslo clean.
Something you might want to try as a remedy for SAD: full-spectrum light bulbs. When I worked 3rd shift, I hardly ever saw the sun. Once I got a couple of them for the office, I started cheering up.
Blessed, where can you get them? The full-spectrum bulbs, I mean. I’m a SAD sufferer myself and I haven’t seen natural daylight for over two months, with little prospect of seeing any for four months more.
