Hi Stacy,

You are so spot on. The little pity parties we have do lead to depression or maybe the depression leads us to a pity party.

Whenever I start having my own little pity party, all I have to do is sign in on NT and it snaps me right out of it. There are so many people here in so much pain and suffering and so much worse that it makes you take stock and be very very grateful for own our situation and that is is better than many. You can always find people better off and those worse off. If you dwell on those better off than you, it moves you into depression. If you dwell on those worse off, you are so very thankful for what you don't have in the way of illness.

Reading post by others always snaps me out of feeling sorry for myself. It is those times when we yearn for our former lives back that we move toward the self pity.

Thanks so much for your post. You expressed it so very well. I am thankful each day that I wake up and find that I am still among the liviing.

This time of year I always start to sleep too much and feel really lethargic... depressed. I don't have this at all in the summer.

So many years ago I bought a light visor and use in first thing in the morning... for 1/2 hr. It really resets my mood and sleeping habits. It helps with chronic pain too, so I don't need antidepressants.

And I see it has come down in price since I bought mine, and the one for my son years ago:
http://www.amazon.com/Feel-Bright-Li.../dp/B0014ZPAFK

Website:
http://peponline.com/feel-bright-light/

This works really well for me. It restores your mind and replaces the light lost during winter time.

Mrs. D a light visor sounds marvelous. I have a stationary Nordic night, that I read by when the days are short and gloomy.

But a visor would be so easy! May I ask what brand you use?

Thanks, Elaine

I gave the links above.... I think this one is the best.

That does sound nifty. I find I am also sleeping too much these days, not sure if it is the fatigue, season, depression, or medication, but I miss waking up at dawn with energy. Those days are probably gone as it takes so long to do everything, it is a half hour or more before I am done in the bathroom and ready to come downstairs.
Mrs. D., does the light visor help with daytime sleepiness?

Yes, it depends on the person...the timing of the lights.

The light wavelength is a blue green...and very effective at resetting you. I am taking less naps this week. Hubby got fed up with me sleeping so much! LOL

I have a old post on Depression here when I first bought the visor:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ighlight=visor
This link gives another link for further comments.

I didn't seem to need it last year. I originally was still working when I first purchased the visor. (my neck and shoulders were giving me much trouble then).

You can walk around with this visor, but you have to be careful as it changes what you can see, esp. the feet. So I only use it when sitting down, and mostly on computer.

The price has come down quite a bit since I bought mine, and also one for my son who was interested also.

It is easy, and after the first day---shock at the color/brightness-- there is nothing to it. I leave mine plugged into the charger all the time, so I am pleased that the battery is still good. It has an auto shut off feature and two intensities of light. I only use it on the less intense one. Most of the time for 1/2 hr. But sometimes I increase to 45 minutes.

This sounds like something I would benefit from.

I have always been more emotional, depressed, etc. in the winter. Hubby says I have that disease, winter blues. It always happens in winter.

Will check this out. thanks

Thanks to everyone for all of your replies. They all have made me think.

Hopeless, I'm happy to hear that you may begin to think of the glass half full more often. I know how hard it is to due that.

Susanne, I know how hard it is to become the person needing the care. That is one of the hardest things for me to accept. During my career I was a nurse.

Ginnie, I have been on the site for a while so I do take many of the supplements recommended here. You may not see much from me because I go on and off the site. I don't understand why I do this. I'm trying to me better about that because I feel better when I talk with people who actually know what I feel like.

Stacy, I'm the same as you I go through pity parties. I try very hard not to let them last long. I pray many times in a day thanking God for everything I do have. Doing this helps to remind me that I have a lot. Actually, the only things I don't have are health and much money without my job. My family and friends are awesome.

Elaine, I do take Cymbalta, Tramadol and Synthyroid. I also do not know what my PN is caused by. Idiopathic! I have some possible ideas but probably will never know.

Mrs. D. thanks for the idea of the visor. It sounds great but I will have to save for it. Christmas was a killer on the finances.

I actually don't believe I am depressed. I'm very good at knowing when I am. It comes off and on. However, I do think that the winter changes my mood. I too am so much happier in the summer. We have had so many dreary days lately.

I give thanks for all of you!!

Elaine I can only assume your prolonged drugs was cipro, avelox or levaquin? As I am blown away from this drug, nuked.