~ Heading into winter, my worst time of year ~

Abby @amberpep -- you did just perfectly here starting a new thread for a new topic. And, this is a great one. I think lots of people have a harder time with winter, so sharing experiences and ideas is helpful.

You mentioned you weren't sure if your light box did anything for you and that the community you felt in your old condo talking about weather reports with neighbors was helpful. Anything else you do or are considering doing to help you through the winter?

@amberpep, Thanks for asking about when to start a new discussion and when to add a message to an existing discussion. I bet many members would like to understand when it's best to do what. While there are no hard and fast rules, here's some guidance to consider when posting a message.

1. Start a new discussion when you want to introduce a new topic with members of a group. Like you did here about seasonal changes.
2. Add a message to an existing discussion when you want to talk to people who are already discussing a topic and you want to join in.
It is also a good idea to post updates to an ongoing discussion you participate in, rather than starting a new discussion. If you started a discussion, make connections with fellow members, then post to that discussion. This sends an email notification to the people involved in that discussion. They will likely appreciate getting the update. If you start a new discussion with the update, the same people may not see it. And the new people may not know the history of your story on that topic.

Does that make sense?

Hi Abby, @amberpep

This is a great topic for a new discussion. Winter comes right during a holiday season which can be bittersweet for many. We all need to think and prepare for how we can spare ourselves from the winter blues.

Teresa

Abby @amberpep - winter is indeed a difficult time for many people. One reason we like living in central Oregon is that the sun shines a lot during the winter, even if it's cold. I know the sunlight helps my wife get through the season (especially since she has to live with a husband who has major depressive disorder). We have found that Ott lights help - I think they have full spectrum bulbs. I have an Ottlight floor lamp next to a leather chair that I like to sit in to read. It's good reading light, along with the therapy aspect.

Jim

Yes, it sure does make sense Colleen .... thank you so much for clearing that up for me.
abby

Yes, Christmas has always been a tough time for me, and it continues to be although I don't tell my family .... they all "love" it and to me it just brings sadness. I know why, but knowing doesn't seem to help. Holidays in my family as a kid was just another excuse for them getting drunk .... and there I was a little kid, just sitting, waiting to go home. My parents fought, my uncle got potty-mouthed when he'd drunk too much, and I was dragged from house to house. I probably mentioned this before but it was one Christmas morning when my mother made waffles (she never usually got up for my Dad and I), she came walking into the dining room, a plate full of syrup covered waffles on a plate in hand, and I don't know what they were arguing about, but my mother threw that plate full of waffles at my Dad. It hit the wall, and all fell except for l, which I can still see slowly sliding down the wall. I could draw a picture in color of that incident ..... it's engraved in my mind.
So, winter, the Holidays, and we're all to be happy, happy, happy, a lot of us aren't.
abby.

Well, there's not much I can do. I don't like it down here anyhow, my dog is gone. If I ever told them I was going to go "away" for the holidays, they'd drill me like a sargeant! That's just NOT to be done. I'm so sorry I moved here, even though it's wonderful to be with my girls, and they've been very sweet to me. Otherwise ...... it's a big black hole with me waiting to fall in and be gone.
abby

@amberpep

Well said, Abby!

Teresa

Jim ..... does the Ottlight floor lamp help? I have a tall lamp aside of my chair, and I have a "sunlight" bulb in it. I'm wondering if the Ottlight would work better. How much are they?
abby

@amberpep - They're expensive, but Joann Fabrics has great sales on them, 50% or more off. You might want to Google them to see if they have what you need.

Jim