| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
War Eagle
Joined: 15 Feb 2009
|
 Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 8:56 pm Post subject: S.A.D.- tired a lot? - light therapy boxes in Korea |
 |
|
Since I moved to Korea almost a year ago, not much about my lifestyle has changed. I exercise the same amount, if not more, and I eat just about the same types of food (a good mix of healthy stuff and the occasional pizza and beer). Although, this winter I have found myself extremely tired all day, if not lethargic at times. I am sleeping 9+ hours a day. I think this may a result of S.A.D., or simply put, a lack of sunlight here in Seoul. Read more here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_disorder
Has anyone else has been treated for this in Seoul or does anyone know where I can order a light therapy box? I have checked Gmarket to no avail.
Thanks for any imput. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
LemonHead
Joined: 04 Nov 2009
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I don't think you will have much luck. Even when i was in the UK i had to get mine shipped in from Germany. Your best bet would be the internet. On a positive note at least you have realised what is wrong quite quickly, it took me years to figure out. Best of luck. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
War Eagle
Joined: 15 Feb 2009
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| LemonHead wrote: |
| I don't think you will have much luck. Even when i was in the UK i had to get mine shipped in from Germany. Your best bet would be the internet. On a positive note at least you have realised what is wrong quite quickly, it took me years to figure out. Best of luck. |
How long did it take with light therapy before you noticed a difference? Was it dramatic? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
*ALI*
Joined: 04 Sep 2009
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Have you considered using a tanning bed as a another solution.
I understand to alleviate S.A.D., light therapy is primarily aimed for the eyes, and it is mandatory to wear googles on the eyes while tanning.
But I know the warmth and light of a tanning bed has alleviated the symptoms (at least temporarily) for me.
This is simply a suggestion to help the OP, not in any means am I trying to spark a debate on the use of tanning beds. Please refrain from sharing your personal beliefs about tanning. Thank you
[/i] |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
War Eagle
Joined: 15 Feb 2009
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| *ALI* wrote: |
Have you considered using a tanning bed as a another solution.
I understand to alleviate S.A.D., light therapy is primarily aimed for the eyes, and it is mandatory to wear googles on the eyes while tanning.
But I know the warmth and light of a tanning bed has alleviated the symptoms (at least temporarily) for me.
This is simply a suggestion to help the OP, not in any means am I trying to spark a debate on the use of tanning beds. Please refrain from sharing your personal beliefs about tanning. Thank you
[/i] |
Thanks Ali. This could serve as a temporary fix for me until I can find a light or get one shipped over. Good idea. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:05 pm Post subject: |
|
|
But Korea gets ample sunshine in the winter. As opposed, say, to Vancouver/Seattle with months straight of winter overcast or places way north with short winter daytimes.
Instead of a lightbox, get outdoors more? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
War Eagle
Joined: 15 Feb 2009
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| schwa wrote: |
But Korea gets ample sunshine in the winter. As opposed, say, to Vancouver/Seattle with months straight of winter overcast or places way north with short winter daytimes.
Instead of a lightbox, get outdoors more? |
First, I don't spend anymore time indoors here than I did in the states.
Second, there's a LOT less sunlight here than there is in Atlanta, GA, my hometown.
Third, getting out in sub zero temperatures is not exactly my idea of a good time. Call me lazy (no pun intended), but I'd rather stay inside where it's warm, use a light box and work on something productive. It's just a personal preference I guess. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
redaxe
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| schwa wrote: |
But Korea gets ample sunshine in the winter. As opposed, say, to Vancouver/Seattle with months straight of winter overcast or places way north with short winter daytimes.
Instead of a lightbox, get outdoors more? |
I'm from Seattle and I get a mild case of SAD every winter. I get about 8 hours of sleep every night and still feel tired all day. I often feel like I'm a completely different person in the winter than I am in the summer.
I've spent the past two winters in Seoul, one before that in Chicago, and most of the others before that in Seattle. It's all about the same. Yes, Seoul gets more light in the winter due to less cloudy weather and the fact that it's further south, however the long working hours I have here make up for that--it's dark when I wake up and dark again when I leave this dingy office. I should probably buy one of those lamps but I guess I keep telling myself that it's just normal to feel depressed and lazy in the winter.
Anyway, the dude just wants to know where he can buy a sunlamp, which has been proven to help with his problem. You're not really helping... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
UknowsI
Joined: 16 Apr 2009
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 11:07 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I come from quite far north (63�N) and there were only a couple of hours of sunlight every day. It definitely made me more sleepy, and I would often average at 10 hours of sleep a day. Since we don't get any vitamin D from the sun we add vitamin D to our milk and are also encouraged to supplement our diet with extra fish oil which is high in vitamin D. You might try to get some fish oil somewhere.
It still doesn't mess me up as much as the midnight sun though... impossible to keep the day rhythm in order. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
War Eagle
Joined: 15 Feb 2009
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 11:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| UknowsI wrote: |
I come from quite far north (63�N) and there were only a couple of hours of sunlight every day. It definitely made me more sleepy, and I would often average at 10 hours of sleep a day. Since we don't get any vitamin D from the sun we add vitamin D to our milk and are also encouraged to supplement our diet with extra fish oil which is high in vitamin D. You might try to get some fish oil somewhere.
It still doesn't mess me up as much as the midnight sun though... impossible to keep the day rhythm in order. |
Awesome advice UknowsI. I will look into this as well. Thanks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Crockpot2001
Joined: 01 Jul 2007
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 12:09 am Post subject: |
|
|
| UknowsI wrote: |
I come from quite far north (63�N) and there were only a couple of hours of sunlight every day. It definitely made me more sleepy, and I would often average at 10 hours of sleep a day. Since we don't get any vitamin D from the sun we add vitamin D to our milk and are also encouraged to supplement our diet with extra fish oil which is high in vitamin D. You might try to get some fish oil somewhere.
It still doesn't mess me up as much as the midnight sun though... impossible to keep the day rhythm in order. |
Are we sure there's not some mixing of information here? Vit D from the conversion caused by the sun and dietary sources is know to be good for bone density, and linked to immunity and even cancer prevention.
However, I understand that sunlight is increases serotonin production which results in a sense of well being, better sleep and potentially appetite control. I'm not an endocrinologist so I may be off base here.
Regardless of what I just wrote, I wonder how much real sunlight makes it to Korea compared to places like Chicago. The haze is so common here. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
proustme
Joined: 13 Jun 2009
Location: Nowon-gu
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 12:31 am Post subject: |
|
|
| I searched everywhere, including Daum.net, Naver.com, and Gmarket.co.kr, for light boxes under the shopping sections, and I couldn't find anything. No Korean companies, it appears, offer them. I'm reluctant to ask a Korean coworker to search for me, for obvious reasons. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
UknowsI
Joined: 16 Apr 2009
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 12:55 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Crockpot2001 wrote: |
Are we sure there's not some mixing of information here? Vit D from the conversion caused by the sun and dietary sources is know to be good for bone density, and linked to immunity and even cancer prevention.
However, I understand that sunlight is increases serotonin production which results in a sense of well being, better sleep and potentially appetite control. I'm not an endocrinologist so I may be off base here.
Regardless of what I just wrote, I wonder how much real sunlight makes it to Korea compared to places like Chicago. The haze is so common here. |
We take vitamin D because we want more vitamin D, not because we suffer from SAD, however the Wikipedia article cited by the OP links to a few studies about correlations between vitamin D and mood ([35]-[37] on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_disorder) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Crockpot2001
Joined: 01 Jul 2007
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 1:16 am Post subject: |
|
|
| UknowsI wrote: |
| Crockpot2001 wrote: |
Are we sure there's not some mixing of information here? Vit D from the conversion caused by the sun and dietary sources is know to be good for bone density, and linked to immunity and even cancer prevention.
However, I understand that sunlight is increases serotonin production which results in a sense of well being, better sleep and potentially appetite control. I'm not an endocrinologist so I may be off base here.
Regardless of what I just wrote, I wonder how much real sunlight makes it to Korea compared to places like Chicago. The haze is so common here. |
We take vitamin D because we want more vitamin D, not because we suffer from SAD, however the Wikipedia article cited by the OP links to a few studies about correlations between vitamin D and mood ([35]-[37] on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_disorder) |
Same here for the D intake. I cannot say I am immune to SAD for taking the Vit-D. I think I've been under it lately. I got out yesterday during some brief sun and went for a long walk. Felt great that afternoon and slept like a baby last night. Correlation WAS causation in MY book yesterday.
As for those studies, I'm surprized about the blog entry being accepted as a reference. Several of the other studies looked promising but were quite small. I'm looking forward to learning more about this. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
War Eagle
Joined: 15 Feb 2009
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 4:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
| proustme wrote: |
| I searched everywhere, including Daum.net, Naver.com, and Gmarket.co.kr, for light boxes under the shopping sections, and I couldn't find anything. No Korean companies, it appears, offer them. I'm reluctant to ask a Korean coworker to search for me, for obvious reasons. |
Yes, I tried the same and came up empty. I might just have to get the folks to ship one over from the states for me. Thanks for the search tho.
Anyone else found a SAD light therapy box in Korea? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
