Hi Wendy:
I live in Miami, so I'm not really aware of my sleeping disorder getting worse in the winter. I tried light therapy but I'm not sure I know enough about it. I know they recommend exposing to light after the 2nd third of the sleep cycle. But I'm not sure if I should have my eyes open. In that case, I don't know how it would work because I'm sleeping at that time. I tried chronotherapy during the summer and it worked wonders but you have to stick to the schedule and when I started the semester I got out of it and it lost all effects. I usually sleep 8 to 9 hours but I would go to bed at around 3 or 4 am. In school I arrange my schedule so I don't have any early morning activities. Sometimes that couldn't be done and I had a very hard time dealing with early morning activities. However, I would always make it through convincing myself that it was only for a few months.
I'm not sure if it is the depression or the medication (Celexa) but now I tend to sleep 15 to 17 hours. This has been terrible for school and for my mood as well. I have coped by gathering up a few friends on different days of the week that come over to my house and help me get out of bed, at least until the semester is over in December, but things are not getting better with all this sleep thing and it is very frustrating.
As to what I'm in school for, it's funny. I getting a PhD in Health Psychology. I also have an M.D. degree but I wanted to study the relationship between our emotions and our biology, so I'm doing research in something called Psychoneuroimmunology.
It does seem like we have things in common. I'm glad you are able to get things done. That definitely helps us feel that we have some things under control.
It has been nice meeting you. I hope we keep in touch.
I'm glad you are thinking about going to grad school, what would you like to do? I think it is great to have big things to look forward to. You can do it!
Roski