I just bought a dawn simulator and started using it a couple of weeks ago, and I've had a definite improvement in my mood and sense of well-being. I don't mind getting up at oh-dark-thirty when it looks like mid-July in my bedroom. We'll see what happens come the dark days of January and February; I may add a light box at that time if the dawn simulator is no longer adequate.

I used to go to the tanning salon because I like being tan, and I loved my 20-minute "beach" vacations. Seriously, I'd put on my safety glasses on and turn the fan to where it was blowing directly on me, and picture myself lying on a white-sand beach soaking up the sun. When the tanning session was over, I'd be all relaxed and happy and feel like I really had taken a vacation. But, my skin got dried out and all leathery, and being almost 54, I'm not likely to get that dewy, youthful look back......all I can do is try not to make it worse!

So the light therapy really is the only option for me. A few years back, we actually considered moving to Arizona, but then we had our first grandchild and that was the end of that.