How is everyone doing?

[seaso...@gmail.com]

How is everyone doing now that summer is truly starting? Personally,
I can feel my symptoms growing buds and all this heat and lack of rain
is like fertilizer. I'm doing my best to starve this Summer SAD plant
so those buds don't bloom into my full-on-SAD-depression.

I'm going to compile a big list of everyone's recommendations for how
to cope with Summer SAD, so if you have anything to add which you
haven't already seen listed on the Forum or website, let me know!

Anyone in Los Angeles interested in a July or August meeting?

Saskia

[Greta Pang]

Am interested in a summer meeting. Am dealing with my SAD full-on.
Yesterday while in the tea house on Beverly I overheard a customer
saying enthusiastically to the staff that she'd much rather be hot than
cold, while ordering HOT teas to go!!! The world just doesn't get it, do
they? I am escaping to cool Michigan with my family next week - can't
wait! How are you doing, Saskia?
Greta

[Saskia]

Greta!
I will email you soon about setting a date for another meeting.  Michigan sounds wonderful! I will be off to Seattle for two weeks starting the 12th so I know your excitement.  I am praying for bad weather since the Northwest has been having a few heat waves lately. 
The world does not get it!!  I think we have to accept that Summer will continue to party-on dudes. 
I am doing fine.  I think the fact I have some trips planned makes me more upbeat than I otherwise would be.  And the fact that I'm in touch with you and others who have this makes me feel SO much better!!  Just knowing I have Summer SAD (I did not know it was a real disorder last summer) is a relief.  I am all about being proactive this summer to keep my sanity.
That said I am still not as creative as usual with my work--that fertile period I felt in winter here hasn't returned. I am still tired at the end of the day. I think if I take my own advice from the website I'll be better off....lol I still don't have a set routine, and have been pathetic with exercising.  I need some new home yoga/pilates/tai chi videos.  Can you/anyone recommend some?

Saskia

[Magali Renee Parry]

Hi Saskia

First let me tell you how much I enjoy your blog, I seem to have the same
opinions you have and that's a good feeling. I have disliked summer most of
my life, but I have been lucky in living by a beach most of the time. I grew
up in France by the Mediterranean, moved to the US, lived in Texas for 2
ghastly years, then to Southern Cal. Lived inland, till my new husband and I
moved to Venice at the beach, summer is definitely bearable here. Like you,
my husband works in the television and movie industry so I'm stuck in L.A.
Don't have any helpful hints just wanted to tell you my appreciation for
what you are doing!
Take care. Waiting for Autumn and winter! Renee

----- Original Message -----
From: <seaso...@gmail.com>
To: "Summer SAD" <summe...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2007 10:57 AM
Subject: How is everyone doing?

>

[Bev Emley]

Looking forward to the list of recommendations! I am doing my best right
now, but same as you, trying very hard not to get depressed.
On top of that, my doctor took me off the estrogen I was taking, and now my
hot flashes are coming back. The heat is bad enough, but this is even
worse! I am getting up earlier than ever and getting what I need to do
done, and relaxing in the cool in the house, with the shutters mostly
closed.
I am too far away to attend a meeting, but would love to hear results, and
any help getting through this summer.
Bev

-----Original Message-----
From: summe...@googlegroups.com [mailto:summe...@googlegroups.com] On
Behalf Of seaso...@gmail.com
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2007 10:58 AM
To: Summer SAD

Subject: How is everyone doing?

[Saskia]

Hi Renee,

I'm so glad you enjoy the blog I am starting to work at it a little more!  I'm so envious you are in Venice.  We are fixing to move to the coast in the next year or so.  I know it's generally cooler there even tho I'm not really too far inland, being a little south of Hancock Park.   Victoria, the author of the LA Times article about Summer SAD, en route from my apartment back to her home --along the 10 to the PCH--monitored the temperature in her car, and she said that the temperature went from 82-71.   It's that bowl effect--cradling the smog, which increases the heat of course. 

Do you still get Summer SAD out in Venice--or is it just improved and now more mild?

From my short time here it never struck me there was an autumn season in LA at all.  I call the seasons here "Hot" "Hotter" "Evenhotter" and "#$#%#%#HOT!"  I suppose after awhile I will acclimatize a little more and therefore be attuned to the seasons.  Last Fall I was so desperate for That-Fall-Feeling I drove up to Big Bear for a few days and camped out in the woods! 

I was out all morning hitting up IKEA and Sears for some cooling fans, another airco unit, and a few more curtains!  Our place is one of those Spanish 1920's style places so of course no built in airco.  We worked out a system so we are creating a 'wind tunnel' and channeling the hot air out of the back!  It's really wonderful!  Thank goodness for high velocity fans! 

I hope you're having a good holiday!

Saskia

[Saskia]

Bev I'll try and put together a master list this weekend of summer-survival ideas.  I'm sorry about your hot flashes--I can't imagine dealing with the heat and then your own thermostat going haywire to boot!  Hang in there...

I'm trying to get up earlier too.  On days I don't I'm running errands at night, even tho I'm just usually too petered out to do it in the evening.   I am learning not to push myself too much, as I usually do.  Like today, when I felt it was getting too hot, I cut my errands short and headed home to relax.  Last year I would have pushed myself, so I feel I'm making good progress in terms of just being my own 'nanny' in a way ;-)  Sometimes it's hard to do what is best for oneself! 

Saskia

[Katie Tynan]

I'm having really good luck with Cool-a-roo shades. Our living room/dining room is an entire wall of windows facing west - total greenhouse effect. I got ones that go on the outside of the windows at Lowe's last summer for 3 of them. This year I ordered a Triangle "sail" from Overstock.com - that one I installed outside of the French doors (no ready-made ones fit). The nice thing about them is they keep the heat out but allow just enough filtered light so that I don't feel like a total vampire. We don't have air-conditioning either because, sad to say, I live in Seattle. Don't want to burst anyone's bubble about that one, but then again, mine's been getting worse every year - along with the hot flashes!

 

My other favorite trick, especially when I have to be out and about: put ice and some water in a small cooler (I have one that's just a little larger than a lunch box) along with two cotton bandanas. Wear one around your neck until it heats up/dries out then switch them.

 

Katie

[lexwahl]

Hi (I hope you don't mind if I interject),

I moved from Pasadena (talk about hot) to the San Pedro area. My attitude has changed greatly. I use to obsessively and anxiously log into weather.com--worrying about the heat. Now, I find I just look at it from time to time.

The great part about living near the coast in the South Bay is that there is often a thick line of clouds on the horizon. They look as though they are politely waiting to drift inland while everyone sleeps. Sometimes they're gone in the morning; other times they hang around for awhile. I love them.

If you get a chance, visit White Point (http://www.sanpedro.com/panoramas/white_point.htm) at sun down. Tonight (4th of July), there was a fabulously cold wind blowing on me as I watched the beautiful waves below and clouds moving in from the west. Ahhh.

If you're going to live in So Cal, definitely move to the coast.

Thanques,

Lex

[Magali Renee Parry]

Saskia

 

I'm glad to hear you 'r planning a move to the coast. It has made a huge difference for me, I was never particularly depressed when I lived inland, but acutely uncomfortable without energy. Now summer is not that bad, case in point this morning overcast with a nice breeze made my daily walk on the beach perfect!

By the way I also take a lot of vitamins B, could explain the lack of depression?

Take care    Renee

----- Original Message -----

From: Saskia

To: summe...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, July 04, 2007 2:47 PM

Subject: Re: How is everyone doing?

[Saskia]

Lex--Renee,

Yes the coast beckons!   Unfortunately people with Summer SAD aren't the only ones who want to live there--not much bang for the buck so we'll stay inland for another year--I keep hoping we'll find a run down little bungalow to renovate but we pretty much missed the era of cheap Venice real estate....boo!

Thank goodness for that refreshing marine layer this morning and the cool day yesterday.  I would have started going nuts if not for it, since today is going to start heating up again.  Heavens to Betsy what I would give for a daily beach walk! Just watering my plants at night I've found has helped my SAD--I turn it on mist at the end of watering and then give myself a little misting, too!  I think I should start my early morning swim again.

I got some grayish curtain panels at IKEA yesterday that I put behind my wood blinds and when they're open it sort of simulates a heavy fog outside (I'm imaginative!), so that shall have to do for now!

I do think paying attention to my diet and supplements has helped my depression..this time last year I was not doing well but this year I'm so much better. I also have not had any of the weird sleep patterns like last year.  I also started taking extra B vitamins (Vessel Care by Metagenics) that seems to be giving me an extra boost!  After all the cirulatory system is what helps us cool down when we're too hot, right ? ;o)