Hey Lauren,

I’ve got the same question as Imomum – Do you mean a light therapy lamp/box by ‘the light’ in your first comment?

Because I tried everything you mentioned last winter, exercise, essential oils, meditation or yoga, for months and they were doing nothing for me, so I ended up trying an antidepressant but then soon the winter was over so I stopped. Which worked by the way even if it was a short period of time.

But this autumn/winter, I started light therapy and it’s seriously life-changing, I wish I’d had this last winter and the winters before. If you did mean light therapy and you’re already doing it but it’s not really helping, try increasing the dose, I do it during all morning, sometimes even in the afternoon, instead of the recommended time which is 30 minutes in the morning per day. Because I was doing it for 30 min as recommended since September (because you’re supposed to start it before it actually gets gloomy) and I had that drop-down feeling early October as soon as it got grey, and I googled and read that if it’s not being efficient, you can try longer duration. And I’m all good now, I’d even say I’m no longer used to ‘feeling well’ this time of the year with this kind of weather so it’s even quite weird to feel well! Haha.

Also, as Imomum does, I take a high dose of vitamin D (10000 IU every other day) too. I don’t know if it helps mood-wise but it definitely helps physiologically and keeps my energy level right.

Being and touring in Australia should absolutely help though! Only some weeks to go for you then 🙂

I joined the site to be able to leave you a reply, so please try the light therapy (higher dose)! I feel like I could even go live in Sweden or Finland if I have this haha.

But yeah as Anita suggests, I’ll be moving down south as soon as I can, well, if I can, job etc. etc. Life isn’t that simple sometimes eh.

Hope it’s of some use for you.