Posted by tom2228 on March 19, 2014, at 12:28:32
In reply to Re: darkness therapy for mania, posted by rjlockhart37 on March 16, 2014, at 22:56:20
>Has anybody used progressive darkness therapy for mania or mixed states? I.e. just sitting in a dark room for 1-2 hours during the day? I am finding it very helpful, especially with the increasing daylight, I have become photophobic.
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>LinkadgeThis is illuminating to read ;) When I was in my early adolescent years I used to cover my window with a thick dark blanket during the summer months or I would be up all night. Self-medicating at its finest. That and the street lights drove me nuts, I dreamt of throwing a rock at it or getting on a ladder to cover it with a box! It was just too much light. Upon becoming aware of my bipolar I began to understand this.
I've also noticed agitating effects from light boxes. Supposedly they can induce mania in bipolar people -- I've experienced this and would be adamant that my ex tell me when he was using it so I could hide!
> that really sparked an idea i had in my mind a while back....some cities that are gloomy....and dark, and for some reason when im in a gloomy place, dark i feel calmer, more seroqiulized.....all my problems are not bothering me....but im not excited or feeling life.....it's a gloom feeling.......like when it's raining, or ... anything but sunlight i do feel better at times....
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> im attracted to dark places....i feel calm and less agitated....i once loved being in the light but it lost liking it because of problems....rather just be away and feeling mellow
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> rseroquilized.. lol! I can relate. I used to feel better on rainy days too, partly because it was calming, partly because of my depression, counterintuitively. When it got cloudy or rained I could sit back and relax without the pressure to be chipper and in a good mood like everyone else, whom I disdained for their "ability" to do this.
These days the sun and warmth seems to be what I need the most as long as it eventually gets dark.
poster:tom2228
thread:1062586
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20140307/msgs/1062772.html