Reverse Sundowner's

   There is a well known phenomenon among dementia patients known as Sundowner's Syndrome.  As night approaches, patients become confused, agitated and uncooperative.  I think I have reverse Sundowner's (Undowner's Snydrome? Undrome?) because the white skies of winter drain me and, as the sun goes down and the skies darken, I begin to feel more focused, energetic and calm.  When the white skies are hidden, I feel relieved. My SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder, usually begins after the holidays, January 2nd. This year it started after the holiday, Christmas. The New Year's baby hadn't even been delivered yet and I already felt like I was carrying a 50 lb. weight.
     So I spent my Christmas money on a "Happy" light. Since it is from Costco, I can either get happy or my money back. It has two lenses, one for comfort, one for energy.  I will have to wait and see if a box of small, but happy, light can overcome the effect of the big, but wintery, skies of Montana and reverse SAD into DAS, Drugged on Artificial Sunlight. But, to quote a classic, Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby, ain't nothing like the real thing.