Earlier in November, I started a series where I offered daily tips on how to develop healthy habits for the holidays, and have fallen off with many things swirling in my babysphere, so I would like to kick it back up until the end of the year. Can you believe 2009 is almost over? It’s just zoomed by! Moving forward…
Now that November and Thanksgiving have rolled passed, don’t be surprised when some of your friends seem to be grumpy or irritable . We’re about a quarter of the way through the cold months of the year now. From the months of November to February, the days are shorter and colder, and the nights longer and darker.
As season and climate transitions, many people tend to feel gloomy, miserable, and talk about how much they “hate the holidays.” Such mood disorder is known as winter depression, or Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.), and you may have heard about it.
Based on statistics released by the S.A.D Association, 500,000 people in the United Kingdom have experienced some form of winter depression. Doctors have estimated that 20% of the population, approximately 2 million people are affected by the disorder in Sweden.
Norman E. Rosenthal, a US doctor, coined the term S.A.D in 1984. Winter depression is a sound medical basis that involves changes in the body’s mood centers evoked by shorter daylight hours and a lack of sunlight in comparison to the spring and summer months.
Some people suffering from this depressive illness experience a sense of unrelenting isolation and inconsolable loneliness. The only consolation to most suffering this condition is the fact that many people go through the same grumpiness during this time of the year; it provides a sense of comfort and assurance that sufferers are not alone.
Light therapy, proven to be the most effective and clinically proven treatments for S.A.D, has shown to benefit some 80-85 percent of S.A.D cases. It may sound very simple but the process involves more than just turning on a light and twiddling your thumbs as you wait for that renewed energy to power up your whole well-being.
Since most spend most of their time at home or the office, these lights only emits a feeble 200-500 Lux (a Lux is a unit of illumination,) yet a minimum of 2,500 lux is required to alleviate the symptoms of S.A.D. In comparison, a clear Summer’s day may reach an intensity of 100,000 Lux.
It may have something to do with the lack of Vitamin D, or maybe the sun provides a healthy dose of liveliness, but light therapy, such as making sure to be in sunlight for at least thirty minutes to about an hour and a half, depending on your tone of skin. There are even light boxes to provide just enough light, based off of illumination measurements, that will combat the symptoms of S.A.D.
When it comes to treatment of S.A.D symptoms, light therapy could be the best approach to consider. However, those with severe symptoms, addressing the root causes of the condition may involve the use of both anti-depressant drugs and psychotherapy treatments.
Additionally, according to statistics, cases of S.A.D increases dramatically traveling 30 degrees of latitude further north or south. In fact, the condition is virtually unheard of in the tropics, speaking volumes for how big of a role sun plays in the condition. As impractical it may sound, a movement or vacation trip to countries near the equator can definitely improve ones mood and well-being.
Another good way to combat the symptoms of S.A.D would be through movie therapy. Bundle up with you favorite movie buddy, and watch movies that feature warm, sunny, summery climates and see marked improvements in mood. A film with clear blue cloudless skies, palm trees, and absolutely an absence of snow may qualify as movie therapy.
Watching outdoor sports may also produce the same mood-enhancing effect. Furthermore, overexposure to many indoor sports have been found to bring on a state of depression and trance-like catatonia that, in severe cases, resulting in complete mental health breakdown.
So for your health, and the health of your friends and family, make sure everyone bathes in the sun around an hour of sun a day, or consider a light therapy box, especially if you live in an area where the sun doesn’t make it’s appearance for periods at a time. Vitamin D may also be something to consult a doctor about, if you are not able to be exposed to enough light, and are not consuming enough foods that contain the nutrient.
To your holiday health!
~Hale Mom
Disclaimer: This article is solely for informational purposes, and should not be replaced for a proper diagnosis or treatment from a doctor.
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I know that sunshine and lack of sunshine affects my mood.
Thanks for the information and thnks for the follow. I am now following you as well.
Yep, it does for me too. I’m much happier when I get a healthy dose of sun each day. Thanks for checking out the site. I dig your site; many cool tips about jeans! I’ll be seeing you around!