On a dreary day like today your not alone. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is pretty easy to understand. As seasons shift, so does the amount of sunlight, which affects your circadian rhythm, the body’s internal clock that governs certain brain wave activity and hormone production. In some people, this shift changes mood-related chemicals in a way that can cause depression. Highly sensitive people are especially prone to depression as the weather changes. Darkness one hour earlier can shock a sensitive person’s system much like jet lag — generating an angry response from the central nervous system.
Here are a few way sto survive the shorter days of winter.
1. Get a chavrusah or do homework with your kids
2. Use a Sun Lamp
Bright-light therapy has proven to be an effective treatment for seasonal affective disorder, also known as the winter blues.
Light boxes are the typical light system used for SAD in clinical studies. They are flat screens that produce full-spectrum fluorescent light, usually at an intensity of 10,000 lux. Some health clubs offer light-box rooms, where you can go sit in front of the boxes if you can’t afford to buy one for yourself.
It’s important to position the light box according to the manufacturer’s instructions and use it at the same time each day, typically for 30 to 60 minutes. Most people get the best results when they use a light box before 10 a.m.
3. Get sunlight rearrange your schedule to get as much sunlight as possible between the months of November and March during daylight saving time. If you can manage to sneak away from your desk for even 10 or 15 minutes at lunchtime to get outside and soak in as many rays as possible, you’ll get a decent-enough sunshine fix.
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