How to Beat the Winter Blues with a Light Box
How to Beat the Winter Blues with a Light Box
The Winter Blues is a condition that strikes thousands of folks here in the USA, every winter season. When I say the winter blues, I am literally talking about everything from being sad, and weak to full blow depression. I guess I have been very lucky because I have never gotten the winter blues, unlike a lot of other people. The major cause of the Winter blues is two fold, the first and most common cause is just being shut inside and finding nothing to do, the second rarer reason is chemical changes within the brain and body that effects the person.
In this article, I want to talk about the second reason or cause for the winter blues, the chemical changes that occur within the brain and body. The major difference between the spring and summer months over the winter is the exposure to the suns direct rays. When it's warm and sunny, folks often have their curtains open, their windows up, and even their doors open. Everyone is outside mowing the grass, trimming the hedges, staining the decks, having barbecues, and doing many other spring and summer activities.
Once winter comes around, some folks just seem to stay inside and almost hibernate like some animals do. Now, I want to say that this is a habit that can be changed, if you truly want to change it. I am over 50 years old, and I love walking and I walk all year around, including winter. Even if it's 20 degrees outside and windy, I just bundle up and enjoy walking, I find the cold, crisp winter air refreshing and energetic, and the exercise involved with the walking helps burn off some calories that would turn into fat.
When you stay inside for a long period of time without exposure to the suns rays, the brain starts producing a chemical called: Melatonin. Melatonin actually makes us feel, slow, or tired, in fact it helps us to relax and fall asleep. If were constantly inside, so much melatonin can build up in us that it makes us actually depressed, triggering the winter blues. When were exposed to the bright sun light, the levels of a chemical called: Serotonin increases. Serotonin causes us to feel wide awake, alert and actually happy and energetic.
If you are truly shut inside during the winter months because of age, or some other physical condition, you can still get exposure to the suns rays with two things, one of course is to keep your curtains and shades open as much as possible to allow the suns rays to come in, and the next way is to purchase a Light Box. A Light Box is also called a full spectrum light, that works just like being exposed to the suns rays, except it does not have the same harmful effects as the suns UV light does. A Light Box will fill your whole room with a nice type of light that emulates the sun, it will make the room more bright and comfortable then normal lights, and it will help your body to produce Serotonin which will help you be much more energetic and happy feeling, and help beat the Winter Blues.
There is a website that describes numerous activities and other methods to help eliminate the Winter Blues, this website is called: Winter Activities - and it may be found at this url: http://www.winter-activities.com
You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.
Wellness The Sunrise Industry Starting Your Profession as a Bodyguard Americans Use Less Health Care, Pay More Defensive Driving Tip: Drive carefully in the winters! Does Fibromyalgia Cause Insomnia? Stay fit and healthy with health products Warning: Redundancy can seriously damage your health Hemorrhoids and What is the Treatment of Hemorrhoids Donjoy Armor with Fourcepoint Knee Brace from Health and Care how you can raise healthy children Do Herbal Penis Supplements Really Work Premature Ejaculation Symptoms and Home Treatment for Premature Ejaculation Yoga, a healthy reason for you to book tickets to India