{"id":179,"date":"2017-01-12T10:39:32","date_gmt":"2017-01-12T10:39:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flipswitch.wpengine.com\/fliptheswitch\/?p=179"},"modified":"2020-01-16T20:23:20","modified_gmt":"2020-01-16T20:23:20","slug":"simple-effective-ways-to-cure-the-winter-blues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.destinationlighting.com\/fliptheswitch\/simple-effective-ways-to-cure-the-winter-blues\/","title":{"rendered":"Fighting Against Seasonal Affective Disorder"},"content":{"rendered":"

SAD is short for Seasonal Adjustment Disorder<\/strong> or Seasonal Affective Disorder<\/strong> but you probably know it more commonly as the winter blues.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Do you ever get the feeling like you are generally more sad, depressed, or down during the winter months? <\/span><\/p>\n

If so, you are not alone. Up to 20 percent<\/strong> of Americans suffer greatly from a serious form of depression that doctors simply call \u201cSAD\u201d. No matter how cheerful we may be throughout the year, studies show that all animals, including humans, react to the onset of winter and loss of sunlight both physiologically and psychologically, in a negative way. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some of the dim statistics about SAD that can impact your life in ways you might not expect.<\/p>\n

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What causes SAD?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Though the causes of SAD are not completely understood, researchers agree that light plays a vital role. Just as with plants, human beings wither without it. Studies show that light deprivation alters brain chemistry, triggering an over-production of melatonin, which causes fatigue (in fact, many people use melatonin as a sleep aid).<\/span><\/p>\n

Due to the fact that 70 percent of our sensory receptors are in our eyes, visual stimulation and exposure to light are critical to well-being. Researchers suggest that by increasing the amount of natural light SAD patients are exposed to daily a process called photo- or bright light therapy symptoms would decrease. And they were right.<\/span><\/p>\n

Effective ways to fight back against SAD<\/b><\/h3>\n

In 1984, a breakthrough study<\/a> conducted by Dr. Norman Rosenthal, concluded that bright light therapy minimized the effects of SAD. Though other treatments have proven useful in combating the illness, including:<\/span><\/p>\n