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Do you feel down and sluggish when it rains too much?
By Christina | October 1, 2007
Well, if you do you are not alone. There is a very real disorder called Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD which is typically associated with the winter season. It is also called Winter Blues. Did you know however that SAD can occur anytime there is a lack of sunshine. For us Southerners we obvioulsy don’t suffer from lack of sunlight due to snow but we do have periods where it rains everyday and there is constant cloud cover.
I never really realized that it was affecting us until I noticed a few years ago that once it rains for a few days people started to complain of low energy when I would ask them how they are feeling. It was also evident with my training clients. I would show up to train them, without much energy myself, only to learn that they too wanted to just sit and chat or go for a coffee and muffin, not that I allowed it but I was tempted.
I noticed the symptoms would fade once the weather was back to normal so I checked it out and there is truth to it… SAD occurs not only in the North in winter from snow and dreary conditions but in the South related to rain and clouds.
SAD is a condition that is caused in part from an overdose of melatonin in the system. Melatonin is released into the bloodstream whenever there is not enough sunlight, it is the body’s natural sleep system. If we do not give in to our body’s urging us to sleep we can become irritable, depressed, lose energy, gain weight and in extreme cases, suicidal.
SAD is treated in many ways. Full spectrum lighting can be used, exercise helps to combat it with its endorphin releasing properties as well positive affirmations to help the mind see and process things differently. It has rained everyday here in Sunny South Florida for a bit now it seems and I can certainly attest to the power of the sun and the lack thereof.
Topics: Mind, Body & Spirit |