If you find that your energy levels decrease and you start to feel depressed as the days grow shorter, then you might be suffering from what is referred to as ‘The Winter Blues’.

It’s no myth. We all need exposure to natural light to function normally and be happy, but our modern lifestyles often deprive us of the regulatory benefits bestowed by the sun. Without natural light we can experience depleted energy, tiredness, sleeping problems, irritability, loss of appetite and even depression. Scientists call this Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD.

It seems that natural light entering the eye causes changes in the body’s hormone levels. Sunlight inhibits the production of the sleep hormone melatonin, stimulating us to wakefulness. SAD sufferers, deprived of daylight in the winter, tend to produce a high level of melatonin, leading to lethargy and depressive symptoms.

The best way to combat SAD is to travel and catch some sunshine on the other side of the world. But a more affordable option is luminotherapy, or light therapy, an alternative treatment for keeping the winter blues at bay.

Luminotherapy involves regular exposure to an artificial high intensity white light to compensate for a lack of exposure to natural light. It consists initially of daily sessions of 10 to 15 minutes, which can be gradually increased to 30 minutes per day.

As the bright light has to reach the retina for information to be transmitted to the brain, only those with healthy eyes should try luminotherapy. However, if your ophthalmologist says it’s OK and everything goes well, you should see the effects after a few days.

Taking care of your body is important, but so is taking care of your mind, so remember to focus on winter’s positive aspects. You can sleep more, eat roasted chestnuts, play winter sports, see more of your family more and pamper yourself. Before you know it, it’ll be time to welcome spring and summer!

Nu