The New York Times has published a health article entitled “Brought on by Darkness, Disorder Needs Light.” The article discusses Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD, no pun intended) which affects many Americans. People who suffer from SAD become depressed during the cold winter months when there is less light and sunshine. According to the psychiatrists who study it, the cause is melatonin, “a brain chemical turned on by darkness and off by light.”
So how to combat these winter blues? If you have a severe form of the disorder, you might need to talk to your doctor about some clinical options. Otherwise, the article recommends “negative air ionization,” which supposedly helps. There is also light therapy.
Another way to combat depression of any form is to do nice things for yourself: take a bubble bath, go to a yoga or aerobics class, have dinner with friends, see a movie or art exhibit, sip a latte while reading a favorite book. Such simple things can really make a person feel peaceful and happy, and we all deserve it after working hard all year long.