WE NEED LIGHT
Do you realize there is a physical disorder caused by lack of light?
It is called Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) and it effects 1 in 5 of us. It is caused by lack of exposure to sunlight, which in turn alters a person’s brain chemistry. During the fall and winter months when the hours of daylight are shorter, less light passes through the eyes, which inhibits the release of an important brain chemical, serotonin. When serotonin is not released in sufficient quantities, symptoms of depression may occur. Melatonin, which regulates our sleep cycle is released in greater quantities, adding to the depressive state.
How is S.A.D. treated? The standard treatment is light therapy.
The principle behind light therapy is that by increasing a person’s exposure to bright light, the chemicals in a person’s brain can be brought back to normal levels and lesson or remove the symptoms.
We need light.