Snow, and more snow to come for Oakland. While it may have been a somewhat cloudy winter, and sometimes chilly, it was only recently that snow begot more snow and more snow still to come. Providing a play-land for kids, skiers, snowboarders and ATV riders, the onslaught of snow has lost it’s scenic beauty quickly for most folks.
The grey skies, short days, and piles of white manure banking the streets are believed to be increasing incidents of SADness throughout many regions of America. SAD is an acronym for Seasonal Affective Disorder, or winter depression. It’s a syndrome most agree is brought on by a lack of light in our daily diets. Less natural light and less time outdoors can seriously impact some people’s emotional state.
Symptoms of SAD can include: oversleeping without being refreshed; overeating due to carbohydrate cravings; depression that makes normal tasks difficult; lethargy; loss of libidio; body aches and intestinal problems.
Brain nerves normally stimulated by light entering the eyes fail to produce enough melatonin and the subsequent production of serotonin. Numerous studies have shown low serotonin levels cause depression, and hence the link between winter and depression.
High unemployment, high taxes, and rabid news broadcasts undoubtedly laid the ground work for what many expected to be a bad season for the winter blues. As uninviting as the icy, slushy, snowy mix may be, experts advise that spending 30 minutes a day outside can help alleviate the winter blahs. Other remedies may include increasing indoor lighting, using a timer to awaken to light rather than darkness in the morning, or visiting a tanning salon…or Barbados.
For those of us destined to weather out the remaining weeks without a winter break, we offer the video below to lighten your spirit.